Socrates

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Iuliano: Juventus Proved They Are A Great Side Against Real Madrid May 14, 2015 Former Juventus defender Mark Iuliano feels that his old side proved that they are a great side by beating Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate to book a place in the Champions League against Barcelona. The current Latina coach was happy to see the Bianconeri make the final in Berlin and praised the club for their winning spirit and coach Massimiliano Allegri for his work. “This Juve side proved that they are a great side, they’ve been coached well by a great coach [Allegri],” said Iuliano to TuttoMercatoWeb.com. “I’m very happy that they were able to return to the Champions League final.” Iuliano was also asked if there are any similarities between the current Juventus side and the teams he played for between 1996 and 2004. “The desire and will to win is always part of the Bianconeri’s spirit,” said Iuliano. “That’s what I remember best about the teams I played for. “That spirit’s always been the club’s main weapon.” Iuliano also offered his thoughts about the final against Barcelona. “Nothing can be taken for granted,” said Iuliano. “If Juventus can prepare for the game. at their highest possible levels then they will have great potential and they’ll be close to Barcelona’s level. “In a close game anything can happen. “We shouldn’t forget that if a team reaches the final, then there must be a reason for that.”

Allegri: ‘Historic year for Juventus’ May 14, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri describes Juventus’ season as ‘historic’, and predicts people will tell their children about it. The Bianconeri have already secured the Scudetto, and are in the final of both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia. “This is a historic year for Juventus, one to tell our children about when we’re old,” Allegri told JTV. “I came here thinking we could have a fantastic season, [but] I didn’t think we’d be in the final of all competitions in May. “We can’t ask for more than this after the League, and now we want to bring home the other two trophies. “Now we must work to end our season in an extraordinary way. “At this point of the season we have to maintain our condition to try to get to June 6 [the Champions League final] in top condition. “We’re having a great season, and now we’re in two very important finals. “First of all we’ll try to win the Coppa Italia. The players, staff and coaches of the past few years will go down in history. “We’ll play the Coppa Italia against a very good team, and it’s clearly difficult, because it’s a final. “As for the Champions League, it’s possible to beat Barcelona in a one-off game. Over two legs it would be very difficult. “In a one-off game anything can happen, so we’ll see who’s in the best shape in a month’s time.” The Old Lady’s European campaign has given Serie A’s coefficient a significant boost, and Allegri hopes Fiorentina and Napoli can continue that in the Europa League. “We hope the other two teams can make it to the Europa League final. Italian football is not something to be dismissed, quite the opposite.” Finally, the former Milan Coach reflected on his side’s Scudetto win, with the title having been wrapped up two weeks ago. “We had a great League campaign, where Juve were always in the lead,” Allegri recalled. “In the second half of the season we had two bad performances, against Cesena and Parma. “Against Parma we could say that it’s because we were playing a Champions League quarter-final [against Monaco], the lads did well to react. “We had a great season, maintaining our balance.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Who said Serie A is dead? Allegri and Juventus silence the critics The coach’s appointment last summer was expected to signal the downfall of the Bianconeri but the ex-AC Milan boss has made his and Italy’s critics eat their words. May 14, 2015 By Carlo Garganese Anyone fancy some humble pie? There is plenty to go around after Juventus sensationally booked their place in the Champions League final on Wednesday by eliminating holders Real Madrid. No one in their wildest fantasies could have predicted such an outcome last summer when the Bianconeri were left in disarray after coach Antonio Conte suddenly resigned in the middle of July due to a disagreement over transfer policy. In a shock move, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli and CEO Giuseppe Marotta hurriedly named Massimiliano Allegri as Conte’s successor. Only six months earlier, Allegri had been sacked as coach of AC Milan and needless to say the appointment did not go down well with fans. Hundreds of Juventus supporters immediately staged a protest outside the club’s Vinovo training base, while Ultras demanded a meeting with Marotta as part of a campaign to overturn the decision. “The first day with Allegri and the president in the car, we were greeted at the training ground by spitting, eggs and kicks,” Marotta revealed earlier this month. Most Italian journalists predicted that Allegri’s arrival would signal the downfall of Juventus – that Paul Pogba and Manchester United-target Arturo Vidal were certain to leave the club and the rapidly rising Roma would overtake the Bianconeri domestically. Some 10 months down the line, the experts and fans could not have been more wrong. Vidal and Pogba are still at the club and Juve are on course to win a historic treble. A fourth straight Scudetto was clinched with four rounds to spare – with the Old Lady a whopping 16 points clear of crisis-hit Roma. Next week, Juventus have the chance to win their first Coppa Italia since 1995 as they take on Lazio in the final, while against all odds the Bianconeri are in the Champions League final. The work done by Allegri, Marotta and Agnelli has been remarkable. The coach has proven that the problems he encountered at Milan were largely down to an inadequate playing staff and an owner who should have sold the club years ago. At Juventus, he has shown himself to be intelligent, tactically astute and superior to Conte. While his predecessor performed miracles in rebuilding the club and dominating Serie A, he consistently fell short on the continent. His side always played the same way with the same 3-5-2 formation – making them very predictable when faced by Europe’s elite. He also rotated poorly – regularly fielding his full-strength side against weak Serie A opponents days before a Champions League clash – and never believed his team could challenge superpowers like Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. “You cannot go to eat at a €100 restaurant with just €10 in your pocket,” he famously said, while he also sniped in 2013 that “an Italian team won’t win the Champions League for years.” Allegri has learned from all of Conte’s mistakes. He has made Juventus unpredictable by using a number of different formations – his favoured 4-3-1-2, the 3-5-2, 4-3-2-1, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 – often “changing the menu” during games as Patrice Evra put it. He has also offered more freedom to key players, particularly Carlos Tevez who was sometimes restricted by Conte’s rigid system. The coach has rested first teamers before big European matches – nine sat out Juve’s Serie A match with Cagliari last Saturday – while most importantly of all he has given Juventus belief that they can compete against anyone. Conte’s defeatist attitude is gone - Allegri has behaved like the coach of one of the world’s biggest clubs. “We go to Berlin convinced we can bring home the trophy,” he remarked on Wednesday night. Allegri also added that Juventus’ win over Madrid was a “big night for Italian football” and there is no doubt that the success will serve as a big inspiration for the rest of the peninsula. It has become a pastime for many fans and members of the football community to kick Serie A when it was down on its knees. But the league has shown this season that, despite its obvious problems with stadiums, Ultras and finance (Madrid’s revenue from 2013-14 was €270m more than Juventus’, according to Deloitte), from a footballing sense it is far from dead. Juventus are in the Champions League final, while both Napoli and Fiorentina are in the Europa League semis. After Thursday’s matches, Serie A could overtake La Liga as the best performing championship in Europe this season. Italy has earned 19 coefficient points for the Uefa Ranking this term to Spain’s 19.2. The German Bundesliga and English Premier League are way back with 15.8 and 13.5 points, respectively. After next season, it is very possible that Italy will regain four places in the Champions League at the expense of England. That is a damning indictment on the Premier League considering the astronomical wealth gap between the EPL and Serie A. The quality of the Italian championship is regularly ridiculed, particularly in the British media, but it is now time for a reality check. The EPL had no teams progress past the last 16 in Europe, Ligue 1 only had two and the Bundesliga just two also – with Germany’s second best team Wolfsburg humiliated by a struggling Napoli outfit. Juventus and Serie A have restored Italian pride and silenced so many critics in the process.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Genius Moment: Morata comes back to haunt Real Madrid The Spain striker, who left the Bernabeu in a €20 million deal last summer, has bagged four goals in six Champions League knockout games to lead Juventus to the final. May 14, 2015 On paper, Alvaro Morata does not stand out as having been a roaring success for Juventus given his €20 million price tag; his seven Serie A goals this season put him behind Middlesbrough flop Massimo Maccarone, among others, and less than halfway to 37-year-old Luca Toni’s total. But it is in European competition that Morata is making his presence felt, and with one goal at the home of the club he joined as a teenager he has repaid his transfer fee by sending Juventus to their first Champions League final since 2003. Morata now has four goals in his last six Champions League games. No Spanish player has scored more in the competition this season. He netted one at home and one away against Borussia Dortmund, and repeated the trick to even greater importance against Real Madrid, scoring two of Juventus’ three goals over 180 minutes. Given Karim Benzema’s recent injury, Carlo Ancelotti may regret letting Morata leave. “I barely had any kind of relationship with Ancelotti,” he said in March. “Max Allegri, for better or worse, is always looking after me.” His contribution cannot only be measured in terms of his own performances but also in what he has brought out of Carlos Tevez, who is playing the best football of his career. At 6ft 2in, Morata is capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play but does so with greater precision and thought than Fernando Llorente. Tevez buzzed around him and was Juventus’ most creative player again, but Morata’s extra physical presence allowed him to pounce on Paul Pogba’s knockdown and punch a hole in the Madrid defence. Barcelona await in Berlin. They have beaten the reigning champions of England, France and Germany on their way to the final but Italy’s top club can justifiably claim to boast the best defence in the world. If they can avoid the mistakes of the clubs Barcelona have faced so far, their young star in attack could be a difference-maker once again.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Lippi: ‘Juve like my Italy’ May 14, 2015 Marcello Lippi sees similarities between Juventus and his World Cup winning Italy side - ‘I hope the outcome is the same’. The Bianconeri advanced to their first Champions League final since 2003 [when Lippi was on the bench] with a draw in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid last night. The showpiece event will be held at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, the scene of the Azzurri’s 2006 triumph, and Lippi acknowledges the parallels. “Berlin is a place which is very dear to me, as it is for many of the champions at Juventus [Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Barzagli and Gigi Buffon were in the 2006 squad],” the former Juve Coach told Tuttomercatoweb. “I see so many similarities between my Italy and this Juventus, now I just hope the final outcome is the same. “Juventus proved last night that they are strong, very strong. They went onto the pitch in a tough manner, with the attitude of a team which wants to go through. “They’ve proven they are stronger than Real Madrid, but some achievements are part of the Juventus DNA. “Juventus have mainly grown in self-belief, and they’ve done this with great performances on the European stage. “I’m thinking about the matches with Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and the two against Real Madrid.” Lippi, who lifted the trophy with the Old Lady in 1996, also had words of praise for Coach Massimiliano Allegri. “Congratulations to Allegri. With the Champions League final he has completed the work which Antonio Conte began in these past few years.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Allegri's tactics vs. Real Madrid 'perfection' - Carlos Tevez May 14, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri deserves credit for the Bianconeri's march to the final of the Champions League, striker Ca Tevez, 31, believes Wednesday night's 1-1 draw in Real Madrid, which completed a 3-2 aggregate win, was planned down to the finest of details by Allegri who is still on course for an historic Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League Treble this term -- his first season in charge of the Turin club. "The coach prepared these two games to perfection," Tevez told Sky Sport Italia. "He always gives all the credit to us, but a lot of it is also his." Allegri only took charge of Juve a month before the campaign after Antonio Conte surprisingly stepped down. He was greeted with eggs and spitting from Bianconeri fans on his first day at work, but has managed to convince them all in the space of nine months. His Juve side have taken the step Conte's was unable to do in his three years in charge. "The strength of this Juve side is in the team," added Tevez. "We've shown that we're ready for great things." Barcelona await in the final in Berlin and so does their star player Lionel Messi, Tevez's Argentine compatriot. "He's the best in the world right now," Tevez said. "He does some crazy things -- he's from another planet. But we will be in the best of shape when we face them. We deserve this final." As for his own future, reaching the final appears to have convinced the Argentine forward to resist the temptation of returning to his home country and joining Boca Juniors this summer. "I'm staying in Turin," he said. "Definitely." Tevez's contract expires in 2016 and he has already informed the club that he will not be signing an extension.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Morata leads unwavering Juve to Berlin Juventus have reached the Champions League Final thanks to Alvaro Morata’s goal and their unshakable spirit, Luca Cetta writes. May 14, 2015 “I chose Juventus because this is one of the most important clubs in Europe,” Alvaro Morata said upon his Turin arrival last July. “I will try to help them win more titles.” A former Real Madrid striker who celebrated winning Europe’s top prize last May in Lisbon, he found himself cast aside by the club he had represented since his teenage years. There were multiple suitors for his signature. But Morata was steadfast in his desire to join Juventus. The Bianconeri shelled out €20m in a complicated deal. And as they celebrated reaching the Champions League Final 10 months later, it was Morata who had his fingerprints all over the Semi-final success. He opened the scoring last week in Turin. And yesterday, with Juve needing a goal to stay in the hunt, the 22-year-old delivered. Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier converted from the spot after Giorgio Chiellini’s clumsy foul on James Rodriguez. It put the Spaniards ahead on away goals. Massimiliano Allegri’s men had to hit back. And when Andrea Pirlo’s partially cleared free-kick was hooked back into the penalty area in the 57th minute, Real’s dream of becoming the first side in the Champions League era to retain the trophy went to dust. Paul Pogba centred for Morata to beat Iker Casillas. After Juventus won its first post-Calciopoli Scudetto in 2012, President Andrea Agnelli remarked the club had been “from paradise to hell and back to paradise.” Perhaps captain Gianluigi Buffon best epitomises the journey. From winning the 2006 World Cup in Berlin to then playing in Serie B, nine years later he will return to the German capital. Gigi said afterwards it was destiny. It has been 12 years since Juventus reached Europe’s showpiece match. To get there they had to show a mixture of courage and spirit, with some luck thrown in. Allegri promised his side would not simply sit back. Facing a side which last failed to score at the Bernabeu three years ago, he said it was unlikely to end scoreless. The Coach made just one change from last week’s team, Pogba returning to European action to replace Stefano Sturaro in the stifling mid-May heat. The hosts had their chances. After a bright Juventus opening, Real took command. Gareth Bale tested Buffon from distance. After Ronaldo netted they may well have got another. The Portuguese dynamo and Karim Benzema, twice, going close. Allegri’s side looked a shell of the team which produced such a vibrant display in Turin. But that unshakable team spirit shone through. “We were never afraid,” Patrice Evra stated. “At half-time, when 1-0 down, I told the lads it’d end like this. I knew we had to suffer, but that we’d do it.” Juventus grew in stature. Claudio Marchisio drilled just wide. Then Morata took centre stage. Like the first leg he showed restraint in his celebration. “The situation was difficult for me. I didn’t celebrate, I just did my job, I am a Juve player and didn’t deserve that [booing from the Real fans].” That forced Real to break down the blue wall one more time. It opened the door to a frantic final half hour. Barzagli’s introduction signified Allegri’s intentions. Try as Real might – and Bale was a constant danger inside the penalty area – Juventus did not yield. It was a victory for togetherness, for a team which plays for one another. “We have a very united squad, we are all brothers here because we’ve known each other for a few years now,” Arturo Vidal remarked. “What Juventus have is a great team.” Carlo Ancelotti, who last week admitted to never being enamoured by La Vecchia Signora, is now on the brink of being sacked thanks to that lady. Juve’s treble dream remains alive. There are four games to play before heading to the Olympiastadion. That includes next week’s Coppa Italia Final versus Lazio where they will aim to seal a first domestic double since 1995. Then preparations will turn to Barcelona. Like this contest they’ll go in underdogs against Barca’s fearsome attack. But after the display in Madrid, it would take a brave man to write this Juventus side off.

Juninho tells Pogba to join Barcelona The Brazilian believes the in-demand Juventus midfielder should not consider a move back to his native France. May 14, 2015 Former Lyon midfielder Juninho has warned Juventus star Paul Pogba against signing for Paris Saint-Germain and believes a move to Barcelona would be his best option. Pogba is expected to be a target for the majority of Europe's top clubs this summer, with PSG leading the chase having agreed an €80m fee with Juve for the 22-year-old. The France international, who again impressed as Juve reached the Champions League final on Wednesday night with a 3-2 aggregate win over Real Madrid, is believed to have reservations about playing in Ligue 1 and Juninho says he should explore the other options available to him. The Brazilian told RMC: "Barca, if they are able to buy him, would be good. Andres Iniesta's level has started to drop a bit and Barca could continue to win for years with Pogba in the team. "With their style of play, a 4-3-3, it would be ideal. At Real Madrid he would need more time to adjust. I would choose Barca and I would never return to France." Pogba signed a new five-year deal at Juve in October 2014 but that has not stopped the speculation regarding his future. Talk of a move intensified last week when his agent Mino Raiola was spotted at Real Madrid's training base in Turin ahead of the first leg of their semi-final tie with the Bianconeri. The player's representative was later quizzed over the former Manchester United man's future and refused to rule out a move to Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Birindelli: ‘Allegri fantastic’ May 14, 2015 Former Juventus defender Alessandro Birindelli praises ‘fantastic’ Max Allegri, and believes the club’s success is good for Italian football. The Bianconeri reached the final of the Champions League last night, following up their 2-1 win over Real Madrid in Turin with a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. “As a Juventus fan and former player, I’m very happy,” Birindelli told Tuttomercatoweb. “I’m also happy for Italian football, which has returned to the level which matters. Considering the state of football and the country in general, it’s great to see things like yesterday. “As with every line of work, if you have a good plan, and if you work with love, determination and passion then you can achieve important things. “It takes luck, of course, but fortune favours the brave.” Birindelli also had high praise for Coach Max Allegri, who was not a universally popular figure when he replaced Antonio Conte this summer. “I think that the three years under Conte created a solid foundation, giving this squad its core. Those years were used to grow, and to be able to manage these kind of games. “Allegri was fantastic in handling everything, without changing anything. When he arrived in Turin, everyone was against him, but he swallowed those bitter pills. “He gave belief, encouragement and motivation to a team which was missing that one step to get to where it is now - in the final of the Champions League.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) United Juve Stand, Divided Real Fall May 14, 2015 The initial emotion, perhaps the instinctive reaction, was one of frustration. What might have been, but what ultimately wasn't. After all, we were so close to what many would consider the absolute pinnacle of club football: a Clasico final to decide the Champions League. It is hard to believe such a match has never happened before, a cosmic quirk that would seem certain to be rectified at some point. It would be like if Federer and Nadal never contested a final at Wimbledon or Mayweather and Pacquiao never actually met in the ring. To miss out on such a seminal match, after it appearing to be so close, is a difficult pill to swallow. On further reflection, however, perhaps we are wrong to be too disappointed. To rue what we missed out on is to do a disservice to Juventus, who surely warranted their place in the final—and in the process put up two fingers to the pundits (and there were a fair few of them) who said they had no chance of beating Real Madrid.

Patrice Evra: Barcelona not as strong as Pep Guardiola's sides May 14, 2015 Juventus defender Patrice Evra has told RMC that Luis Enrique's Barcelona are "not as strong" as the sides led by Pep Guardiola. Evra, who was part of the Manchester United teams beaten by Guardiola's Barca in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, is set to face the Spanish giants once more after Juve overcame Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the semifinals. The 33-year-old said Juve would be underdogs in Berlin on June 6 and praised a Barca attack consisting of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, but he said the overall level of the team had dropped over the last four years. Evra, who was also part of the Monaco side that lost the 2004 final as well as the United team that won the competition in 2008, said: "We have to stay in the role of outsider. "This final, it's David versus Goliath. That's how we're going to approach it. It's like that that Juve are at their most dangerous. When no one makes us favourites, we can pull out something big. I have confidence in all these players who play in my team. It's not impossible. "I have played against Barcelona. I lost finals against Barcelona where the team was the star. It wasn't just about a single player, even if there was Messi. "Now, today, they're a great team, but it's about three individuals up front: Neymar, Messi and Suarez. They can make the difference at any time but, as a team, they're not as strong as the one I faced with Manchester United." Evra is now playing alongside former United players Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba in Turin, and the trio have enjoyed a hugely successful season, with Juve already crowned Serie A champions and still in contention for a Treble. He said that his decision to leave United last summer had nothing to do with on-field matters, though, explaining: "It's worked out well, but it wasn't a natural choice. It was for personal reasons. "I will always miss Manchester United but, today, I'm at Juve. I'm happy to be in the final. I had nothing to prove or anything of that kind. Juve called me and said to me that they wanted to do better in the Champions League and that they needed my experience. I am paying them back on the pitch, contributing what I can to go as far as possible."

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Dreams become Real-ity: Juventus advance to Champions League final with 1-1 draw in Madrid May 14, 2015 A few weeks ago, I volunteered to write the match recap for the return leg of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid. So I knew I was going to be ecstatic or devastated while writing the game review. What I didn't know is that it will take about two hours to be calm enough to sit down and type. And now that I can write, there is so little to say. Juventus are going to Berlin, ladies and gents. Juve are playing in a final by playing the tournament to our strengths — a rock-solid defense, a tireless midfield, and a clinical attack. Juventus were not going to score three goals in Madrid, but trusted their strengths and made it through. What a good day to be a Juventino. MATCH RECAP Juventus started the game strong. Sure, there was that Karim Benzema chance, but the defense did well to close him down and leave him with an impossible shot. After the first five minutes Juventus appeared to be the home side. They were attacking, passing the ball around and looking to beat a disorganized and tired Madrid side. Obviously, things did not turn out as easy. By the 10th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo took a chance from a free-kick that Gianluigi Buffon did well to push over the bar. This was just a preamble of things to come. Real Madrid continued to attack and Juventus looked to be confused and startled in defense. Then, 22 minutes into the match, Giorgio Chiellini unnecessarily fouled James in the 18-yard box. The ref pointed to the spot and, a minute later, Ronaldo was making it 1-0. Juventus seemed genuinely shocked, but Madrid didn't seem too interested in scoring a second one. For the remainder of the first half, Juventus managed to hold off Los Merengues with more heart than skill and organization. It also looked like Madrid were starting to get tired from their intense thirty minutes. The halftime whistle was welcomed by both teams, and provided the perfect opportunity for Max Allegri to reorganize the troops. Everyone expected Madrid to score one goal, so at least the team had to have a plan in mind to try to score that precious away goal. The second half appeared to start with much of the same, with Juventus sitting back and Madrid dominating possession, but this time Juventus seemed more organized. And slowly they started to make their presence felt. Until, in the 57th minute, Andrea Pirlo took a free-kick from the flank that Iker Casillas manages to parry away. The ball is sent back into the area towards Paul Pogba who was played onside by Sergio Ramos. Pogba is able to head the ball towards Álvaro Morata, who after controlling with his chest,puts it in the back of the net. The game was now in favor of the Bianconeri, but with 30 minutes to play, anything could happen. In the 67th minute, a tired Benzema was replaced by Javier Hernandez to the relief of most Juventini. Benzema had been problematic all match (less so towards the end) and his understanding with Ronaldo certainly deflated Madrid's attack. Madrid continued to attack with a shot from James Rodriguez that left Buffon standing, a header for Bale, and a supposed foul on Hernandez. On the other side, Claudio Marchisio missed a golden chance to make it 1-2 and kill all hopes of Madrid qualifying but it wasn't to be. For the last 10 minutes, Juventus moved to a 3-5-2 with Andrea Barzagli at the back and stopped everything that came their way. LE PAGELLE Buffon 7.5 He had a couple good saves, but his leadership at the back was truly needed. A rock at the back. Lichtsteiner 6.5 Covered Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo well enough. I am sure he was told not to venture too far forward. Bonucci 7.0 Did well to cover Benzema, Bale, and Ronaldo throughout the match. He has very good at closing the angle in one of Madrid's counterattacks. His positioning was very good throughout. Chiellini 6.0 He made a stupid and unnecessary mistake that could have cost us the match. His aggressiveness is welcome, but there is a time and a place, and this wasn't it. He needs to learn from this experience for the final. Evra 7.5 Another one of Juve's experienced players. He covered for Pogba's lack of defensive commitment. He won headers against players that were taller than him and moved the ball confidently from the back. I don't know when he became such a central piece of our back four, but there it is. Marchisio 7.0 Good all-around game. Had the chance to make it 2-1 and kill the match. I am guessing he is saving it for the final against Barcelona, right? Pirlo 6.0 Insufficient. He lost too many balls and his passing was not that dangerous. Probably because the team was playing so far back that there was no one to really pass to. Morata's goal started from Pirlo's free kick so he gets 0.5 points for that. Moving forward the team must decide if Pirlo being a central piece of the team is the best way forward. Pogba 6.0 Seemed more focused on scoring a goal or making a fancy move than on helping out the team. He missed some easy passes, and his defending was lackluster. Overall, he appeared to be shaken by playing such a big match. With that being said, he gets the assist for Morata's goal. Vidal 6.5 He had some good times, but also faded during others. His game was not as good as last week but enough to stop Madrid from playing comfortably at the back and in the middle of the field. Tevez 6.0 When Tevez doesn't show up this team suffers, and today he was nowhere to be found for the first 60 minutes of the match. Morata 8.5 To score the goal that qualifies your team to the final is an immense task. To score it at the Bernabeu against the team that formed you is an even bigger deal. To do all of this at 22 years old is a sign of big things to come. His composure up front is second to none. And every dangerous play that Juventus had came from him. He gets and extra 0.5 for being a classy guy and not celebrating the biggest goal of his career. I truly hope he makes Turin his home. Allegri 8.0 Allegri setup a team to play to its strengths (defense and midfield). It was nerve-racking for any black and white fans but it worked. CONCLUSION How did Juventus go from not being able to dine in a $100 restaurant with $10 to eating at the fanciest restaurant in town? The short answer to that is that Juventus is not a $10 team and that Allegri pitched in the rest of the cash. The team played with self-belief, conviction, and a never give-up attitude. Now we have a final to play. Juventus are by far the underdogs, but that is a tag a like. We also have a coach that has played against Barca in the past. More importantly, no matter what happens, we now know what we can do. We may not make the finals every year, we may no even make the semis every year. But if we can consistently make it to the top 8, that would be a huge step in the right direction.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Back To Berlin: Buffon Now Seeks Champions League Glory With Juventus May 14, 2015 With Juve reaching their first Champions League final since 2003, Gianluigi Buffon, the sole survivor of that side, could finally be set for a first winner’s medal at the scene of the greatest triumph of his career. “I think it’s finely balanced and I can see Real Madrid scoring but then I think Juventus have a goal in them too,” Paolo Rossi told Tuttosport ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg. “So I am predicting a 1-1.” The legendary Juventus and Italy forward, now turned media pundit, scored in the 57th minute of the 1982 World Cup final with a diving header at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, when the Azzurri defeated West Germany to claim the trophy for a third time. And now nearly 33 years later, another outstanding opportunist wearing blue repeated the feat, as Alvaro Morata cancelled out a first-half penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in the exact same minute to fulfill Rossi’s prediction. The goal ultimately sealed qualification, as Juventus walked into their eighth European Cup final. The 22-year-old forward returned to haunt his former side, reminiscent of Fernando Morientes in 2004, by striking first in the 2-1 first leg in Turin last Tuesday, and then scoring the crucial goal in the 1-1 draw in Madrid. But before and after that 57th minute half-volley, it was some determined defending and smart saves by Gianluigi Buffon that ensured Juventus’ presence at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on June 6. Aware of the fact Real Madrid had scored in 51 consecutive matches at the Bernabeu, Buffon — like Rossi — had warned in the pre-match press conference that his side would be unable to keep a clean sheet. He may have been unable to repeat his penalty saving heroics against Luis Figo, from the 2003 semi-final second leg win against Real Madrid, but he pulled off a succession of vital saves as Juventus were put under pressure in the first-half. Key with his shot-stopping when Juventus last reached the final 12 years ago, the sole survivor of that side also has continued to be a commanding presence, controlling a defence that has seamlessly shifted between a back-three and four this season. In a combination of being caught up in the emotion of the occasion and hoarse from barking orders to his side, the club captain barely had any voice left when he was interviewed pitchside after the match. “It seemed like destiny, but it really did go the way we hoped,” Buffon told Sport Mediaset. “I am so proud of my teammates, of all the work we’ve done and the journey we’ve made. “You don’t get the chance to play a Champions League final often, so we can’t do it by halves. We’ve got to give our all.” Destiny has been a key word for the Old Lady in this Champions League campaign, with the road to the final taking a route familiar to the 2006 World Cup winners Buffon, Andrea Barzagli and Andrea Pirlo. From the Signal Iduna Park and now to the Olympiastadion, the 37-year-old will look to finally win a Champions League winner’s medal at the same stadium where he triumphed for the Azzurri against France. Buffon can also take another omen from the fact that Juve beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate when they last met in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in 2002-03.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Real Madrid Crash Out As Morata Fires Juventus Into The Champions League Final May 14, 2015 Juventus will face Barcelona in the Champions League Final after eliminating Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate. Alvaro Morata, who grew up in the Merengues youth academy, scored in both legs and the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu sealed their qualification, the first since 2003. The first leg saw a 2-1 victory for the Bianconeri, but the away goal left it in the balance. Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema returned from injury, though at least the Frenchman managed an hour and scored a goal on Saturday against Cagliari. Sergio Ramos returned to defence and Raphael Varane was picked ahead of Pepe. Juve stuck with a four-man defence and Alvaro Morata faced his former teammates. The history was on Juve’s side, as Madrid hadn’t gone through after losing the first leg in 13 years, getting eliminated seven times in a row. The tone was set for a night of Madrid attacks just 35 seconds in when Marcelo’s deep cross picked out Bale, who headed over the bar. Benzema used a brilliant skill to turn away from Leonardo Bonucci, only to blaze over from close range, before Ronaldo’s free-kick was deflected on to the roof of the net by Arturo Vidal. Madrid were eventually rewarded in the 22nd minute when Chiellini’s clumsy challenge on James Rodriguez gave them a penalty which Ronaldo converted with ease, and there was no let up as they pushed forward again immediately after taking the lead. A swift counter resulted in Ronaldo cutting back in the penalty area and appeared to give himself an easy shot to score, but chose to cross for Benzema and saw the ball cleared by the backtracking Vidal. When Bale launched a swift counter-attack Ronaldo fired a powerful shot into the side-netting, and Benzema then brought a fine save out of Buffon with a close-range effort before the first half ended with a booking for Rodriguez as he took an exaggerated tumble in the area. The start of the second half was similar to the first, with Claudio Marchisio’s shot from distance going inches wide of the post. Juve had their equaliser near the hour mark when Pogba headed the ball to Morata whose clever finish found the net. Bale could’ve regained Los Blancos’ lead soon after, but his volley went wide of the post. James Rodriguez was next to threaten Juve’s goal, but his shot from distance went inches over the bar. The Bianconeri should’ve put the game to bed with 20 minutes remaining, but Casillas pulled off an excellent save to deny Marchisio’s one-on-one. The Spanish giants missed another great chance to regain their lead, and tie the game on aggregate, but Bale’s header somehow went over the bar. Juve moved to 3-5-2 for the final 11 minutes, replacing an exhausted Andrea Pirlo. Pogba had a glorious chance to win the tie with only three minutes remaining, but his finish was saved really well by the ever-present Casillas But his efforts were in vain as Real’s final realistic hopes of winning a major trophy this season disappeared. At 10.38pm on a hot night in Madrid the referee blew his whistle and Juventus’s players leapt into the sky and sprinted across the pitch, en route to Berlin. Juventus finally progressed to their eighth European Cup final. Juventus defended for their lives, despite Real’s best efforts to try and barge down their sturdy door. There will be no Clásico final, as many had hoped. Max Allegri’s Juventus have defied all the odds and are heading to Berlin to face Barcelona. It means Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is likely to face Chiellini in the final, their first meeting since the Uruguay international was banned for biting the Italy defender at the World Cup in Brazil last summer. Italy’s Old Lady is heading for Berlin to face Barcelona, the first time Juventus have reached the Champions League final since 2003. A 1-1 draw was enough to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory that Allegri described as “extraordinary”. Not many expected Juventus to make it this far; still fewer expected them to go further. As for Madrid, the question now will be whether Carlo Ancelotti continues; a trophyless season tends to end with a jobless manager usually. This was a superb victory for Juventus, for a club that were relegated in disgrace only nine years ago. What was so good about it was the intelligence and the nerve. We take skill and application for granted as well as the tempo and stamina that Antonio Conte brought to them. But Allegri has injected something extra, a confidence in their ability and their methods. Whether they can live with MSN is for another day but with Buffon, Evra, Chiellini and Bonucci there is always hope. Let’s not forget either that nine years ago a certain Andrea Pirlo was man of the match in the World Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Old Boy Alvaro Morata Sends Juventus Into The Champions League Final May 14, 2015 Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata helped Juventus get into the final of the Champions League after his goal secured a 3-2 aggregate win over holders Real Madrid. The Italians lead the first leg 2-1 and looked like they were heading out as Cristiano Ronaldo converted a 23rd-minute penalty, which was debatable in the first place, to put Real ahead on away goals. But the former Real Madrid academy graduate who was sold to Juve last summer came back to haunt his former side as he scored in the 57th minute to secure a 1-1 draw on the night and book Juve’s place in the final in Berlin on June 6. It will be Juve’s first appearance in the Champions League final since 2003, where they faced a Carlo Ancelotti managed AC Milan and lost on penalties. They will now face a very dangerous looking Barcelona on June 6th in Berlin. Real now look set to end the season without any silverware and there are doubts over Carlo Ancelotti remaining with the side next season as a trophyless season for a club of Real’s stature quite often results in the harshest results even if the side comes close to winning it. Meanwhile goalscorer Alvaro Morata said it was a “bittersweet” feeling scoring against his former side and it was hard for him to not celebrate the goal. “It is a bittersweet feeling,” Morata told Canal+. “Here and in Turin I came on to the pitch thinking that it was a training session (with my old team-mates) and I had to stop and focus. “It was quite hard not to celebrate the goal. It was a weird feeling. But I would react the same again a thousand times. “I would have liked to have scored against another team but that’s life. My feelings will be different against Barcelona. They are a great team but we are as well.” Coach Massimiliano Allegri also heaped praise on the 22 year-old Spaniard. “Morata is becoming a very important player, he has grown physically,” Allegri said. “He is a young lad who grew up at Madrid with many champions by his side. He started from the bench at Juventus but has grown a lot and I think there is still room for improvement.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Juventus' Superior Teamwork Beats Real to Reach Champions League Final May 14, 2015 Juventus travelled to the Spanish capital on Wednesday evening, holding the narrowest of advantages over Real Madrid. The 2-1 scoreline attained in Turin, Italy, left the Bianconeri hopeful of victory but aware that the away goal gave Carlo Ancelotti's club a vital lifeline. His opposite number, Massimiliano Allegri, told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) that the second leg was “the most important match of my career” in the buildup to the game. The coach was also confident his side deserved their place in the last four of the UEFA Champions League, but he warned that they must not go simply to defend their slender lead. “We must play with a relaxed state of mind, because we’ve got the qualities to be here and we’ve proved that already,” Allegri continued. “We have to be aware of our own strengths. We are here to play these 95 minutes to reach the final.” With that in mind, the Bianconeri retained their usual 4-3-2-1 formation rather than opting for a more conservative three-man defence, and they were also able to call upon the fit-again Paul Pogba. Fresh from his goalscoring return against Cagliari on Saturday—analysed in detail here—the French midfielder was inserted into the starting lineup alongside Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio. That was the only change from the first leg, but it would be the home side who seized the initiative, with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema both creating good early chances before a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick was deflected off the wall and on to the roof of the net. Arturo Vidal saw an effort saved after a rare Juve attack before further chances were squandered by Real Madrid’s attacking trio of Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo. Gianluigi Buffon was in fine form to deny each of them but was powerless to prevent a clumsy challenge on James Rodriguez from Giorgio Chiellini. The referee pointed to the spot, much to the chagrin of the visitors, and their anger was compounded when Ronaldo dispatched the penalty with ease. Having wrested control of the tie thanks to their away goal, the reigning European champions began to dominate the game as the first 45 minutes came to an end. Yet the second half would be testament to the superior teamwork and effort of Juventus, with Vidal and Marchisio spurning good opportunities before a Sergio Ramos foul presented Pirlo with a set piece in a good position. His initial ball into the box was cleared, only for Pogba to pick out Alvaro Morata with a header, and the striker would make no mistake from the middle of the area. Beating Iker Casillas, the former Real Madrid star did not celebrate out of respect for his childhood club, showing the same restraint he displayed in the first leg. From there, they saw out the game, tactically superior to the Spanish side as they worked together to secure a well-earned victory. The result put them into the Champions League final for the first time since 2003, which represents a remarkable turnaround for a club who have since suffered relegation and successive seventh-placed finishes before their current domestic dominance. “We have a very united squad, we are all brothers here because we’ve known each other for a few years now,” Vidal told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) shortly after the final whistle. “What Juventus have is a great team!” That was proved here, and director general Giuseppe Marotta was similarly very pleased with the performance. "We demonstrated great personality and showed we could dig in and suffer,” he told the club’s official website before going on to praise both the players and Allegri. "The boss got it spot-on,” Marotta said. “He could have stayed back and defended but instead decided to keep the team high up the field. They even had a few chances to kill the game off for good. We’re back in the limelight and not just in Italy."

Evra warns Suarez: I'll shake your hand, but you'll feel my presence! The Uruguayan was banned for racially abusing the France left-back during their time in the Premier League and they are set to cross paths again in the Champions League final. May 14, 2015 Juventus left-back Patrice Evra has hinted that Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is in for a rough ride when they cross paths in the Champions League final. Suarez was banned for eight matches by the Football Association during his time at Liverpool after he was found guilty of racially abusing Evra while playing against Manchester United at Anfield in October 2011. The Uruguay striker has always maintained his innocence, however, and upon returning from his suspension he refused to shake the defender's hand ahead of a match at Old Trafford. The two are now set to face off once again when Juve take on Barca in Berlin in June and Evra has suggested that it could be a lively affair. "A lot of people ask me this question; it doesn't matter," he replied when asked by reporters about the prospect of playing against Suarez, who will also cross paths with Giorgio Chiellini, the Italy defender whom he bit at the World Cup. "The most important thing is I play the final, you know. I am proud to be what I am, I am proud about my colour and I will shake his hand, it is no problem, but I will make sure he will feel me on the pitch." Having played in 2004 final for Monaco, as well as three during his time at United, Evra is set to line up for his fifth Champions League final in Berlin. And the France international also insists that Juve have nothing to fear despite facing a Barcelona team spearheaded by the prolific trio of Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi. "They are human beings," he added. "People forget, on Juventus's team, a lot of players have already won the Champions League. They play as well in [other] finals, like myself, my fifth final. "You never know. I believe in everything because, if I don't believe we can win against Barcelona, I will ask the manager not to play me."

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Real Madrid director refuses to back Ancelotti Emilio Butragueno was asked twice whether the Italian coach would still be at the Santiago Bernabeu next season but declined to answer the question on both occasions. May 14, 2015 Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno refused to back coach Carlo Ancelotti after the club's Champions League elimination at the hands of Juventus on Wednesday. Ancelotti admitted that he would like to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu after Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by the Italian champions and lost 3-2 on aggregate but his future is in the balance as Los Blancos end the current campaign without a major trophy. Asked whether he could confirm that the Italian - who led Madrid to four titles in 2014 - would be at the club next season, Butragueno told Canal+: "Today we have to be together. We all win and we all lose. The feeling of sadness is a general one. "We congratulate Juventus for the way they played the tie. We have two league games left and now we have to concentrate on that." Pressed again on the future of the Italian and the Madrid players, Butragueno was non-committal once more. "Tonight we have lost and that is the important thing at the moment," he said. "We are all sad and everything else is secondary. "We felt we had the opportunity to get to the final," the director added. "The atmosphere was sensational but it didn't work out as we had wanted. "We deserved more. After all that effort, scoring only once leaves you cold. We haven't had luck lately but, when you give everything, there can be no reproach. The players gave everything and I would also like to thank the fans for their support."

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Real Madrid cannot match Juventus' energy and exit the Champions League May 14, 2015 Two images toward the end of this match symbolized perfectly Real Madrid's defeat to Juventus in the Champions League semifinal. The first came with a handful of minutes left. Dani Carvajal, ordinarily a buzz-bomb of a player, was unable to accelerate beyond a gentle trot in trying to recover his position as Juventus broke forward yet again. Not only could he not catch up but, when the move slowed and the ball broke loose, the full-back was so exhausted that he made only a desultory challenge to win possession when, in fact, regaining the ball was utterly vital. He was like a rag doll, his limbs not in full communication with body or brain. Later came a still starker image. This is the "San Iker" competition. Real Madrid's goalkeeper has three winner's medals and a personal affiliation with the Champions League, one that regularly brings out his best. Indeed, on Wednesday he produced two of his trademark saves in the second half, diving to his left to deny Claudio Marchisio and then palming away a Paul Pogba pile driver. Those stops kept Madrid in this semifinal, kept the small candle of hope flickering in the face of a Turin tornado. So when, in the dying seconds, Casillas raced out to the touchline to take a throw-in, it just looked like a captain, a leader and a winner about to launch one last offensive. Instead he got in such a muddle, without being pressurized by a Juventus player, that he couldn't even complete the simple task to Marcelo. Casillas sort of held the ball in front of his head and then dropped it for the full back -- it was a foul throw and perhaps the most bizarre image of the entire Champions League season. However, it was representative of Madrid's general state of mental and physical fitness. What Carvajal and Casillas did, respectively, speaks of guys who are far from their peak. There was an inability to reach deep inside and produce vital energy, an inability to complete a simple action that should have been as natural as breathing. These things happen when you are not in key shape. Yes, it's worth commenting that it was a steam bath of a night in Madrid with the temperature excessively high for early May. But that was the same for both teams and, boy, how Juventus coped! In an echo of when Madrid were thumped 4-0 by Atletico Madrid earlier this season Los Blancos were vastly outrun. In the end, there was something like an 8 kilometre difference in distance covered by the Italian champions compared to the now deposed European champions. That is a stamina chasm. The numbers also show Madrid's passing was down compared to their season averages, a further sign of sloppiness, tiredness and imprecision, which suggests they were not properly fit for task during this trophy run-in. So, of course, everyone turns to the manager. With two trophies -- albeit the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup -- in the bag you can't call this season an all-out failure. However, Carlo Ancelotti stands accused -- and convicted -- of some very strange decisions in recent months, decisions that have come home to roost. His declaration that the "BBC" of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo would start together whenever fit was an injustice to Jesé and Javier Hernandez and left Madrid significantly overdependent on their front three. The inability to keep reserve full backs Fabio Coentrao and Alvaro Arbeloa in competitive shape cost a great deal as they were variously exposed by Atletico, by Schalke and, last weekend, by Valencia. Ancelotti continued to state that his players were fine fitness-wise when it was patently clear that they were not. Given the Italian's son works in the Madrid fitness department, perhaps there has been a slight protective tone to those words. And then there are the small, housekeeping decisions on which a season can turn, such as when and whether to drop Bale and the concept of letting Keylor Navas oust Casillas when his form dipped. There was the question of how to use Asier Illarramendi correctly and whether it was a wise idea, having succeeded once vs. Atletico, to continue with the risky deployment of Sergio Ramos in midfield in the first leg vs. Juventus. All of these things required fine-tuning and aren't crimes of a heinous nature, but are elements that combined together to make a potentially historic season become a losing experience. And all of that continued into this game. His players were being outworked and outrun in both offensive and defensive situations and what did Ancelotti do, pretty unforgivably? He omitted to use all three of his substitutions. Juve manager Max Allegri made three changes with the intention of adding freshness and extra running from Fernando Llorente, Andrea Barzagli and Roberto Pereyra, but also to make tactical adjustments and to give his players a brief rest and eat up the clock a little bit while each substitute was coming on. Ancelotti didn't see the need, and potential game-changers like Jese and Pepe were not given even 10 minutes during a time when the surge in determination and naked will to win should have been titanic for Madrid. Now, of course, comes the inquest, and Bale's work will be clinically scrutinized. While the Welshman had an active match and made Gianluigi Buffon work to keep Juve in the tie, he'll be hung out to dry by some parts of the Spanish media. Above all, Bale should have scored with a back-post header that was lofted up for him by his strike partner, Ronaldo. It was there to be tucked away, not directed over the bar. Again, that marginal difference between getting the jump right and nodding the ball home and timing the leap incorrectly before nudging the ball over has a lot to do with physical and mental freshness. If Bale is to stay at the Bernabeu then a lot of serious thought, most of it from the player himself, needs to be given to work rate, attitude, fitness and learning Spanish. But, also, is Ronaldo's position on the left sacred? Couldn't Bale be tried in the role in which he made his name at Spurs? How, above all, are Ronaldo and Bale to unite and make the whole greater than the sum of the parts rather than, as now, make it look as if they are playing, running, thinking and making decisions at cross-purposes? Ancelotti, you'd imagine, probably won't be the man authoring such decisions. Madrid are short in a number of positions, most notably goalkeeper, central midfield and goal scorer. There's a chap from Juventus who is doing quite well at the moment, Mr. President. His name is Alvaro Morata.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Morata & Buffon help send Juventus to Berlin May 14, 2015 An epic night, an epic victory and the Old Lady lives on. Juventus are in the Champions League final and deservedly so, for no club has toiled as hard to return to glory. No fluke, no controversy, Juventus reached the final by playing 180 minutes of intelligent football. Understanding the duality required of champions, they defended with might and attacked with panache, making the most of spaces and mistakes to take their chances. They were tactically intelligent and mentally strong, knowing how and when to alter formations to neutralise and punish the opponent. While hesitations and anxiety will always rear their ugly heads, leading to certain missed chances and desperate moments of defending, the players fought off the words of the naysayers and matured before the fans' very eyes. Neither the occasion nor Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty-taking abilities shook their faith. They believed until the end. The match started well for the side that looked to dispel fears of a defensive approach. Juventus fluidly passed the ball along in a 4-3-1-2 formation, highlighting the absence of a genuine ball winner within Los Blancos' midfield. However, their dominance lasted for a mere 15 minutes, as Carlo Ancelotti's men soon responded. Taking control and using their paces, Real Madrid launched attack after attack via the left wing as Marcelo combined with his teammates to terrify the Bianconeri. What a difference Karim Benzema made to the home side. With his intelligence in the final third, Real Madrid played with assertion and consistently looked to strike, missing only luck to convert certain opportunities they created. Things had to change at halftime. Juventus were reminded of their quality and ability to score a goal by the coach and the veterans of the side. With ice in his veins and wonderful composure, it was Madrid's former youth player, Alvaro Morata, who delivered the away goal, the winner that sent the Bianconeri to Berlin. Demonstrating remarkable respect for his former side, he smiled but refused to celebrate. In his place, 14 million fans in Italy were crying with joy. United in their dreams, Juve's president, coach, management and players reached the final in Berlin the Juve way -- by staying true to their fiscal responsibilities and style of play. They defended with dignity and took their chances as and when they came. They refused to splash the cash on the stars so many insisted were required to win, instead opting to invest. They invested in youth, the resurrection of forgotten players, in a stadium and in an urban project that will revive the city of Turin. Slowly but surely, with great devotion and prudence, Juventus made it -- without the shortcuts and without the controversy. Grande Juve, it was truly a magnificent win. Player ratings Gianluigi Buffon, 7 -- A leader, a legend and a man who still knows how to time things perfectly, he closed down angles and rushed out at precisely the right times to frustrate the opponents. Stephan Lichtsteiner, 5 -- Struggled desperately with Marcelo's brilliance on the left flank. Couldn't restrain the player yet made a few dazzling runs forward. Leonardo Bonucci, 7 -- The charismatic defender managed a composed and experienced performance at the back to fill the squad with defensive confidence. Rarely made an error. Giorgio Chiellini, 6 -- Despite conceding a penalty, the defender played a good game to redeem himself. Managing the highest amount of interceptions and clearances, it was Chiellini who continually halted Madrid's attacks. Patrice Evra, 7 -- His experience and veteran mind has made all the difference. While he was lucky not to have conceded a penalty, he was the man heading the ball out of danger while always believing in the win. Claudio Marchisio, 7 -- His positioning was stupendous on so many occasions, but he failed to make the most of a beautiful chance. Nonetheless, a tactically intelligent midfielder, he fought defensively and threatened offensively with his timely runs. Andrea Pirlo, 5 -- Perhaps Juve's worst player on the night, the midfielder not only squandered possession on several occasions but facilitated Madrid's counterattacks and was incapable of impacting the match with his geometry. Paul Pogba, 6 -- Not one of his best games despite his eagerness. While he always looked forward and exploited the space in midfield, he lacked the tenacity to win the duels he often does and looked like a man who is still in recovery. Arturo Vidal, 6 -- A warrior, a fighter and a man who made vital interceptions to block the opponent, Vidal is a bundle of energy. However he often opted for the horizontal pass when the game required better incisive passing. Alvaro Morata, 7 -- The youngster with the composure of a veteran, he never once allowed the occasion to get to him and consistently looked to make penetrative runs forward. His goal gave Juve the win. Carlos Tevez, 6 -- By his own great standards, the Argentine underwhelmed, even if his offensive intelligence was still very much evident on the pitch. Substitutions Andrea Barzagli, NR -- Replaced Pirlo in the 79th minute and helped keep the nervy moments to a minimum in the final 10 minutes. Fernando Llorente, NR -- Came on for Morata in the 84th minute and added fresh legs when it was needed most. Roberto Pereyra, NR -- Substituted on for Pogba in the 89th minute.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Tevez: Messi is from another planet - but Juventus are ready for Barcelona The Argentine striker is relishing the prospect of facing the Catalans and their talisman and has praised the tactical approach of Massimiliano Allegri. May 14, 2015 Carlos Tevez says compatriot Lionel Messi is "a player from another planet" - but is looking forward to facing Barcelona in the Champions League final. Juventus secured a place in their first European final since 2003 following a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on Wednesday which sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory. Messi helped inspire Barcelona to a 5-3 aggregate triumph over Bayern Munich in the other semi-final but, while Tevez admits the 27-year-old can do "crazy things", he is confident in his own side's chances. "Messi is the best player in the world, even in the semi-finals he did crazy things. He is a player from another planet. I never had problems with him," Tevez told Sky. "We deserve this final. Now we go to Berlin for a big challenge against Barcelona. Ours is really a team, no one would have bet on us but we've done something great." Tevez was also keen to praise the tactical planning of head coach Massimiliano Allegri as Juve continue to chase an historic treble. "Allegri prepared these two games perfectly. He always gives all the credit to us but much of it belongs to him," he said. The former Manchester City striker has been linked with a return to Argentina in the summer but he insists his future remains far from certain. "I've not decided anything," he said simply.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) MAX ALLEGRI: ‘ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE FINAL’ May 13, 2015 Juventus coach Max Allegri believes ‘anything can happen’ in the Champions League Final against Barcelona. Speaking after his side’s 3-2 aggregate victory over Real Madrid, the Bianconeri boss reflected on a memorable night and Juve’s first Champions League Final for 12 years. “I have an extraordinary group of players. It was an impressive semi-final with chances for both sides, though we should’ve done more with our opportunities in the first half,” he told Sport Mediaset. “We’ve earned our place in the Final and now that we’re there we hope to do well! “In the second half they had two or three clear chances, as did we, so I cannot say anything to the team for what they did tonight and throughout the whole year. “We’re also in the Coppa Italia Final and we have to prepare for that too, as it is an important objective.” The Champions League Final will be played on June meaning Juve’s Coppa Italia Final against Lazio will move from June 7 to May 20. “I knew the game would go like this tonight. I told the lads they needed courage and to play well technically. “I think it is also important for Italian football than one of our teams is back in the Champions League Final. “Isco and Rodriguez aren’t particularly strong defensively, so I told my players the more we push them towards their own goal, the better. “Barcelona are an almost impossible side to play against, but it’s one thing to face them over two legs and another in a one-off match. Anything can happen there. “We are in good physical shape, they have a stratospheric front three and we go to Berlin convinced we can bring home the trophy.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) GIANLUIGI BUFFON: “IT SEEMED LIKE DESTINY” May 13, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon believes it was Juve’s “destiny” to reach the Champions League Final in Berlin, the site of Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory. The Bianconeri eliminated Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate to book their place in the final against Barcelona on June 6. “It seemed like destiny, but it really did go the way we hoped,” Buffon told Sport Mediaset after tonights victory. “Mind you, we mustn’t go there to be tourists. We are there to play a game that means a huge amount for all of us. “I am so proud of my teammates, of all the work we’ve done and the journey we’ve made. “You don’t get the chance to play a Champions League Final often, so we can’t do it by halves. We’ve got to give our all.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Player Ratings: Madrid 1-1 Juventus (agg 2-3) Alvaro Morata punched the Bianconeri's ticket to Berlin with the decisive goal against his former side, ending the holders' defence of their title. May 13, 2015 Real Madrid 1 I. Casillas - Got fingers to Morata's effort but would have been a lot to ask for him to keep it out. A few spectacular saves, most notably on Marchisio, gave his side a chance to send the tie to extra-time. 15 D. Carvajal - Some last-ditch tackles proved timely and his positional play at the back was flawless. 2 R. Varane - Read the game well, though wasn't put under a ton of pressure. Worked well with Carvajal. 4 Sergio Ramos - A clumsy challenge on Vidal awarded Juventus the free kick which ultimately resulted in the equalizing goal. Not nearly enough of a threat from set-pieces. 12 Marcelo - His attacking presence was invaluable, delivering some truly exquisite balls into the area. Spent virtually the entire match as a winger and was one of the most consistent members of the attack. 8 T. Kroos - Tremendous contributions at both ends, covering a ton of ground and providing some excellent cover for the back four. An under-appreciated asset in midfield. 23 Isco - Responsible in possession, linking up well with Marcelo, but needed to offer more creativity himself. 10 J. Rodríguez - Did well to win the penalty which resulted in the opening goal. Lacked physicality, however, which limited his impact in midfield. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo - An emphatic finish from the spot put his side in front and he was typically influential throughout. Provided great service for his team-mates, but failed to test Buffon himself from open play. 9 K. Benzema - A constant menace up top, displaying excellent skill on the ball, but lacked the clinical nature needed in front of goal. Subbed off after 67 minutes. 11 G. Bale - Put in a much more convincing performance, testing Buffon throughout, though he was very wasteful with his chances. Should have walked away with at least a goal. Substitutes 14 J. Hernández - Moved well off the ball and caused a nuisance in attack, but never did look like scoring. Juventus 1 G. Buffon - A world-class performance from the veteran, stopping everything thrown at him from open play. Was beaten only by a clinical Ronaldo penalty. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - Beaten for pace on a few occasions and struggled to contain Marcelo, but managed to do just enough to keep him frustrated. 19 L. Bonucci - Communicated well with his defence partners and did brilliantly to keep everything in front of him. 3 G. Chiellini - A clumsy challenge to concede a penalty in the first half, but atoned for his error with a flawless performance in defence from then on out. 33 P. Evra - Lacked the pace and physicality to keep up with Bale, but his experience proved vital as Real Madrid piled on the pressure late on. 8 C. Marchisio - Great understanding in midfield, blanketing Isco and limiting his influence. Came so close to putting Juventus in front in the second half but was denied by Casillas. 21 A. Pirlo - Tracked back to force a Bale shot inches wide from close range. It was perhaps his best contribution, as he never did create much in attack. 6 P. Pogba - Impressive stuff from the Frenchman, battling his way though 89 minutes of tireless action after only just returning from nearly a two-month absence. His header set up Morata for the Juventus goal. 23 A. Vidal - A typically committed and feisty performance from the Chilean. Brilliant ball movement in attack and contributed nicely in defence to help see out the draw. 9 Álvaro Morata - The hero for Juventus, coming back to haunt his former side with a clinical finish, chesting Pogba's pass down and bouncing a shot past Casillas. 10 C. Tévez - Tremendous work rate up top, holding the ball up well and linking up nicely with his team-mates, though never threatened to score himself. Substitutes 15 A. Barzagli - Didn't miss a beat defensively as he helped see his side through to Berlin. 37 R. Pereyra - A brief cameo, replacing Pogba for stoppage time to run time out the clock. 14 F. Llorente - On with five minutes left and held the ball up on a couple of occasions to relieve the pressure on his goal.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Allegri hails 'extraordinary result' as Juventus see off Real Madrid The Bianconeri will meet Barcelona in the Berlin final after a deserved two-legged success over the defending champions which keeps their treble hopes alive. May 13, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri was happy to delay talk of a treble for Juventus and focus on an "extraordinary result" for his side against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Allegri masterminded a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu which put Juve through 3-2 on aggregate to set up a meeting with Barcelona in the Champions League final in Berlin on June 6. Both teams could come into the match needing to win to land a domestic and European treble. Barca are on the cusp of reclaiming the Liga title and will meet Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey, while Scudetto champions Juve will take on Lazio in the final of the Coppa Italia. Allegri, however, is happy to celebrate the triumph in the Spanish capital for the time being. He told Mediaset: "It is an extraordinary result, to eliminate Real Madrid. This team has overcome lots of hurdles. Apart from the Monaco game we always played well. The team is very secure in itself and improving all time. "Getting to the final is a great satisfaction for us, we deserved this result. We played a great match and perhaps we could have taken advantage of our opportunities in the first half. "It is not easy to play at the Bernabeu but the boys played with great concentration and for this they deserve praise. I think it's important for our football to have an Italian team in the Champions League final." As for the treble, Allegri added: "I'm not thinking about that. On Wednesday we have the Coppa final, another important objective." Allegri accepted facing a Barcelona side that beat Bayern Munich in the last four looks a daunting prospect, but he retains hope that the trophy can return to Italy for the first time since 2010. "We know Barcelona are a team against which it is almost impossible to play but we aware of our capabilities. In a single match anything can happen. They are deadly in front of goal but we know what we can do and will try to bring home the cup."