UCL SEMI-FINALS: JUVENTUS CRUSH MONACO TO BOOK CARDIFF FINALS SPOT

Date:

By Yemi Babalola Lagos, Nigeria

 

The UEFA Champions league first finalist was confirmed yesterday when Juventus defeated Monaco by two goals to one (2-1) thereby knocking them out of the competition four goals to one (4-1) on aggregate. It was clear from the first leg of this fixture in France that Juventus outclassed Leonardo Jardim’s men.

Juventus’ players celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match Juventus vs Monaco, on May 9, 2017 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. .Juventus secured their place in the final of the Champions League on Tuesday after beating Monaco 2-1 in their semi-final second leg to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate. / AFP PHOTO / Alberto PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Gonzalo Higuaín made the ‘old lady’s’ job already easier when at the Stade Louis II stadium when he scored two vital away goals, as he was assisted on the 29th and 59th minute of the match by former Barcelona man and teammate Dani Alves. Dani Alves’s impact on the first and second leg could not be undermined as he played a pivotal role, where he scored a beautiful goal at home before the home fans in Turin, Italy.

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At the Juventus stadium on Tuesday May 9, 2017, the reverse fixture was a match interesting every football fan as there was no doubt in the minds of many that Juventus would made it through, but fans wanted to see how Monaco who have been one of the high scoring side in the competition this season would fare in Italy.

First-half goals from Mario Mandžukić and Dani Alves ended the challenge of Monaco’s vibrant young side and took Juventus into a second final in three years with a 4-1 aggregate win. Another notable performance of the night was goalkeeper Buffon who has not conceded a UEFA Champions League goal between 22 November in Seville and 9 May against Monaco, Juventus and Gianlugi Buffon are now high up the all-time competition rankings.

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Kylian Mbappé’s strike for Monaco did not have stopped Juventus reaching the Cardiff final, but it cut short the bids by both the Italian club and keeper Gianluigi Buffon to top the UEFA Champions League all-time rankings for not conceding a goal. Kylian ended Buffon’s run of not conceding at exctly ten hours’ playing time. That puts him fifth on the all-time table for the longest unbreached run by a single goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League, with the record still Jens Lehmann’s 853 minutes for Arsenal between 18 October 2005 and 13 September 2006.

Juventus have proven that they have what it takes and are already on their way to the final of the UEFA Champions league in Cardiff, Wales. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has also stated that his squad is smart, but should not get carried away, as winning the finals is what matters most for the squad who lost 3-1 to Barcelona at the last finals of the competition they participated in.

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Tonight, Juventus awaits who progresses in the Madrid Derby where Real Madrid holds the aces with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg. However, going by the reality on ground its looking like Real Madrid would be joining Juventus in the finals but then, never say never in football as records have been broken in the UEFA Champions league so far, maybe Atletico Madrid would stun the world tonight.

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