Dani Parejo’s second-half equaliser earned Villarreal a 1-1 draw against Juventus and kept them in the Champions League last-16 tie.
Dusan Vlahovic got his Champions League career off to a stunning start, opening the scoring after 31 seconds as he showed why there was so much interest in him last month.
Unai Emery’s side levelled things up as Parejo swept home from inside the box, but Juventus will be satisfied with the result heading into the second leg in Italy.
Vlahovic was given his first Champions League start, following his January move from Fiorentina, and he had a goal to go with it inside a minute. Danilo lifted a ball over the top, the striker chested it down and then fired a brilliant right-footed shot into the far corner as he swivelled, watching it bounce off the post and into the back of the net.
Villarreal nearly levelled through Giovani Lo Celso, but his scuffed shot flicked off the post as he lost his balance, before Arnaut Danjuma’s near-post flick was comfortably saved by Wojciech Szczesny.
Weston McKennie found space in the box and had an effort well blocked from close-range, while Vlahovic continued to offer a real threat even though Juventus sat back on the whole and comfortably made it to half-time in front.
Morata volleyed wide just after the break, but as the second-half wore on the visitors dropped deeper and deeper as the invited the pressure from Villarreal.
Former Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno had a shot saved by Szczesny, before the Spanish side got their goal midway through the half.
Etienne Capoue clipped a ball over the top, finding Parejo who had made a good run and his first-time finish was good enough to beat the goalkeeper for a much-needed Villarreal equaliser.
Juventus were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men as Adrien Rabiot went in really high on Samuel Chukwueze, but the referee and then VAR deemed a yellow card to be sufficient.
It was a stop-start conclusion to the match with plenty of stoppages as neither side were able to set-up a grandstand finish, but Juventus will head home content with their efforts as they look forward to welcoming Villarreal to Italy on March 16.
