Villa and Juve stalemate ends in controversy with disallowed goal

Juventus have been decimated by injuries, meaning they could only name four outfield players on their bench. It did not stop them from keeping an 11th clean sheet in 17 games. 

DISBELIEF: Players surround referee Jesus Gil Manzano after a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio which lead to Aston Villa's late goal being disallowed. Picture: David Davies/PA Wire.

Champions League: Aston Villa 0 Juventus 0 

Aston Villa's win-less run stretched to seven games as they failed to break down Juventus' mean machine defence in a Champions League stalemate at Villa Park.

But the game ended in controversy after Morgan Rogers had an added time 'goal' ruled out following a VAR review that backed referee Jesus Gil Manzano's decision that goalkeeper Michele Di Grigorio had been fouled by Diego Carlos as he attempted to catch the ball from a free-kick.

The Italian club may have been decimated by injuries to the extent they could name only four outfield substitutes on their bench but it didn't effect their defending.

This was Juve's 11th clean sheet in 17 matches in all competitions since Thiago Motta - who played under Villa boss Unai Emery at Paris St Germain - took over from Max Allegri in the summer - with the brief of making them more attractive to watch.

Both tams may have cancelled each other out but neither will be too unhappy with a point that keeps them both in with a good chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages in the new format of Europe's top club competition.

💬 @Eni_Aluko: "It's a goalkeeper mistake!"
💬 Alan Hutton: "He HAS to challenge!"
💬 @petercrouch: "You'd have chalked off a good few of my goals!"

The TNT Sports team take a closer look at Morgan Rogers' disallowed goal 🔍

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If Villa had been offered 10 points from their first five games on their return to the Champions League they would surely have taken it while Juve are still in with a good chance of qualifying with eight points.

Villa striker Ollie Watkins admitted after the game that "looked like it had 0-0 all over it - but we're happy not to lose."

While they are so solid at the back, at the other end of the pitch Juve are struggling for goals, not helped last night by the absence of all three of their main strikers, including leading scorer Dusan Vlahovic, as well former Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. Such are their injury problems they were able to name only four outfield substitutes.

Villa were frustrated not only by Juve's organised defence but also some over fussy refereeing by Spanish official Manzano who booked three Villa players for their first fouls. There were loud ironic cheers when he cautioned a Juve player as well as frequent chants from the crowd that, putting it politely, questioned his judgement.

Pau Torres gave Villa early encouragement when he went close with a header from Leon Bailey's corner but it was 36 minutes before either side mustered a shot on target when Watkins' close range effort was well saved by Di Grigorio.

That sparked the game into belated attacking life with Francisco Conceicao forcing a good save out of Emilio Martinez after a swift Juve break while just before the break Lucas Digne clipped the top of the bar with a free-kick.

The second half was more entertaining with Villa surviving a couple of early scares, first when the dangerous Conceicao embarked on a mazy run past two players and saw his cross almost creep past Martinez after taking a deflection off Torres. Then Martinez dad to be alert to race out of his penalty area to stop Teun Koopmeiners from reaching a through pass.

Two outstanding saves - one at either end - midway through the second half kept the game goal-less. First Martinez somehow kept out Conceicao's close range effort at the far post when the Juve winger looked certain to score then Di Michele stuck out a leg to block John McGinn's shot.

Emery sent on super sub John Duran - who scored the memorable winner against Bayern Munich earlier in the campaign - as well as Ross Barkley but their introductions failed to break the deadlock although Villa will argue that Rogers 'goal' at the death should have stood.

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez 8; Cash 6, Carlos 6, Torres 7, Digne 6; Kamara 6 (Barkley 77, 5), Tielemans 6; McGinn 6, Rogers 6, Bailey 5 (Philogene 85, 5); Watkins 6 (Duran 77, 5) 

Booked: Tielemans, Kamara, Torres.

Juventus (4-3-3): Di Gregorio 8; Savona (Danilo 65, 5), Kalulu 6, Gatti 8, Cambiaso 6; Locatelli 6, Thuram 6 (Fagiolo 85, 5), Yildiz 5 (Mbangul 82, 5); Conceicao 7, Koopmeiners 5, Weah 5.

Booked: Kalulu.

Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain) 6.