With the entire globe tuning in to watch Lionel Messi play Cristiano Ronaldo for perhaps the final time, who could’ve predicted that the first half between Barcelona and Juventus would be dominated by dueling Americans Sergiño Dest and Weston McKennie?
Juve controlled possession at the Camp Nou in the opening 45 minutes, so it was Dest who featured most heavily for Barcelona on both defense and with the ball — only Miralem Pjanić had more touches for Barça.
Ronaldo got things started in the 13th minute after earning a soft penalty — it was a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge from Ronald Araújo — and converting down the middle of the goal, but Juve’s second in the 20th-minute was an absolute golazo.
McKennie took possession at the top of the area, shifted it out wide for Juan Cuadrado, continued his run into the box and converted with a spectacular flying side-volley while Barcelona’s infamous thousand-yard stares commenced.
¡Goooooooool de la Juventus!
Weston McKennie hace un golazo espectacular y la Juventus está a uno del liderato de grupo. @FCBarcelona_es 0-2 @juventusfces#Barcelona | #Juventus | #UCLEn vivo
TUDN
Síguelo aquí TOTALMENTE LIBRE https://t.co/0oKlJXQWkh pic.twitter.com/5s45yIrory— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) December 8, 2020
McKennie had just opened his Juventus account over the weekend with a header against Torino, and it’s worth remembering that he’d previously scored three Bundesliga goals for Schalke this calendar year. The 22-year-old is redefining his ceiling as we speak.
