Those watching the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and Benfica will think less about the final score and more about the health of Benfica striker Facundo Ferreyra.
Despite the 2-1 victory for Juventus, the focus of the preseason match will be on Ferreyra’s status after the 27-year-old Argentinian was stretchered off with a head injury in the 40th minute.
With the scoreline still untouched, Ferreyra went up for a headed defensive clearance and caught teammate Jardel on his leap, and the slow-motion replay appeared to show Ferreyra’s head clip the back elbow of Jardel on the way down. He appeared to be unconscious on the pitch as the medical team rushed on, and received lengthy treatment before being stretchered off.
Ferreyra signed for Benfica just this summer on a free transfer from Ukranian giants Shakhtar Donetsk. He had gone out on loan to English club Newcastle for the 2014/15 season but did not make a single appearance.
The injury marred what otherwise would have been a game remembered for its goals. A drab first half gave way to a second half that featured two fantastic strikes, including one from 21-year-old Luca Clemenza that would win it for Juve late. The Juventus youth product skipped expertly between a pair of defenders just inside the top-right corner of the box before whipping a stunning left-footed cannon that clipped the underside of the bar and went in.