Juventus produced a Champions League smash-and-grab raid as Paulo Dybala’s goal earned it a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley to send the Italians through to the quarterfinals 4-3 on aggregate on Wednesday.
Son Heung-min’s first-half effort had put Tottenham in control after it had drawn 2-2 in Turin last month and there was little sign of a Juve response until Gonzalo Higuain and Dybala struck in three second-half minutes.
Higuain poked in from close range to equalise in the 64th minute before fellow Argentine Dybala, who missed the first leg with an injury, curled past Hugo Lloris after bursting clear.
It was tough on Tottenham, which will rue several missed chances in the opening period and hit the post with a Harry Kane header in the 90th minute, but proof that Massimiliano Allegri’s experienced Juventus, runners-up in two of the last three seasons, remain one of Europe’s toughest nuts to crack.
In the match at Etihad Statdium, Premier League leader Manchester City advanced despite suffering its first home defeat in over a year, going through 5-2 on aggregate after a 2-1 defeat by Swiss champion Basel.
City won the first leg 4-0 and unsurprisingly their manager Pep Guardiola chose to leave key players on the bench with none of Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero or goalkeeper Ederson featuring in the game.
The evening began positively for the host, unbeaten in its last 12 Champions League home matches, when Brazilian Gabriel Jesus put it ahead in the eighth minute.
German winger Leroy Sane danced through the Basel defence and set up Bernardo Silva whose low cross was tapped in by the Brazilian forward for his first goal since November.
Restoring pride
Basel, backed by an impressively vocal travelling support, was clearly determined to restore pride and drew level nine minutes later when Mohamed Elyounoussi buried the ball in the bottom corner from just inside the area.
City was content to play its trademark possession football but Basel’s endeavours were rewarded in the 72nd minute when, after excellent work from Elyounoussi, Michael Lang blasted past Claudio Bravo at the near post.
City’s last home defeat came in December 2016 against Chelsea.
The results (last 16, second leg): Manchester City 1 (Jesus 8) lost to Basel 2 (Elyounoussi 17, Lang 71). Man City wins 5-2 on aggregate; Tottenham 1 (Son 39) lost to Juventus 2 (Higuain 64, Dybala 67). Juventus wins 4-3 on aggregate.