Juventus 2 - 0 FT Pafos

Juventus Crushes Pafos: McKennie and David End Any Doubt

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 19/100. A clinical second-half performance at the Allianz Stadium proved why Weston McKennie and Kenan Yıldız are the architects of Juventus's European ambitions, even as the Old Lady's season remains fragile.

Possession, Precision, Dominance

From the opening whistle, Intensity flowed through the Allianz. Juventus controlled 61% of possession and suffocated Pafos with 25 shots—a relentless siege that left the visitors gasping. Andrea Cambiaso orchestrated the right flank with surgical precision, his assist for McKennie in the 67th minute the culmination of sustained pressure. The American midfielder's finish was clinical; the build-up was poetry. Yıldız, operating with devastating range across the forward line, crafted four key passes and provided the assist for Jonathan David's 73rd-minute goal that sealed the rout.

The Turning Point: When Pafos Cracked

For 67 minutes, Juventus probed without breakthrough. Then McKennie's goal arrived—and with it, the psychological shift. Pafos, who arrived at the Allianz Stadium in respectable form (5 wins from 12 games), had no answer to the second goal. David's finish, set up by Yıldız's intelligence, was the dagger. The visitors managed only 3 shots on target across the entire match, their 39% possession a telling statistic of a team overwhelmed by European pedigree. Lloyd Kelly's defensive composure—rated 7.6—ensured Juventus's backline never wavered.

The Data Story: Efficiency Over Dominance

Juventus's expected goals (2.65) aligned almost perfectly with their two goals—a rare marriage of chance creation and clinical finishing. Pafos's 1.19 xG reflected their predicament: limited opportunities, minimal quality. The Old Lady's 89% pass accuracy (505 of 565) painted a picture of controlled, purposeful football. This was not a vintage Juventus performance—it was a Balance of control and execution in a competition where both matter equally.

Survival at the Allianz: Juve's Prestige Under Threat

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 72/100. A high-stakes European encounter where a defeat could effectively end Pafos's continental journey and leave the Italian giants in peril.

The Setup

The atmosphere at **Allianz Stadium** will be thick with tension this December 10. For Juventus, sitting 17th in the table is an uncomfortable reality that demands an immediate response. The Stakes are essentially a survival battle; in the new league phase, every point is a lifeline away from early elimination. While the Form of the hosts has been patchy (WWDLD), their Stars are expected to shine under the lights against a Pafos side that has struggled for consistency.

Pafos enters this match as the clear underdog, sitting 26th and needing a miracle to climb into the playoff spots. Their Balance has been skewed toward a defensive low-block, which has kept games close but rarely yielded wins. They will look to frustrate the home crowd and hit on the break through the pace of Jairo.

Key Battle

The match will be decided by the Juventus forward line's patience against the Pafos defensive wall. Dušan Vlahović will be the primary target for Juve, tasked with finding space in a crowded penalty area. If Pafos can maintain their discipline for the first hour, the pressure on the Italian side will become suffocating. The tactical duel between the Juve midfield's ball progression and the visitors' narrow defensive shape will dictate the tempo.

Our Prediction

Expect Juventus to dominate possession from the start, pinned deep in the Pafos half. The breakthrough will likely come via a set-piece or a moment of individual brilliance from the wings. While Pafos will remain competitive, the sheer depth of the Juve squad will tell in the final twenty minutes. We predict a 2-0 victory for the home side, providing them much-needed breathing room in the standings.