Juventus made to battle before earning much needed win over Pafos

TURIN, Italy, Dec 10 : Juventus registered their first home win of this season's Champions League but were made to battle before overcoming Pafos 2-0 at home on Wednesday thanks to second-half goals from Weston McKennie and Jonathan David.

The sides were level on points going into the game and Pafos proved more than a match for their more illustrious Italian opponents for long periods, but Juventus earned a second successive win to boost their European hopes.

Juventus are 17th in the standings on nine points while Pafos are 26th on six points, with the top eight teams qualifying for the knockout stage and the next 16 going into the playoffs for the other eight spots.

"It was essential to win and with victories you put things right," Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti told Sky.

"I'm not happy and neither are the boys, we could and should have done more."

Pafos created an early chance with Anderson Silva's backheeled shot going just wide and minutes later Juventus keeper Michele Di Gregorio needed to be alert to keep out an own goal when the ball ricocheted off Andrea Cambiaso.

The visitors' keeper Neofytos Michael parried away Kenan Yildiz's curling shot and Teun Koopmeiners headed wide from a Juventus corner but Pafos proved dangerous with quick counter-attacks.

Joao Correia got on the end of a long ball, shrugging off the attentions of McKennie before firing over and Vlad Dragomir reached Correia's cross into the box but Di Gregorio had little trouble gathering his tame effort.

HOME FANS BOO JUVE

Pafos continued to cause problems. Silva struck the outside of the upright with another effort, Derrick Luckassen headed narrowly wide from a corner and Di Gregorio tipped over a powerful strike from Dragomir.

Juventus spurned a chance