Next stop, Berlin?
A superb display means Juventus have a 2-1 lead to defend next week against Real Madrid, as Luca Cetta writes.
Underdogs? Certainly. In it to make up the numbers? Not a chance. “Juve, you can do it!” screamed yesterday’s Corriere dello Sport. In a first Champions League semi-final since 2003 Juventus proved they belong. A performance Marcello Lippi’s vintage would be proud of sees the Bianconeri hold a slender advantage ahead of next week’s second leg. It was a result that made people stand up and take notice. “No limits” Gazzetta dello Sport led with in response.
Roared on by an electric Juventus Stadium crowd, La Vecchia Signora started like a house on fire. She was intense and attack-minded, needing little subtlety as Real’s defence left gaping holes. When Carlos Tevez exploited one such gap who else but Alvaro Morata would be on hand to tap in the opener? He did not celebrate against his former club yet the importance of the goal was paramount.
The potential tie-changing moment came as James Rodriguez centred for Cristiano Ronaldo’s close-range header. Asked pre-match what he thought needs to be done to stop Real, Lippi’s response was Juventus had to defend well. With the wealth of talent on display in a black shirt it would require concentration and determination. With Juve stretched the visitors got a goal which will offer belief.
It took some time for the home side to get over the shock of conceding. They had, until that point, given their star-studded visitors precious little. Stefano Sturaro then made a crucial intervention to deflect James’ header on to the woodwork. The two times Real worked in and around the Juventus defence led to a goal scored and so nearly a second.
But Juve got back to business and proved why they had reached this stage. Real looked defensively vulnerable throughout and cracked early in the second half. Juve broke clear from a Merengues corner and, after Morata was tripped, Tevez had to go it alone. Go he did, winning a penalty from Dani Carvajal’s trip. It could well have been a red card. Arturo Vidal got the Turin giants to this stage by burying his spot-kick against Monaco. This time it was Tevez. The Argentinian netted his 50th goal in a Bianconeri shirt and seventh in 11 Champions League outings with an unerring finish from the spot. Advantage Juve.
Perhaps the real surprise was before the match as Massimiliano Allegri gave a first European start to Sturaro. It worked a treat. Intervention from James aside he did not look out of place, showing the steel of a veteran. Maybe he was watching his midfield companions. Vidal gave his best performance of the season. Andrea Pirlo was a tireless worker and Claudio Marchisio a diligent all-rounder.
And what of Morata? If there was a point to prove to his former employers he rammed it home. The goal topped a hardworking shift. He said before he would “give anything to win” and took that attitude to the pitch.
Approaching the second leg there were enough signs for both sides to suggest confidence in reaching the decider. For Real it’s the away goal. They will need just one to go through and with 23 goals in 11 games this term are more than capable. Karim Benzema returning would be a boost.
Juventus could welcome back Paul Pogba in the Spanish capital. Yet with or without the mercurial Frenchman this team is capable of grabbing an away goal. Especially against a side which must score. Aside from those which did go in yesterday, the Turin side had opportunities for a third. Even after defender Andrea Barzagli was added to the mix fellow substitute Fernando Llorente had two opportunities to extend the lead.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team struggled to create openings and he bemoaned a lack of space in the final stages. Another repeat defensive display will give Juve a big chance. “I don’t think they are accustomed to playing against such an organised side as us,” Stephan Lichtsteiner commented afterwards. The Bianconeri will have to be at the top of their game once more to keep the wolves at bay.
They’ve shown they belong. Now it’s time for Juventus to finish the job and reach Berlin.
(само овој вториот обратно беше, никад немаше шутнато со лево)
а го земавме за "само" 10 милки 
