Juventus claimed a famous 2-1 win over Real Madrid with a stirring performance in Turin in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
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A second-half Carlos Tevez penalty gave the Italians the lead after an opening goal from Alvaro Morata and a Cristiano Ronaldo equaliser in the first half.
It means the Italians head to the Spanish capital and the Bernabeu for the second-leg next week with the impetus and the winning advantage.
Here’s how the game played out:
Real were under the cosh from the first minute with Iker Casillas almost giving the ball away to a pressing Juventus front line in the opening 30 seconds.
His poor kick found its way to Juve’s midfield, Vidal was in and a tangling of legs in the box saw the ball kicked clear. The Italian side’s fans demanded a penalty.
But Juve’s vivacious mood was rewarded just nine minutes in with their unrelenting energy paying off. Carlos Tevez fired in from the corner of the 18 yard box, Iker Casillas palmed a save clear but Alvaro Morata, the former Madrid man, was on hand to dispatch the chance.
No celebration though, disappointingly.
But there’s a reason this side are ten time European champions. Their first real attack, worked beautifully from back to front with an exquisite hooked cross from James Rodriguez which left the Serie A side’s defence bamboozled and static, allowing Ronaldo to head past a sprawling Gianluigi Buffon.
Real should have been 2-1 up just before the half-time break with another beautiful move forward seeing Isco tee up James with a tantalising, inch perfect cross.
The Colombian came at it with full force and connected but saw his effort cannon of the crossbar, and he’ll know he should have buried it from such a close distance.
The second half was particularly feisty but with no real cutting edge.
However, on a Real Madrid corner, Juventus managed to break free with Tevez and Morata. And when the Argentine got into the box, he skilfully got past Morata who responded by shoving him to the ground and Martin Atkinson pointed to the penalty spot.
Tevez made no mistake and the Italian side were back in front.
Real toiled and tried but couldn’t break through a solid Italian back line and made few clear-cut chances in the second 45.
And arguably Juventus should have been heading to the Bernabeu with a two goal advantage, after Fernando Llorente missed a chance to make it three to the Old Lady at the death.
Will that come back to haunt him and Juve? We’ll find out next week in the Spanish capital but as things stand, Juventus look like they are heading through to their first Champions League final in 12 years.
The defending champions are rocking and as if the omens weren’t good already, Juve have never been knocked out in four attempts in Europe after a 2-1 home win.
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