Pirlo: Lackluster Juventus served Porto victory 'on a silver platter'

PORTO, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 17: head coach of Juventus Andrea Pirlo gives his team instructions during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between FC Porto and Juventus at Estadio do Dragao on February 17, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. Sporting stadiums around Portugal remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.
Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC / Juventus FC / Getty

Andrea Pirlo lamented Juventus' lackluster performance against FC Porto on Wednesday, claiming his men gifted the Portuguese side a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.

Juve inexplicably conceded in the opening seconds of each half, making a calamitous error in possession at the beginning of the match before falling asleep defensively to open the second stanza.

Federico Chiesa scored a potentially precious away goal late to give the Italian side hope heading home for the second leg, but Pirlo was not impressed with his team's toothless showing.

"The approach was wrong from the first minute," the rookie manager said, according to Agence France-Presse. "When you concede a goal like this, it's normal that fear sets in, you lack a bit of certainty.

"Porto are good at closing down and after that goal, it was much more difficult. We served them the match they wanted on a silver platter. Fortunately, we scored an important goal through Chiesa, and now we will focus on the return leg."

The return leg in Turin is set for March 9.

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