Juve top group after goalless draw with BATE

Sebastian Giovinco missed a penalty but Juventus still secured top spot in Champions League Group H with a dull 0-0 home draw against BATE Borisov on Wednesday.

Juventus finished on 12 points along with Real Madrid but top the group because they beat the Spanish champions home and away.

The hosts were already assured of qualification for February’s last 16 and took few risks while Belarus side BATE, knowing they would finish bottom of the group whatever the result, rarely threatened. Giovinco blasted over a 52nd-minute penalty after Mikhail Sivakov was penalised for handball under pressure from Olof Mellberg, who was lucky not to give away a spotkick at the other end.