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SHELL-SHOCKED

Spurs endure nightmare start in Turin as Juventus go 2-0 up inside nine minutes

Gonzalo Higuain displayed excellent technique to volley the hosts into the lead before converting a penalty

The Champions League is back with a bang.

Spurs endured a nightmare start in Turin as a Gonzalo Higuain double put Juventus two-nil up inside nine minutes in the round of 16 first leg.

Mauricio Pochettino would have been hoping for a tight start but when Mousa Dembele fouled Miralem Pjanic around 35 yards from goal, the hosts saw an opportunity to strike early.

The Bosnian playmaker cleverly chipped the ball into the Old Lady’s No9 when most Spurs defenders were expecting a deep cross to the back post.

Higuain displayed excellent technique to let the ball drop over his shoulder before volleying low past Hugo Lloris.

A devastating one-two combo

Reuters
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A devastating one-two combo

And the visitors were visibly shell-shocked by the early blow.

Six minutes later Juve were awarded a penalty when Federico Bernardeschi beat Ben Davies to a dropping cross.

The Wales left-back caught the ex-Fiorentina midfielder a fraction late but with considerable force and the referee didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot.

Lloris guessed correctly from the spot-kick but could only deflect Higuain’s effort into the bottom corner with his fingertips.

Higuain’s brace is the quickest in Champions League history.

Eight goals in his last four and a bit games…

Reuters
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Eight goals in his last four and a bit games…

It could be a long night for Spurs if they don’t rally soon.

The tie could be over before kick-off at Wembley if not…

UPDATE: They bloody have rallied!

Who else but the irrepressible Harry Kane?

Spurs’ talisman latched onto a Dele Alli throughball after 35 minutes and confidently rounded Gigi Buffon before finishing into an open net with his left foot.

Kane was two-years-old when Buffon made his professional debut.

Nine goals in his last nine Champions League games

MAX ROSSI
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Nine goals in his last nine Champions League games

Higuain then missed a glorious chance to score a first-half hat-trick.

Douglas Costa drew a reckless foul from Serge Aurier and won the hosts a second penalty but the 30-year-old poacher slammed his effort against the bar.

2-1 at half-time and game most definitely on!

2nd UPDATE: The Champions League is just so good!

Scoring a goal in Juventus back garden doesn’t happen every week

Getty Images - Getty
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Scoring a goal in Juventus back garden doesn’t happen every week

A very, very rare error from Buffon allowed Spurs to equalise with 20 minutes to go.

Christian Eriksen scored with a free-kick but it wasn’t a wonderful curling effort into the top corner, as you might expect.

The Danish playmaker struck it low, on Buffon’s side, but the legendary Italian somehow failed to palm the ball past the post.

2-2, what a result for Spurs…


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