Turin witnessed one of the wildest displays the Champions League has seen in recent memory as Juventus and Borussia Dortmund served up an eight-goal thriller, all in the second half, to draw 4-4 at Allianz Stadium on Matchday 1.
The Old Lady appeared destined to lose after Dortmund surged into a 4-2 lead with just minutes to go, but a pair of late strikes, including one in the 96th minute, rescued a point for Juve.
The first half offered little to foreshadow the fireworks to come. Chances were few, the defences held firm, and the spectators were left waiting as the teams went in at the break deadlocked at 0-0. But within minutes of the restart, the tone changed dramatically.
Dortmund broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute through Karim Adeyemi, who unleashed a tidy left-footed shot from just outside the area that beat Juventus keeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Juventus responded via Kenan Yildiz in the 63rd minute with a curling effort into the far corner, reviving hope among the home fans.
Dortmund were quick to reassert themselves though, as Felix Nmecha rifled in a crisp strike just two minutes later to make it 2-1.
FT | ⏳ | Last gasp dramatic draw against Borussia Dortmund.
! #JuveBVB #UCL pic.twitter.com/LyYpPvBlQs
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) September 16, 2025
For a moment, it seemed likely the pendulum would swing back and forth rhythmically—until Juve drew level again in the 67th minute when substitute Dušan Vlahović converted a perfectly weighted pass, showcasing sharp instincts and composure to slot past Gregor Kobel.
But Dortmund refused to relent: Yan Couto’s low finish in the 74th minute pushed the visitors ahead once more. A penalty awarded in the 86th minute, after Lloyd Kelly was judged to have handled the ball, allowed Ramy Bensebaini to make it 4-2.
With the clock ticking past regulation time and the match seeming lost, Juventus produced a dramatic turnaround in stoppage time. In the 94th minute Vlahović struck again, this time after a cross from Pierre Kalulu, to bring Juve within one.
Then, after a long VAR check to confirm whether the goal was offside, Lloyd Kelly headed in the equaliser in the 96th minute from Vlahović’s assist, sending the stadium into raptures.
Vlahović’s impact was immense, coming off the bench and delivering two goals and an assist. His late heroics earned him the Man of the Match, though he admitted to being frustrated for not nicking a hat-trick. He emphasised, however, how vital the result was for Juventus’ morale.
For Dortmund, it was a night of mixed emotions. Their attacking play had moments of brilliance—Adeyemi’s pace and sharpness, Nmecha’s striking, and Couto’s opportunism all stood out—but defending in the dying minutes proved costly.
Juventus’ defensive frailties were laid bare repeatedly, especially in transitions and from set-piece situations. Di Gregorio, though called into action several times, was left exposed more than once.
Dortmund looked dangerous every time they surged forward. The visitors also had to deal with their own lapses: trusting that a two-goal cushion so late would suffice proved a dangerous gamble in Turin.
Tactically, Dortmund’s decision to push forward and rely on occasional defensive stability paid dividends for the bulk of the second half. Their pressing and counterattacking opportunities were well chosen, and they stretched Juve’s back line on more than one occasion.
Juventus, meanwhile, tried to build through midfield control and by injecting fresh legs—particularly through Vlahović—late in the game. The substitutions had the desired effect just when Juve needed them most.