February 24, 2015.
The Champions League anthem faded, and the roar of the Juventus Stadium reached a fever pitch. The first leg of the Round of 16 was underway. The air was thick with tension, with history, with the weight of expectation. This was more than just a football match; it was a clash of philosophies, a battle of wills.
From the first whistle, the game was a tactical chess match. Juventus, in their iconic black and white stripes, were a model of defensive discipline. They sat deep, their lines compact, their movements synchronized. They gave Dortmund no space, no time, no room to breathe. It was like playing against a wall, a black and white wall that seemed to anticipate every move, to close every gap.
