The semifinals of the Champions League returned to Monaco’s Stade Louis II for the first time since 2004, and the 18,000+ in attendance would’ve surely expected their side to add to the 16 home Champions League goals they’d already witnessed since the beginning of their campaign.
But a Juventus side that had only given up two goals in this competition, and none throughout the knockout rounds, proved to be an entirely different challenge for Monaco’s goal-crazy attackers.
Dani Alves set up Gonzalo Higuain with two phenomenal assists, one in the first half and one in the second, and Juventus weathered a number of chances for Falcao and Kylian Mbappe to keep a vital away clean sheet.
The opening 10 minutes were dominated by Juventus, with Monaco looking as though the reality of the opposition and the occasion might’ve finally reached them. However, the first real chance fell to Monaco in the 13th minute.
Nabil Dirar lofted back in a cleared corner, and it found Mbappe completely unmarked from 12 yards out. The 18-year-old, for once, failed to get the proper contact on it and sent his header straight at Gianluigi Buffon.
Mbappe then threatened again in the 16th, flicking the ball with his left foot at the near post and forcing Buffon into a fine reaction save. Falcao tested Buffon with a header, and Leonardo Bonucci received an early caution for taking out the Colombian. Suddenly, this looked exactly like the Monaco side that had dumped out Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
But in the 28th minute, Gonzalo Higuain, who’d cut a lethargic figure up front until this point, got on the end of some incredible work from Paulo Dybala and Alves.
Dybala released Alves to charge at the Monaco defense with an absurd flick, and then the Brazilian fullback provided a delightful backheel of his own to find Higuain in the area.
Dybala and Dani Alves with the flair, Higuain with the finish. Beautiful team goal from Juventus! #UCL #ASMJuve https://t.co/S4juAWdtQj
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 3, 2017
The Argentine dispensed his shot into the bottom corner, and Juventus saw out the final 17 minutes with defensive aplomb.
Monaco almost grabbed the equalizer right after the restart. Bernardo Silva fed Falcao, but his effort was straight at Buffon. With Juventus virtually unbeatable at home, the likes of Fabinho and Mbappe both worked desperately to find an opening.
Then, in the 59th minute, the Juventus hammer fell. Again, it was Alves and Dybala exchanching passes with the Brazilian finding space down the right wing. Alves sent in an absolutely ridiculous cross for Higuain to stab home, and Juventus put themselves firmly in control of the tie.
Higuain is silencing the haters tonight! His 2nd of the game has Juventus sitting pretty in the #UCL semis. #ASMJuve https://t.co/VWdwRQnrvs
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves has now created more chances (27) than any other player in the Champions League this season.
An incredible campaign. pic.twitter.com/xuuOI5vMlQ— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 3, 2017
In the 67th, Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim threw on Joao Moutinho and Valere Germain in search of their first, but Massimiliano Allegri had gotten everything right for Juventus.
Mario Mandzukic was immense with his work rate, Claudio Marchisio was a wall and the back line of Barzagli-Bonucci-Chiellini was what they always are: extremely impressive. And for anything that got behind them, Buffon was there.
The return leg in Turin will take place on Tuesday, May 9.
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