Captain Paulo Dybala’s brace helped Juventus to a 4-2 win over Zenit Saint Petersburg on Tuesday, securing their place in the final 16 of this season’s Champions League with two group games to spare.
Juve maintained their perfect record in Group H, which they lead by three points above European champions Chelsea, who had previously won 1-0 in Malmo, Sweden.
Massimiliano Allegri’s team is also nine points clear of third-placed Zenit, ensuring a place in the knockout round.
Dybala hit the post before scoring in the 11th minute, but Zenit drew level before halftime when Leonardo Bonucci headed a Vyacheslav Karavaev cross into his net.
In the 58th minute, though, Dybala restored Juve’s lead by converting a penalty after originally missing but being allowed a retake due to encroachment.
In the 73rd minute, Federico Chiesa, who had won the penalty, made it 3-1 for the two-time European Cup winners, and Alvaro Morata added a fourth.
In stoppage time, Iran’s Sardar Azmoun equalizes for Zenit, who still have a tiny chance of pipping Chelsea to second place.
Ada Peter
