Dani Alves set up one for Mario Mandzukic and scored a stunning volley, as Juventus beat Monaco 2-1 to reach the Champions League Final, 4-1 on aggregate.
See how the evening unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
Dani Alves set up one for Mario Mandzukic and scored a stunning volley, as Juventus beat Monaco 2-1 to reach the Champions League Final, 4-1 on aggregate.
See how the evening unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
The Bianconeri had the upper hand after Gonzalo Higuain’s brace secured a 2-0 first leg victory at the Stade Louis II. Marko Pjaca and Daniele Rugani were injured, but Sami Khedira returned from suspension to replace Claudio Marchisio. Dani Alves remained in a more advanced role with Andrea Barzagli in defence. Monaco chose Andrea Raggi and Joao Moutinho for Thomas Lemar and Fabinho, but Nabil Dirar pulled out in the warm-up, so not 100 per cent fit Benjamin Mendy had to start.
Kylian Mbappe was immediately aggressive and within five minutes his shot from the tightest of angles bounced off the inside of the far post, but he had been flagged offside.
Radamel Falcao blasted over the bar, but Juve also lost a player to injury after just 10 minutes, Marchisio replacing Khedira with a left thigh problem.
Paulo Dybala scuffed wide from the D with his weaker right foot, but Higuain had a great chance after 22 minutes when he sprung the offside trap and chipped Danijel Subasic, but Kamil Glik got back to clear off the line.
Soon after, Higuain threaded through for Mario Mandzukic, but Subasic got just enough on it with one hand to deny his fellow Croatian one-on-one.
Miralem Pjanic completed a give-and-go with Dybala, but as he was taking the shot, veteran Italian defender Andrea Raggi flung himself in the way to block.
Falcao forced a tough reaction save from Buffon, but was offside anyway. Buffon sparked an Alex Sandro counter-attack from a Monaco corner, which culminated in Dani Alves’ cross for Mandzukic, his header parried by Subasic, but pouncing on the rebound from close range.
Higuain chested down a long ball and saw his angled drive smothered by Subasic, but Chiellini at full stretch toe-poked a Mendy low cross away from Falcao at the back post.
Dybala was one-on-one with Subasic, forcing another desperate save, but on the resulting corner he only punched it to the edge of the box for an absolutely sensational Dani Alves right-foot volley. After three assists in this semi-final tie, Dani Alves added a stunning goal to his tally.
Juan Cuadrado came off the bench and almost scored with his first touch, Jemerson sliding in to block at the near post, while Buffon stuck out a leg to deny Mbappe from a tight angle at the near post.
From the resulting corner, Mbappe did manage to tap in from point-blank range, ending Buffon’s run of 689 minutes of Champions League football with a clean sheet.
Former Torino defender Glik stamped on Higuain and it’s not clear if this was accidental, but Pipita clearly thought it was intentional and had to be calmed down by staff.
Andrea Barzagli, who turned 36 yesterday, was replaced after suffering from cramp.
Juventus 2-1 Monaco (4-1 agg)
Mandzukic 33 (J), Dani Alves 44 (J), Mbappe 69 (M)
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli (Benatia 85), Bonucci, Chiellini; Dani Alves, Pjanic, Khedira (Marchisio 10), Alex Sandro; Dybala (Cuadrado 54), Mandzukic; Higuain
Monaco: Subasic; Raggi, Jemerson, Glik; Mendy (Fabinho 54), Bakayoko (Germain 78), Moutinho, Sidibé; Bernardo Silva (Lemar 69); Mbappé, Falcao
Ref: Kuipers (NED)