Massimiliano Allegri tips his hat to the Bianconeri after an accomplished display against Real Madrid at Juventus Stadium.
Massimiliano Allegri was full of superlatives after seeing his team overcome reigning European champions Real Madrid during tonight’s 2-1 semi-final first leg win at Juventus Stadium.
The Tuscan tactician says he was delighted with the intensity shown by his men and, despite seeing a couple of opportunities to extend their lead go begging towards the end, could only shower them with praise.
Speaking to the media in Turin, he said: “I’m really pleased with the lads’ performance tonight. It’s a deserved reward from a game that wasn’t easy. They played with extraordinary intensity and afforded Real very little. I can only take my hat off to them.
“It’s a pity we didn’t get a third, as there were a couple of moments when we could have been better with our final ball. But we defended really well with our back four tonight. It wasn’t easy for me to leave Barzagli out but I had a choice to make. When he comes on he’s able to instantly get into the swing of things.”
47% Ball Possession JUVENTUS and 53% Ball Possession REAL MADRID Juventus 2 – 1 Real madrid
8′ Alvaro Morata 27′ Cristiano Ronaldo
57′ Carlos Tevez (pen)
Juventus returning to the Champions League Semifinal after 12 years since 2003. It’s a face to face among top Italian coaches Carlo Ancelotti vs Massimiliano Allegri. The battle between Cristiano Ronaldo vs Carlos Tevez.
Referee Martin Atkinson whistles the start of the game and we are ready to rumble!
In the 3rd minute, Juventus with chances to open the score with Sturaro forcing Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas to double save.
First yellow card of the match in the 5th minute is for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci after a foul on Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale.
GOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL allow me to jump and do my cheerleading! In the 8th minute there is the goal by forward Alvaro Morata defeating goalkeeper Casillas with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by forward Carlos Tevez. Total joy and there you go Alvaro Morata celebration with teammates
Photo: facebook.com/Juventus
Click the video to watch the goal by Juventus forward Alvaro Morata against Real Madrid
Real Madrid challenging Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon in the 12th minute with Toni Kroos delivering a right footed shot while Buffon ready to save in the bottom left corner. The assist is by Isco.
OUCH!!!!!! Real Madrid equalizing in the 27th minute with forward Crisitiano Ronaldo defeating goalkeeper Buffon with a headed shot in the bottom left corner despite stretching to save. The assist is by James Rodriguez. Stats, Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 37 goals since Champions League 2012/13, at least 13 more than any player.
Photo: facebook.com/RealMadrid
Click the video to watch the goal by Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo against Juventus
One minuted added time. First half ending 52.7% ball possession for Juventus.
Starting the second half.
In the 47th minute, Referee Atkinson giving a yellow card to forward Carlos Tevez after a foul on Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.
Referee Atkinson giving a penalty to Juventus conceded by defender Daniel Carbajal after a foul on Carlos Tevez bringing him down. Marcelo and Arturo Vidal get a yellow card. And here we go…. it is Tevez to convert the penalty defeating goalkeeper Casillas with a right footed shot in the center!!!!
Photo juventus.com
Real Madrid making a substitution in the 63rd minute. Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) replacing midfielder Isco.
In the 64th minute, Juventus making their first substitution with defender Andrea Barzagli replacing midfielder Stefano Sturaro.
Real Madrid defender Daniel Carbajal gets a yellow card in the 75th minute after a foul on Alvaro Morata.
Juventus making a second substitution in the 78th minute. Allegri replacing forward Alvaro Morata with forward Fernando Llorente.
In the 79th minute Real Madrid presing and so close to score with forward Gareth Bale and his left footed shot is blocked!
In the 85th minute yellow card to Real Madrid James Rodriguez after a foul on Fernando Llorente.
Juventus making the last substitution in the 86th minute, forward Carlos Tevez is replaced by Roberto Pereyra.
Real Madrid also making a subsitution in the 86th minute Jesé replaces Gareth Bale.
Oops in the 90th minute a handball by Sergio Ramos.
Oh my goshhhh !!!! In the 91st minute Juventsu so close to the goal and Llorente misses his chance after the free kick by Andrea Pirlo….
In the 92nd minute Referee Atkinson giving a yellow card to defender Giorgio Chiellini.
Buffon making a save in the 93rd minute!!! and this is it…. Referee whistles the end of the game….. GRANDE JUVENTUS!!!!!!!
Here is JUVENTUS official starting lineup by coach Massimiliano Allegri:
The goalkeeper expresses his satisfaction after a pleasing night at the office: “What’s important is us travelling to Madrid with the door still open for a place in the final”
Gianluigi Buffon says the Bianconeri can be satisfied with the final outcome of this evening’s semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, won 2-1 thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez.
The goalkeeper believes tonight’s display proves Juventus are worthy of their place at Europe’s top table and is happy the team’s chances of reaching June’s final in Berlin remain intact after a challenging first test against the Champions League holders.
Speaking to the media in Turin, Buffon began: “We could have indeed scored a third, but they also could have grabbed an equaliser. In the cold light of day I would say that 2-1’s a very good result for us.
“We needed to show ourselves that we could compete at the top level. A 1-1 would also have been a good result from this point of view. What’s important is us travelling to Madrid with the door still open for a place in the final.”
The midfield maestro reacts to tonight’s 2-1 Champions League semi-final first leg victory in Turin: “There’s still another game to play, nothing is settled yet”
Andrea Pirlo has called on the Bianconeri to retain the same focus shown in tonight’s 2-1 victory over Real Madrid when they head to Spain for the return leg in eight days’ time.
The 35-year-old, who put in a combative display alongside Claudio Marchisio and European debutant Stefano Sturaro during this evening’s semi-final first leg in Turin, urged the Bianconeri to not get ahead of themselves despite their advantage.
Speaking to reporters pitchside, he began: “It was a difficult match and we need to be completely focused for the return leg.
“There’s still another game, nothing is settled yet. We want to go to Spain and put in a great performance and keep the same focus that we showed in today’s encounter.”
This year’s final will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, a venue which holds great memories for Pirlo who was part of the Italy side that won the 2006 World Cup on German turf.
And while acknowledging that making an appearance at the ground would be an opportunity he would relish, the veteran midfielder stated that the tie remains in the balance as the Bianconeri look to reach their first Champions League final since 2003.
He concluded: “Of course Berlin is a city that’s full of fond memories but there’s still a return leg to play.
“We’ve sent out a message to the rest of Europe: we want to reach the Champions League final and we’ll give it everything we’ve got in Madrid.”
