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Marchisio: ‘Difficult every year’ May 7, 2015 Claudio Marchisio denies Juventus have it easy in Serie A - ‘it’s always difficult, every year’. The Bianconeri have won four consecutive Scudetti, with the latest having been wrapped up with four games to spare. “It’s an important Scudetto, like all the others,” Marchisio insisted in an interview with Sky. “It's always difficult, every year, to repeat our success. “With this squad, with the new arrivals and those who have been here since the first title [in 2012] it’s been possible to build a very good group, and we’ve been showing that these last few years. “Winning the Scudetto with a few rounds still to play means we can focus on the cup competitions [Coppa Italia and Champions League]. “Every year we find new ways to give our all, independently of who the Coach is.” The midfielder then discussed his own season, and revealed he enjoys playing in a deeper role. “This year I’ve been lucky, because I’ve had almost no injuries. So that definitely helps, plus I’ve always tried to repay the faith that the Coach has in me. “This year I’ve had more of a chance to play in front of the defence, which I’d tried a few times last year. I’ve always enjoyed it. “This year I’ve been able to hone my skills even more in that role.”

Marotta: ‘Juve will keep Pogba’ May 7, 2015 Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta says the club wants to keep Paul Pogba - ‘our goal is not to weaken the team’. The French midfielder has been linked with clubs across Europe, with the player’s agent Mino Raiola saying this week that ‘all the big clubs are interested’. “Our goal is not to weaken the team, but to strengthen it,” Marotta told Mediaset. “Pogba is someone we want to keep, not sell.” The Bianconeri are having an extraordinary season, with Serie A already won, a Coppa Italia final to play and the Champions League final within reach. Despite this, Marotta says a new contract for Coach Massimiliano Allegri will only be discussed at the end of the season. “He’s intelligent and capable, a winner who has won the Scudetto and reached the Coppa Italia final, he’s doing an extraordinary job. “I’m against having a Coach who’s contract is expiring, we want to make sure there is serenity and trust, and the extension is a formal act which we’ll do when we’ve finished with our important commitments. “After the Coppa Italia and the Champions League, that’s when we’ll meet and talk about the contract, and only then. Allegri has done an outstanding job.”

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Twelve Long Years: Reflections on Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid May 6, 2015 It's been 12 years since Juventus was in a European semifinal, 12 years that have seen titles stripped, a World Cup, and a season in Serie B. Years that have seen the rebirth of Juventus as a winning machine, a team that can play a match of equals against the best that the world has to offer. For me, it was somewhat surreal, Juventus' 2-1 Champions League semifinal win against Real Madrid. Not the opponents, after all it seems like the most successful Spanish and Italian sides meet almost every year, either in the Champions League or some summer friendly. Not even the stage really, as an abstract; after all, Juventus had been here 10 times before Tuesday night. But watching Juve play for a spot in the biggest club game on Earth, I thought about how long it has been, and the struggles and triumphs that the years since 2003 have seen. Battles that have made this team, and her fans, what we are today. Juventus is taking a 2-1 lead into the Champions League semifinal second leg, statistically in a coin flip for a spot in the Final. Historically, the first-leg winner is slightly more likely to advance, according to Spanish statistician Mister Chip by a margin of 287-280. Italian teams have been especially successful in the situation, having won 19 of 25 ties that started this way. The bookmakers also have it as evenly balanced, with odds of around 8/11 for Madrid to qualify, putting the Old Lady at just a hair over even money.* Once it seemed like a good Champions League run might have come sooner, after finishing second that first year back in Serie A. And then there was disappointment, years that the Champions League trophy seemed as far away as the moon, with setback after setback on the field, the bench and in the boardroom. But now Juventus is back. Thanks to people with names like Elkann, Andrea Agnelli, Beppe Marotta, Fabio Paratici, Antonio Conte, and Max Allegri, Juventus is back to a team that can compete with anyone, anywhere. Back in a stadium that we can call our own, one that's among the best in Europe. Back in the semifinals, back to playing Real Madrid where it really counts. This first semifinal leg saw a resilient and dangerous Juventus play Real Madrid in a balanced match that came down to a few incidents, with Madrid's injury list and some strange choices from Carlo Ancelotti playing into Juventus' hands. Sergio Ramos was brought into a midfield missing Luka Modrić, while Gareth Bale tried his luck up top alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Both experiments were resounding failures in this match, with Ramos' move to midfield, and out of defense, especially giving hope to Juventus on the counterattack. Arturo Vidal was at his best as a man possessed in midfield, always both supporting the strikers and the defense. Stefano Sturaro and Claudio Marchisio were quick to pressure all over the field without the ball, and run past their markers when the team had a chance to counter. It was absolutely one of Juventus' best performances of the year, despite a few long passages of Madrid possession. Álvaro Morata and Carlos Tévez caused no end of problems for the Madrid defense, with only Pepe coming out of the game somewhat respectably. In midfield Juventus were organized, disciplined, and more intense than the men in white, but with the technique of players like James Rodríguez, Toni Kroos and company, not to mention Cristiano Ronaldo, it takes very little to concede a goal or two. With the second leg in the Bernabéu just a week away, there is no guarantee that a repeat of this Juventus performance will be enough. Real Madrid clearly have more to give, and it will be fascinating to see how both coaches interpret their tasks. For Juventus fans it's still all to play for, and oh how wonderful it feels.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Schedule, Preview, Predictions for Semi-Final Return Legs May 6, 2015 Juventus and Barcelona will enter the return leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final ties protecting leads against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, respectively, with the Serie A and La Liga leaders hoping to capitalise on their excellent performances and qualify for the final. Barcelona completely dominated Bayern on Wednesday and look like near certainties to make the final, while Juventus will have their work cut out for them as they travel to the Bernabeu with just the one-goal lead. Here's the schedule for the return legs: Tuesday, May 12 - 8:45 p.m. - Bayern Munich - Barcelona (0-3) Wednesday, May 13 - 8:45 p.m. - Real Madrid - Juventus (1-2) Real Madrid v Juventus Real Madrid can't afford to sit most of their key players when they host Valencia during the weekend. Juventus should be well rested―they could use their primavera squad against Cagliari if they wanted―and boosted by the return of midfield ace Paul Pogba, per AS English: AS English @English_AS Paul Pogba returns to training today and hopes to play in Madrid His return would add another body to the Bianconeri midfield that dominated Real, who clearly felt the absence of Luka Modric. With Sergio Ramos looking disastrous as a midfielder, Juventus cruised to a 2-1 win in Turin. Of course, a one-goal lead is never safe, and Real have the kind of attacking firepower to ridicule any club at the Bernabeu. A 1-0 win would even do for Los Blancos, who did manage to score the all-important away goal. Fans shouldn't feel too confident, however. Juventus badly outclassed Real on a tactical level on Tuesday, as reported by Guillem Balague for Sky Sports, and the Italians know how to defend a lead: Sky Sports Football ✔@SkyFootball Tactics to blame for Real Madrid #UCL loss at Juventus, not Gareth Bale With the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Gianluigi Buffon, Juve's defensive area is stacked with experience. Add to that the incredible pair of lungs Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio bring to the table, and Los Blancos will have very little room to operate in. Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata are a deadly duo on the counter-attack―just ask Borussia Dortmund―and will have their opportunities, unless Real can open the score quickly. Right now, this tie could go either way, but with how well Juventus have defended slim leads in this year's Champions League, you have to like their chances. Prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Juventus, Juventus advance. Bayern Munich v Barcelona Barcelona didn't just beat Bayern Munich on Wednesday, they dominated the Bundesliga champions from start to finish and booked an emphatic 3-0 win, a final score that could have been a lot worse had it not been for Manuel Neuer's heroics. The Germany international saved his club for 77 minutes before conceding three goals, with Lionel Messi finally finding the net twice in the span of minutes. Crazier things have happened, but if Barcelona look anything like the team that dominated at the Camp Nou, they'll qualify for the final. The Catalans were special on Wednesday, unlike the Bavarians, who played one of their worst matches of the season. The defence looked shaky, the midfield was overrun and the attackers displayed a general lack of creativity for the full 90 minutes. The situation looks pretty dire for Bayern, but fans still have a glimmer of hope. After all, the Bavarians lost 3-1 in Porto, playing an equally sloppy match, and they bounced back and crushed the Portuguese side 6-1 at home. Barcelona aren't Porto, but the Catalans are still battling for the La Liga title and can't afford to rest too many key players against Real Sociedad, unlike Bayern. Still, turning around a 3-0 deficit against arguably the most in-form attacking team in the world seems impossible. Prediction: Bayern 2-2 Barcelona, Barcelona advance.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Carlo Ancelotti Lost The Plot In Real Madrid’s 2-1 Defeat To Juventus Real Madrid went down to Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final and now need to fight hard in the return leg to make it to the final. May 6, 2015 Juventus achieved the near-impossible as they managed to put up a solid display against Real Madrid on Tuesday. The Italian club won the first leg of the Champions League semi-final with a 2-1 scoreline taking them a step closer to the final. Real Madrid’s performance throughout the game was far from spectacular and The Whites deservedly lost the game. Here are four things we learned from the semi-final encounter. A bad day in the office for Ramos and Bale When Carlo Ancelotti started Sergio Ramos in the midfield for the third consecutive game, you could see he was asking for trouble. The Spaniard did a great job in that position against Atletico, because Simeone’s side prefer to allow their opponents space and time on the ball. However, against Juventus, Ramos showed exactly why he is not a midfielder and the constant pressing from the Italian side was something he just could not deal with. Another player that was played out of his natural position was Gareth Bale. Bale, naturally a winger, was made to play alongside Ronaldo in a 4-4-2 and the Welshman, who was returning from an injury lay-off, could not do justice to the role. Bale failed to take a single shot and none of his crosses reached the desired target. The winger was largely invisible in one of Real’s most important games of the season. Gary Lineker ✔@GaryLineker Sergio Ramos couldn't pass water tonight. Carlo Ancelotti needs a wake-up call When your team is level at half time in the Champions League semi-final despite a below par start to the game, you should thank your stars and make amends. However, Ancelotti once again failed to realise the importance of timely substitutions. Marcelo was having a terrible day and the Brazilian did a shambolic job while defending. Yet Ancelotti did not take him off and overlooked Fabio Coentrao, who definitely offers more than Marcelo in terms of defence. That move proved costly as another one of Marcelo’s mistake led to Juventus’ second goal, which eventually cost them the game. James and Isco were Real Madrid’s silver lining in an overall poor performance by the team. Bale was clearly the poorest man out on the field and it was understandable as he had returned from an injury and straight away made to play out of his natural position. Despite it being evident that the Welshman needed to come off, Ancelotti made the bizarre move of taking Isco off to bring on Chicharito. Isco was showing signs of brilliance throughout the game and could have helped bring Madrid back on level terms but the Spaniard was taken off with almost 30 minutes of game still to be played. Old is gold Andrea Pirlo and Giorgio Chiellini are definitely not the youngest or fastest footballers. Yet, the duo had the most impact in a game full of young and explosive talents. Pirlo was highly effective throughout the game and his calculated passing was accurate and classy. The bearded midfielder had a great game and rarely allowed the Real Madrid midfield to create any chances from the centre. Playing behind Pirlo, it was Chiellini who had the most impact in the game. The central defender did an excellent job and managed to keep one of the world’s best attacking players in check. The Italian was strong in aerial duels and put on a brave show against a formidable attack. Apart from the duo, who did their job at the back, upfront it was Carlos Tevez defying the odds. The former Manchester United striker combined wonderfully with his much younger partner, Alvaro Morata. The pair was responsible for both the Juventus goals and if the Italian side make it to the final, they surely will be the heroes of the tie. The tie is very much alive Juventus have never lost a tie in European competitions after winning the first leg with a 2-1 scoreline. However, that does not mean that the Italian club should be celebrating. In a week’s time they will have to travel to the Bernabeu to play arguably their toughest game of the season. The Bernabeu is not an easy place to win for the visitors. Having conceded an away goal, Juventus will be eliminated if they lose by a 1-0 margin. Having learned his lesson, Ancelotti will not go easy on his former team when they visit the Spanish capital. At their own fortress, Real Madrid play their best football. The second leg promises to be far more exciting and lively than the first and the tie is far from over yet.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Madrid must learn lessons from Juventus defeat - Hernandez The Mexico international is keen to move on from the defeat in Turin on Tuesday and reach the Champions League final. May 6, 2015 Javier Hernandez has called upon his Real Madrid team-mates to learn from Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg loss to Juventus. Alvaro Morata gave Massimiliano Allegri's side an early lead in Turin, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to level for the visitors going into the break, with Carlos Tevez's penalty sealing victory. The Mexico international has no bitterness about starting the game on the bench and is hoping to do his bit to secure a place in the final. "The feeling is negative because we lost the game, but we fought until the end and with a 1-0 in the return leg, we'll get there," he is quoted as saying by AS. "We have to be calm and use this as a lesson because there are no small teams in this competition. "The coach asked us for attitude and what we do in La Liga. They had a great game. We have to try to get back on track. "I've always said you must accept the coach's selection decisions but no one is happy on the bench. "We have to swallow this and think about Valencia, who are also fighting in La Liga." Real Madrid entertain Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu at 19:00 CET on Saturday.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Don't write off Real Madrid - Marcelo The Brazil international insists that Tuesday's defeat by Juventus does not change anything for the reigning European champions and remains hopeful of reaching the final. May 6, 2015 Real Madrid defender Marcelo has warned people not to write off his side after their 2-1 Champions League loss to Juventus on Tuesday. Carlo Ancelotti's men were widely regarded as the favourites ahead of the first leg of the semi-final tie but their poor performance in Turin sees them in real danger of missing out on a spot in the final in Berlin. Nevertheless, Marcelo remains optimistic ahead of the second leg and feels that Madrid still have every chance of turning around the tie. "We weren't the best team of all time before this game, nor are we the worst after it," the Brazil international told the club's official website. "It was a bad result because we wanted to win but it's still wide open and we'll do better in the second leg. "Juventus are a great side; they wanted to have the ball. We didn't have the best performance but we'll have to wait for the second leg. "Our fans always get behind us and support us. We know that the boss has confidence in our ability. We know what we're capable of doing in each match."

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Juve's win over Real Madrid blueprint to break up Europe's ruling class May 6, 2015 We've heard the warnings for years. How football has become all about the one-percenters. The combination of financial fair play, the Bosman ruling and a boom in commercial and stadium revenue that has disproportionately flowed to the big boys have created a lop-sided landscape. The ultra-rich get richer. The rich struggle to keep up. The middle class gets hammered. And the poor? Well, they become invisible. It's hard to deny this. The Deloitte Money League list is imperfect, but it illustrates matters fairly clearly. There are four clubs with revenues north of $545 million in the most recent version: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Paris Saint-Germain aren't far behind in fifth ($533 million), but that figure is artificially boosted by the $200 million Qatari sponsorship, which UEFA rightly treats as a related party transaction, so really the gap with the club in sixth, Manchester City -- who have some related party issues of their own -- is $80 million. And that's huge. It helps explain why Barcelona (four semifinal appearances in the past five years), Real Madrid (five out of five) and Bayern (four out of five) so regularly make the final four of the Champions League. (Manchester United's record here -- one in five -- says plenty about their recent underachievement and their commercial might, to the point that they don't need the Champions League to rake in the cash.) That's why Juventus' 2-1 win against Real Madrid on Tuesday in Turin was so important. It's not the result so much; they could easily get hammered at the Bernabeu next week and go out of the competition. It's the fact that they took on the reigning European champions with no fear and gave as good as they got over the course of 90 entertaining minutes. We've seen teams other than the big scary trio get into the Champions League final four before. The difference is that when they took on the big boys, most did it playing like underdogs. Think of Atletico Madrid last year, or Chelsea in 2011-12. You saw it in this year's quarterfinals too: from Porto to PSG to Atletico, the big boys were faced with a safety-first mentality. Borussia Dortmund were an exception, but that's down to Jurgen Klopp and the magical wonderland he created at the Westfalen in 2012-13. Likewise Juventus went for it, which is exactly what they did not do in the previous round against Monaco when the fear of screwing things up seemed to dominate. Much has been made of Italian clubs' underachievement in Europe over the past decade. Truth be told, with the exception of Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan, most took to the pitch with anxiety and doubt, looking to defend and pick their spots, rather than impose themselves. It was partly a legacy of the past, when such tactics often did yield results in Europe, particularly for Italian clubs, who excelled at playing that way. But it was partly fear, that age-old malevolent calcio gene whereby if you dominate and lose you're an idiot, but if you park the bus, concede a single goal and fail to create a single chance, well, at least you kept it close. But the game has moved on. Attacking football is generally rewarded. Most teams win titles and qualify for the Champions League not by being defensive, but by being proactive and attacking. That's how they're used to playing. Suddenly making the transition from taking the game to the opposition to battening down the hatches and playing on the counter is extremely difficult. Which is why few manage to do it successfully, Jose Mourinho's Chelsea being a notable exception. Things can get fuzzy when you talk about the mental side of the game. But Juve's result, even if they crash out in Madrid, can truly provide something for the club to build on. There's a confidence and swagger that previously only existed within the confines of Serie A. You only need to go back to some of the histrionics that marred defeat to Benfica in the Europa League semifinal last year to see that. And -- yes, this matters in the world of the one-percenters -- Juve have a platform on which to build and compete with the big boys commercially. For all its ills and recent decline, Serie A still has the second-largest TV contract in the world. Juve actually have a stadium that provides significant matchday revenue. And they have a huge global fan base that provides important sponsorship revenue. The challenge is to move forward intelligently. The good news is that their Champions League revenues will range from $78 million to $90 million this season, a function of their progress and the market pool, far more than any other club. That cash gives the club even more leverage over the future of Paul Pogba. It makes it easier to hang on to him if they so choose or sell him for a king's ransom if the price is high enough. Getting it right will be crucial. With Carlos Tevez, Gigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Patrice Evra and Andrea Pirlo all the wrong side of 30, the squad will need to be freshened up. But you feel the self-belief and funds are there to do that. This doesn't mean that the game isn't plagued by a "haves and have-nots" problem. It is, and the gap is growing. And Juventus are hardly minnows; they're the most popular club in the European Union's third-biggest economy. What it does mean is that the trio at the very top -- Bayern, Barca, Real -- won't necessarily be up there on their own forever. Manchester United will be back at some point. Chelsea and Arsenal aren't that far away and have the means to do it.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Betting: Real Madrid still favourites for Champions League final despite 2-1 defeat to Juventus Max Allegri's side established a first leg lead over the reigning European champions but the bookmakers still expect Carlo Ancelotti's side to progress to the final in Berlin. May 6, 2015 There was a move for Juventus in the day before the first Champions League semi final got underway and the money proved to be correct as the Italian side rewarded their backers with a 2-1 win in Turin. Real Madrid began the day as favourites to claim a first leg lead at around but they drifted to bigger than during the course of Tuesday while Juventus and the draw both shortened in the betting. It was expected to be a tense, low scoring affair but goalmouth action was the order of the day in a game which was very open and in truth, could have contained several more goals had the quality of both sides' finishing been up to scratch. An early strike from former Real Madrid player Alvaro Morata as well as a Carlos Tevez penalty sandwiched a Cristiano Ronaldo header to give Max Allegri's side a vital 2-1 advantage to take to the Bernabeu for the reverse fixture. William Hill reported that they say nine times as many bets on Los Blancos as they did on the home side in what appears to have been a good evening for the bookmakers despite the late interest in backing the home side before kick-off. Juventus have been cut from to to win the competition but they remain the longest price of the four remaining sides. Real Madrid are just to qualify for the final and face either Barcelona or Bayern Munich who meet in the second semi final. The bookmakers clearly feel that the away goal Carlo Ancelotti's side took from the first meeting could prove decisive on home soil, but their defensive performance certainly raised more questions about Madrid's ability to keep the Italians at bay in the second leg, particularly with Sergio Ramos failing to control the midfield battle in the way Luka Modric has proved so effective at in the past. Juventus are priced at to make their advantage count and secure a place in Berlin with a favourable result from their visit to the Spanish capital. In the outright betting it is Barcelona who lead the way at with Bayern available at while Real Madrid have been pushed out to to retain their European crown.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Marchisio Hoping Pogba Will Make The Difference Against Real Madrid May 6, 2015 Despite his all action display last night in the 2-1 victory over Real Madrid, Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is fully aware that the job of reaching the Champions League final is far from done and is hoping injured team mate Paul Pogba will win his race to be fit for the return leg. The Italy international was one of the stars of the show as the Italians defeated their Spanish opponents yesterday evening, but is still wary of next Wednesday’s second leg tie at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. “I still have some air left in my lungs,” he told the official Juventus website. “But the whole team is in good form. It’s normal for games such as these that the motivation, the energy and desire are there.” As Pogba passed by Marchisio, the midfielder immediately said: “And here’s someone right here, having a laugh and a joke! Let’s hope he’ll be with us next week on the field.” Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez both scored either side of a Cristiano Ronaldo goal, which leaves the Bianconeri with one foot in the Champions League final doorway.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Next stop, Berlin? A superb display means Juventus have a 2-1 lead to defend next week against Real Madrid, as Luca Cetta writes. May 6, 2015 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” giornalaccio rosa 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.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Juventus vs. Real Madrid: Tactical Review May 6, 2015 Juventus claimed a precious 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez scored goals either side of a Cristiano Ronaldo header to give the Bianconeri the advantage. Formations and XIs Juventus went with a 4-4-2 diamond but surprised by including Stefano Sturaro in the lineup at the expense of Roberto Pereyra. He played on the left side with Arturo Vidal up front. Giorgio Chiellini re-entered the starting XI at the expense of Andrea Barzagli. Real Madrid went 4-4-2 with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale up front, leaving Javier Hernandez on the bench. Sergio Ramos played in central midfield again with Pepe in the defensive line alongside Raphael Varane. 1. Real Madrid Width The key to this game for Real Madrid was retaining width. They were always going to have to push their full-backs high up to create it, as their wide men aren't touchline-hugging, chalk-on-the-boots No. 7s and No. 11s. The problem Juve present when playing in a diamond is a near-total blockade of the middle, with the midfield four flattening into a 3-1 shape. The outside CMs spread and the No. 10 harasses the opposing deep-lying midfielder, buzzing about him and preventing ball rotation. It leaves you no choice but to force play to the wings. Marcelo and Dani Carvajal need no invitation to buccaneer forward, and in particular, Carvajal's forays were effective. He was a constant out-ball on the right side and played a part in Real's equaliser. The other key component to shifting the ball wide was to shift it quickly; Los Blancos passed crisply and swiftly at the Vicente Calderon in the first leg and only Jan Oblak was responsible for keeping them out. It can be a sight to behold. Ronaldo's goal saw one-touch football start from the right, releasing James Rodriguez into the box, and the Colombian's clipped cross was headed home. Another move, which saw James hit the bar with a header, was created by switching from right to left, overlapping on the flank and crossing accurately. It works if you do it quick enough. 2. Juventus Counters Of course, pushing on with two strikers and overlapping with your full-backs leaves you open in obvious areas. Carlo Ancelotti perhaps played Ramos at RCM to try and cover the gaps Carvajal would leave, but the stalwart had a shocking game and left huge gaps to exploit. In the first six minutes, Juve engineered three counter-attacks of note and then scored two minutes later as they worked the ball into space quickly. Tevez and Morata, adept at finding room to play in, received early passes out (usually from Arturo Vidal), turned and ran at the defensive line. It was two vs. two or two vs. three with 50 yards to exploit, and Juve's strike partnership combined superbly. Once Real were sufficiently rattled, they started to engage higher up, allowing Tevez to drift into space between the lines and breach the box, and his shot created the opening goal. It was a complete mess from Real defensively, it must be said. For the goal, no midfielder tracked Tevez and Varane was far too late to step out and sidle up to him. Some may apportion some blame to Marcelo too, but he was kept honest and wide by Stephan Lichtsteiner on the flank. 3. Forced, Direct Play vs. Workmanlike Juve Inside the first 20 minutes alone, Real forced direct play as if desperate to play over the top of a defensive line that didn't sit particularly high. One ball over the top caught them out and Ronaldo thrashed a hurried effort wide, but most passes were inaccurate or forced to the extent that there was never truly a chance of them finding a colleague. That tactic, though, could be attributed to the two-man disadvantage Real were facing in midfield. A flat 4-4-2 vs. a diamond saw a clear two vs. four in the central zones, and although James and Isco played narrow, they were at a severe disadvantage. Juve were dogged and determined off the ball too, making their man advantage count out of possession as well as on it. Morata and Tevez worked hard to block the passing lanes from Kroos to the full-backs, and Ramos looked so ruffled he even battered one diagonal firmly out of play under no pressure. That left Real's midfield two with one option: try in behind. The disruption and marking in the centre as Juve's diamond flattened out was superb. As Los Blancos forced passes throughout, the home side's threat on the counter grew. Tevez netted a penalty after a brilliant run where, again, he and Morata were two vs. two. Carvajal was suckered into a silly challenge and the Argentinian netted to reaffirm the scoreline advantage. Bits and Bobs Massimiliano Allegri switched to a 3-5-2 after 60 minutes, replacing Sturaro with Andrea Barzagli. It further solidified their hold in the centre and gave them an extra centre-back body in the box to deal with crosses—of which there were 29 from Real alone, per WhoScored.com. Real kept a 4-4-2 shape throughout, with Bale moving to the right wing when Javier Hernandez replaced Isco. Same shape, same approach, and there was zero service from the Welshman. Vidal deserves immense credit for doing three mens' shifts on the night. He was absolutely everywhere; passing out from the back, starting attacks and spearheading counters. It's a bit late in the day, but your pro player comparison for Morata has to be (peak) Radamel Falcao. Deceptively fast, hardworking, moves into the channels superbly and scores poacher's goals. The second leg is very likely to take a very similar shape; Real need a goal so they will attack, and Juve don't so they'll defend—as is their reflex—and attack via the pace of Tevez and Morata again. It's finely poised.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Madrid could not cope with superb Juventus, says Lichtsteiner The Switzerland international was overjoyed with his side's win and wants to see more of the same in the second leg at the Bernabeu. May 6, 2015 Stephan Lichtsteiner has voiced his delight with Juventus' 2-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid and feels the Serie A champions' superb organisation made the difference in the first leg of the semi-final tie. Alvaro Morata gifted Juventus the lead early on before Cristiano Ronaldo equalised. However, Carlos Tevez eventually helped Massimiliano Allegri's men to a vital home win with his second-half strike. Lichtsteiner was overjoyed with his side's performance and has called for a repeat in the second leg. "We definitely gave them a tough time. I don’t think they’re used to playing against an organised team like us," the Switzerland international told reporters. "We can be happy with the performance and result, we put in a fine display. "Madrid possess top players who can make the difference if you don’t stay alert. It’s impressive how good they are, but we were excellent. "It’s important we show more of the same in Madrid." The return fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu will take place on May 13.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) GIGI BUFFON: ‘JUVENTUS V REAL WAS LIKE A BOXING MATCH’ May 6, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon believes Juventus proved themselves against Real Madrid while comparing the game to a boxing match. The Bianconeri edged ahead of Real Madrid in a 2-1 victory in the first lef of the semi-final in Turin. “We could’ve won 3-1 and they could’ve equalised for 2-2, so with a clear head – which I don’t have right now! – we are happy,” the captain told Sky Sport Italia. “The important thing tonight was to prove we could play the Champions of Europe on level terms. I think even 1-1 would’ve been acceptable. “It was a bit like a boxing match, we took turns hitting each other, and I expect the second leg will be similar. “Real Madrid are a great team, but at this level even though on paper they are stronger than us, we can challenge them in terms of hunger, enthusiasm and athleticism. “The great thing about football is that the strongest don’t always win. In the short term the best on the night win, in the long-term it’s the strongest overall who win.” Buffon was kept on his toes for much of the game and had to perform a smart stop on toni Kroos. “It was a save that let’s say had an elevated level of difficulty,” he smiled. Gigi was also questioned on why he turned his back during Carlos Tevez’ all important penalty. “I’ve been doing that since the 2006 World Cup Final. I just focused on a single Italy fan and when he got up, I knew we’d scored!”

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) ALLEGRI: ‘VICTORY WAS THE RIGHT REWARD FOR JUVENTUS’ May 6, 2015 Juventus coach Max Allegri praised his team’s performance against Real Madrid declaring the win ‘the right reward that they deserved.’ Speaking after his sides 2-1 victory against the current title holders, Allegri gave credit to his players while discussing his change in tactics. “I am very happy with what the lads did. This is the right reward that they deserved, as it’s not easy to reach the Champions League semi-final and especially to play against Real Madrid,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “We played with great intensity and allowed Real Madrid very little, but could’ve done better in the pace of creating our play in the first half. “It’s a shame, as we could’ve done better with the Llorente chance, but I’d have been happy beforehand to get a win over Real Madrid. “Now we can prepare for a week and can fight it out in Madrid.” Allegri began the game with 4-3-1-2 but switched to a 3-5-2 after Juve went ahead and he was asked which system he would use in Madrid. “You’re asking too much! The game just ended! I think tonight the lads defended very well with four, though it was not easy to leave Andrea out. I had to make a choice and he did great coming off the bench. “With Bonucci booked, I had to take fewer risks and have another defender near him.” Perhaps the surprise of the night was Stefano Sturaro who was handed his first Champions League start at just 22 years-old. “I made this choice because, Pereyra can change the game off the bench and Sturaro was in good shape. I needed someone with legs to help the defence. “The lads did very well to defend with four in midfield and then to take turns blocking Sergio Ramos. “The players know I am very demanding on control and the passage of play, so I feel we could’ve done better in the first half to pass it around quickly and get the ball between the Real Madrid midfielders. “That doesn’t take away from the fact they did very well and I am very happy with what they are doing. “We started the Champions League in a certain way and it’s different to Serie A, we need to face these games with more calm and maturity. It’s practically impossible to press a team for 90 minutes and they can score in 10. “It’s important to read the game, know when it’s time to slow down, time to step up the pace and change gear. The team has definitely improved on that.”

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid: Bianconeri take slim lead to Spain after first-leg win in Turin An Alvaro Morata tap in and a Carlos Tevez penalty give Juve the advantage against the defending champs in the first leg of the semi-final. May 6, 2015 "May 5 has always proved a momentous day for us. Let's keep that good run going tonight!" Those were the words tweeted by the official Juventus Twitter account Tuesday morning, as preparations — mentally and physically — for the big first leg semifinal clash against Real Madrid were underway. Indeed, the 5th of May is a day that has been kind to us on occasions past; who can ever forget the unexpected title triumph of 5 May 2002? Not this gobbo, that's for sure! Personally, I felt a mix of excitement and caution. I knew that Juventus could get past Real Madrid, but of course that is different from actually getting past them. As the Champions League anthem rang out through the speakers at the bar I watched the game at, my stomach turned. It's been so long since Juventus has been at this stage in Europe's top club competition, the nerves were really jingling! I was 17 years old the last time we were at this stage. Since I started supporting the Old Lady, I've seen us lose 3 finals ('97, '98 and '03). I rushed home from school to see us get beaten at home and knocked out after taking an away goal back to Turin against Manchester United in '99. Surely you can understand my nervousness, right? Ninety minutes later, and while the win is clearly positive (even though Juve conceded, a win's a win, right?), I still err on the side of caution. This tie is FAR from over. Cristiano Ronaldo's uncontested header on twenty-seven minutes gives an offensively stacked Real Madrid team all to play for going back to the Santiago Bernabéu. Juve's first-leg performance was reminiscent of the first leg against Dortmund, with the only notable difference being that after conceding an equalizer, it was Real who looked more likely to score next (while against Dortmund, it was Juve who were more aggressive). One of the similarities that stuck out most prominently was the fact that we could - and should - have won the game by more. Regardless, the boys deserve praise for generally playing a smart, intense game, making few mistakes and granting a potent Real attack few clear chances. In the end, Real only had three shots on goal; by contrast, Juve had seven. The second leg's in eight days' time ... let's see if we can keep our dream alive. MATCH SUMMARY It took less than a minute for the Bianconeri to signal their intent to win this leg; Claudio Marchisio found Arturo Vidal making the run into the box, the Chilean chose to go to ground easily rather than get a shot off. Not two minutes later, Juve were on the attack again; this time it was Stefano Sturaro (making his first — and unexpected — start in the Champions League) gathering Tevez's pass and firing low but straight at Iker Casillas in the Real Madrid goal. There was no let up from Juve and next to try his luck was Morata, who shrugged off the challenge of Pepe and attempted a lob, but it was easy pickings for Casillas to save. As the saying goes, "pressure busses pipe," and all Juve's early pressure eventually caused Real's defensive pipe to burst! On nine minutes, a twenty-plus passing move, resulted in Marchisio finding Tevez in the box in loads of space. El Apache shot through the legs of Raphaël Varane, his shot parried by Casillas right into the path of the ex-Madridista Morata, who simply tapped in. It was Morata's first goal for Juve since his goal in the second leg of the round of sixteen tie against Dortmund. As was expected, the young Spaniard decided against celebrating his goal. This goal appeared to wake Real up, as they then started to come more into the game. They had two chances in quick succession. The first came on twelve minutes, as midfield maestro Toni Kroos tested Gigi Buffon from long distance, with the Italian international pushing his bouncing shot around the post. From the resulting corner, Isco lined up a similar shot from distance, but this one was straight at Buffon. Varane headed over after rising highest on a corner on nineteen minutes. One twenty-three minutes Ronaldo, from Isco’s pass, sliced through the inside left channel but dragged his finish badly. Real Madrid eventually got what they were looking for. James Rodríguez finished off a wonderful passing move with a lobbed pass over Vidal's outstretched lunge for an inexplicably wide open Ronaldo to head home from less than six yards out. Juventus switched off and were caught ball-watching, with Stephan Lichtsteiner failing to track CR7's run. Real closed out the half on the front foot, and should have gone into the break in the lead. Isco's cross from the left met Rodríguez's diving header, only for the Colombian's effort to hit the underside of the bar and bounce out! It was a let off for Juventus, who had ceded momentum to Real after the equalizer. On a closer look, it appears as if Sturaro got a vital touch to put the ball onto the crossbar! One all at the end of a pulsating half of football. The second half, in contrast to the first, spluttered a bit at the start. Both teams had their moments, without either creating anything clear cut. But that all changed on fifty-five minutes. After a Kroos corner was cleared, Juventus suddenly broke with a two-on-two. Marcelo took out Morata (which saw the Brazilian booked) but Tevez continued his run into the Real box. The Argentine's run was eventually ended by a rash Dani Carvajal tackle that got all player and no ball; penalty to Juventus! In the melee that followed the awarding of the spot kick, Vidal somehow managed to talk himself into a yellow card. Meanwhile, referee Martin Atkinson failed to brandish any card to Carvajal for his challenge, which at the very least deserved a yellow card. Confusing indeed, but alas Juventus had the chance to go back in front in this tie. El Apache took the spot kick duties...and confidently placed his shot down the centre as Casillas dived to his left! 2-1 to the Old Lady! Max Allegri decided it was time for a more conservative approach, and introduced Andrea Barzagli for the impressive (in the circumstances) Sturaro. This meants a switch to 3-5-2. This changed worked well, as Real's attack was kept at bay, with only another long range effort from Kroos of note for the visitors. Juventus, on the other hand, had two further chances to increase their lead. On eighty-six minutes, a missed interception by Varane led to substitute Fernando Llorente (who came on for Morata) rounding Casillas and crossing into the middle where unfortunately, there were no black and white shirts. Tevez was withdrawn a few minutes earlier, and one can't help but think that he would have been in the position to finish that play. The last chance of the game came in stoppage time. The disappointing Andrea Pirlo curled in a great ball to the far post for the wide open Llorente, who headed into the ground and allowed Casillas to eventually fumble to safety. The game ended 2-1 to the host — a deserved victory, but one that should have been by a larger margin. PLAYER RATINGS Buffon: 6.5 Surprisingly was not troubled as much as one would have expected coming up against this Real Madrid attack. Did what little he had to with ease and was unfortunate to concede. Lichtsteiner: 5.5 Dealt with the threat posed by Ronaldo, Marcelo and Isco on the left fairly well — often aided by Marchisio or Vidal. However, he did lose Ronaldo on the Real goal, which obviously costs him marks. Got forward when the opportunities arose, but his final ball was often found wanting. Solid performance nonetheless. Bonucci: 6.5 Picked up a booking early on for a foul on Gareth Bale, and needlessly gave away possession late on which could have been costly. Other than those incidents, gave a confident and assured performance and continues a great personal campaign. Chiellini: 7 You know Giorgio has had a great game when he leaves the field bloodied and bandaged. A vintage display, he dealt with the threats posed by Real's forward players with relative ease. Imperious tonight, hopefully this marks a return to form for Giorgio. Evra: 6.5 Aided in part by the poor performance of Bale, Evra had a comfortable evening. He did his defensive duties without much fuss, and got forward in attack when possible. Could not have asked for much more. Sturaro: 6.5 Based on some of my prior match reports, it may be apparent that I did not rate the young midfielder. However, thrown in at the deep end for his first Champions League start, he put in a top class display. Appearing confident on both sides of the ball, Sturaro's hard work also saved what would have been a certain goal from Rodríguez's diving header. Pirlo: 5 The worst Juve player on the night. Despite covering a lot of ground, Pirlo's usual pinpoint accurate passes often failed to hit their target and he gave away the ball a number of times, once which led to a Real Madrid break. His best moment of the match came from his free kick in stoppage time which resulted in Llorente's header. Marchisio: 6.5 Another top notch performance from Il Principino. Involved in the first goal, he was also involved in other key plays for Juventus. Was not fooled by Ronaldo's trickery on any of the occasions he was up against him, and even one-upped Isco. Well done. Vidal: 6.5 King Arturo continues to make Juve fans salivate with his performances of late. He was everywhere against Real, doing everything. Let's hope that his return to form is permanent, because we'll need it. Loses 0.5 of a grade because he got himself booked and is now on a tightrope for the second leg. Morata: 7 Got the opening goal against his former (possibly future) employers, and was a thorn in their side all game. His movement off the ball and hold up play was quite good, the latter could still do with some work though. He worked his socks off as well, as was evident by him visibly being out of breath when he was substituted. Tevez: 7.5 Had an assist and scored a penalty, which he won with his brilliant solo run. It's becoming harder to find words to describe Tevez when he puts in these types of performances in big games. Was visibly irritated when he was subbed out, which only shows he hunger to succeed at this stage. Subs Barzagli: 6.5 Came on for Sturaro and slotted in seamlessly alongside Bonucci and Chiellini in a back 3. Continued his great form since coming back from injury. Llorente: 5 Held the ball up well, and did well to round Casillas but was unfortunate to have not been able to get a shot in on goal himself. He should have scored his header on that Pirlo free kick. Pereyra: N/A Came on late for Tevez and did not make much of an impression. Coach Allegri: 7.5 Was tactically spot on! Barring a period just after the equalizer, Juventus were really under pressure from Real's attack. His decision to start Sturaro instead of Pereyra looks to have been a master stroke. Juve's intermittent pressing of Real's midfield and defence, along with their staunch defensive organization, did the trick as Real were forced off their game for the most part. Now, Allegri has to plan for the return leg. In 2013, Allegri went to the Nou Camp with his Milan team leading 2-0 and lost the second leg of that round of 16 tie by a score of 4-0. This Juventus team is much better than that Milan team, and this Real Madrid not as explosive as that Barcelona team. But Real will be coming at us with all that they have on May 13th, and it will be up to Allegri and the team to respond appropriately. We are so close but still so far. Oh, why can't it be May 5th everyday?!

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Max Allegri: We Have To Deliver A Masterpiece In Madrid May 6, 2015 Alvaro Morata and a Carlos Tevez penalty saw Juventus beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League semi-final. The second leg is at the Bernabeu next Wednesday and the Bianconeri can qualify even with a draw. This was the Bianconeri’s first Champions League semi-final since 2003, when they eliminated Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate. On an evening laced with sub-plots, Álvaro Morata, the Madrid-born, former Real striker, who played as a substitute in the Spanish club’s Champions League final victory over Atlético last season, had opened the scoring. He refused to celebrate. Madrid’s equaliser, inevitably, came from Cristiano Ronaldo, a close-range header, which was his 54th goal of the season. It also put him clear of Lionel Messi on the all-time Champions League scoring chart with 76. Sergio Ramos laboured in defensive midfield while Gareth Bale, having just returned from a calf injury, was peripheral. It was a hugely enjoyable game, and Juventus deserved their advantage purely because of their energy and spirit of adventure, which was epitomised by Tevez. After a Kroos corner was cleared and Marcelo’s shot was blocked, Juventus broke with two-on-two. It was remarkable to see the champions so exposed. Marcelo cynically took out Morata yet Tevez scuttled on and Carvajal abjectly failed to check him. Worse, he was deceived by a burst of pace from Tevez and sent him sprawling. The only surprise after the penalty award was that Carvajal was not booked. Allegri switched to five at the back after 64 minutes and there were one or two nervous moments for his team. Yet the full-time whistle brought a surge of excitement. Max Allegri was still not entirely content after Juventus beat Real Madrid, but praised their “intensity.” “I am very happy with what the lads did. This is the right reward that they deserved, as it’s not easy to reach the Champions League semi-final and especially to play against Real Madrid,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “We played with great intensity and allowed Real Madrid very little, but could’ve done better in the pace of creating our play in the first half. It’s a shame, as we could’ve done better with the Llorente chance, but I’d have been happy beforehand to get a win over Real Madrid. Now we can prepare for a week and can fight it out in Madrid.” Allegri started out with 4-3-1-2, but then moved to 3-5-2 with Andrea Barzagli coming off the bench. Which system will he use at the Bernabeu was a question posed to him.“You’re asking too much! The game just ended! I think tonight the lads defended very well with four, though it was not easy to leave Andrea out. I had to make a choice and he did great coming off the bench. With Bonucci booked, I had to take fewer risks and have another defender near him.” The real surprise was picking Stefano Sturaro rather than Roberto Pereyra, a player who only had four minutes of Champions League experience before this. “I made this choice because, Pereyra can change the game off the bench and Sturaro was in good shape. I needed someone with legs to help the defence. The lads did very well to defend with four in midfield and then to take turns blocking Sergio Ramos. The players know I am very demanding on control and the passage of play, so I feel we could’ve done better in the first half to pass it around quickly and get the ball between the Real Madrid midfielders. That doesn’t take away from the fact they did very well and I am very happy with what they are doing. We started the Champions League in a certain way and it’s different to Serie A, we need to face these games with more calm and maturity. It’s practically impossible to press a team for 90 minutes and they can score in 10. It’s important to read the game, know when it’s time to slow down, time to step up the pace and change gear. The team has definitely improved on that.”

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Real Madrid have to go out and kill Juventus in second leg - James The Colombian is confident the Santiago Bernabeu faithful can roar their side through to the final next Wednesday, arguing that the Blancos were unlucky to lose in Turin. Keep talking Real! May 6, 2015 James Rodriguez has called on Real Madrid to go out and "kill" Juventus in their Champions League semi-final, second leg on Wednesday week. Los Blancos will go into the return fixture 2-1 down on aggregate after an early Alvaro Morata strike and a second-half Carlos Tevez penalty - either side of a Cristiano Ronaldo header - earned the Bianconeri victory in Tuesday's opener in Turin. However, James is still confident the defending champions will still reach the final in Berlin, believing that the Santiago Bernabeu faithful could make the difference on the night. The Colombia international told TVE: "The result is not bad, we have to have faith. We are at home with our fans in the stadium. The Bernabeu has to get behind us. "We have to recover and think about next week, because it will be hard. They are going to be back defending, they are strong but we must have faith. We have to go out and kill them. "The tie is level. We have to go out and win. I think Real will get to the final." James felt Madrid did not get the breaks at the key moments at Juventus Stadium and it was the former Monaco man who was most out of luck when he headed an Isco cross against the bar four minutes before half-time. "If you see some of the decisive moments, they had a bit of luck," the attacking midfielder added. "I saw the ball hit the bar and I think their defender got a touch."

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Sergio Ramos admits: I played poorly against Juventus The Spaniard, who again played in midfield in the absence of Luka Modric, is unhappy with how he performed in Turin but thinks Los Blancos can turn the tie around. May 5, 2015 Sergio Ramos has accepted that he played poorly as Real Madrid were defeated 2-1 by Juventus in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg. The Spaniard, a defender by trade, continued his recent redeployment in central midfield as a result of the injury-induced absence of Luka Modric. Ramos was slammed for constantly giving away possession in a "dreadful display" as goals from Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez either side of a Cristiano Ronaldo header gave the hosts the win they craved. The makeshift midfielder admitted it was not a game he or the rest of his Madrid team-mates would look back upon fondly, but stressed the semi-final remains very much winnable for the reigning European champions. "It was a bad game in general. I played poorly, but this does not worry me," Ramos told reporters after the game. "I trust coach Carlo Ancelotti and he trusts me. "There is still a second leg to go and we can turn the tie in our favour. In this position - midfield - we run more, but I will not highlight any individual error of anyone. "It won't be hard at all to play better at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday than we did today. I'm sure everything will change. Giving up is not my nature, it's not philosophy and it's not in DNA." Before clashing with Massimiliano Allegri's side in next Wednesday's decider in Madrid, Ancelotti's men will host Valencia in a difficult Liga clash as they look to keep pace or close the gap on leaders Barcelona with three games to go.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Carlos Tevez, Stefano Sturaro lead Juventus to victory over Real Madrid May 5, 2015 The stadium roared with nervous energy. After 12 long years Juventus were back in the semifinals of the Champions League about to play the greatest team in Europe, Real Madrid. The team stepped onto the pitch with confidence, but the fans were somewhat scared; was the Old Lady going to play to her potential or would Cristiano Ronaldo and co. destroy her usually strong defence? Juventus started the match in confident fashion, playing a direct style of football while demonstrating their fluid passing game. Consistently looking to exploit the space Real Madrid often leave behind, Arturo Vidal had an early chance only to watch it pass him by. Pushing forward with confidence and intelligence, it didn't take long before Carlos Tevez made the difference. A man who knows how to punish the opponent, he exploited the space left behind by Raphael Varane and shot at the goalkeeper only for Alvaro Morata to convert. The stadium erupted. Not only had Juventus scored but they were playing to expectations, with determination and intensity. Sadly with the Italians, courage never lasts long and they immediately looked to sit back. Of course, it takes only one mistake to concede and Cristiano Ronaldo soon equalised to psychologically hurt the Old Lady and she never quite recovered her confidence for the remainder of the first half. Without Luka Modric, Real Madrid played a poor game by their own standards. While they are always dangerous going forward, their inaccurate passing made it difficult to truly mount serious attacking threats. Rarely did Gareth Bale actually attempt to take on his markers while Juve's organisation consistently frustrated the Galacticos. Without Karim Benzema raising the level of play in the final third and Modric to control the midfield, Carlo Ancelotti's men suffered and were capable of conceding more. Caution dictated Juve's moments and they were constantly prioritising defensive organisation to offensive power. One thing you have to admire about the Bianconeri was how they remained focused from start to finish. Massimiliano Allegri perfectly pinpointed Madrid's weaknesses and his men followed the instructions well, frustrating James Rodriguez (their main creative outlet) and forcing Sergio Ramos to play one of the worst games he's ever played in a Madrid shirt. His passes inaccurate and his decisions bizarre, he simply couldn't manage the basics on a night Toni Kroos needed him to better control the game so that the German could push up to help the attack. Allegri did a fine job by entrusting the inexperienced Stefano Sturaro to play a decisive role. The second half saw Tevez once again intimidate the opponent with his skills, winning the penalty that secured the 2-1 result. Despite holding the advantage and watching Madrid stutter to combine effectively, the Bianconeri chose to play a reactive game after their second goal. It frustrated the fans, but the Italians still had their chances and Fernando Llorente failed to convert a glorious late opportunity. One hopes these moments will not come back to haunt them. Eventually changing formations to allow for greater defensive strength, Juventus held on for the win and ensured Madrid couldn't score more than the one away goal. With Paul Pogba possibly back for the second leg, there is a chance Juventus can grab a goal at the Bernabeu, but they will need to be as alert defensively if they want to continue their European dream, especially as Benzema will also be available. Player ratings GK Gianluigi Buffon, 6 Alert and ready, he is quite possibly the safest pair of hands in Europe. Aware of Real Madrid's strength from distance, he stood confidently and looked to quickly distribute when he had the opportunity. Dino Zoff may prefer Iker Casillas but Buffon proved he is the best. DF Stephan Lichtsteiner, 5 He wasted a glorious goal-scoring opportunity with Juve up 1-0, but while he pushed up offensively, he had some trouble at the defensive end. Was never quite organised enough and always looked capable of pushing the referee over the edge. Must be calmer in certain situations. DF Christian Bonucci, 6 A leader. An early yellow card impeded him and his usual heroic style of defending, but Bonucci didn't surrender his confident attitude. DF Giorgio Chiellini, 6 How often has this man been a liability, but you will not find a Juventus fan in the world who doesn't worship his passion. Throwing himself wholeheartedly into every tackle, he is the Bianconeri's warrior and took a nasty hit to the face requiring bandages in the second half. Commanded Juve's defence well from start to finish. DF Patrice Evra, 6 At times, he can be defensively fragile, but his experience proved important on Tuesday night. Evra was very attentive to the details and while age has robbed him of certain strengths, his intellect never faded against James, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. MF Stefano Sturaro, 7 His presence was a surprise, but his performance showed why Allegri always knows best. He showed great confidence to take on Dani Carvajal, used his energy to help the defence and dominated the area. He played with the experience of a World Cup winner. MF Andrea Pirlo, 6 When it comes to exquisite passing, Pirlo is the maestro, but while he may hypnotise the opponent, those who watch him will know he didn't play his best game on Tuesday night. Too many turnovers and squandered possession. Also looked a little out of rhythm. MF Claudio Marchisio, 7 Too cautious at times for fear Marcelo would use his pace to hurt Juve, the midfielder should have pushed more and been more aggressive in pinning his opponents back. However, he was one of the few who showed no fear when faced with the likes of Ronaldo and played like he belonged to a footballing giant, always believing in the win. MF: Arturo Vidal, 6 Always runs so much and fights so hard but still not courageous with his passing and still hasn't rediscovered his magical touch on the ball. A warrior nonetheless with some excellent tackles on the night. If only he scored his chance! FW Alvaro Morata, 7 His positioning was tremendous, he always knew where to be and how to exploit the space hence the goal. His awareness, tactical intelligence and incredible work rate have made him a fan favourite. A keen fighter. FW Carlos Tevez, 8 He is no doubt Juve's shining star, their soul and their heartbeat. The man who understands better than most how to roam between the lines, he caused havoc, punished Madrid's mistakes and continuously looked to create and score. The best player on the team. Substitutes DF Andrea Barzagli, 7 Replaced Sturaro after 64 minutes. Never a player Allegri wants to leave out as his intelligence allows for defensive solidity while his composure on the ball allowed the team to stay calm as Real sought a late equaliser. FW Fernando Llorente, NR Replaced Morata after 78 minutes. FW Roberto Pereyra, NR Replaced Tevez after 86 minutes.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Player Ratings: Juventus 2-1 Madrid Goal took in the action in Turin, where the home side dug deep to protect their narrow advantage, frustrating los Blancos in the second half and securing a lead for the second leg. May 5, 2015 Juventus 1 G. Buffon - Could have been a little more commanding on Ronaldo's goal, but he was faultless otherwise, saving well from Kroos. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - The right-back attacked a lot during the opening exchanges and apart from one burst by Ronaldo, he was solid at the back. 19 L. Bonucci - Could have reacted quicker to close out Ronaldo for Madrid's goal, but his second-half defensive performance more than made up for it. 3 G. Chiellini - Bloodied, bandaged and brilliant. The Italy defender pulled out all the stops to snuff out any hint at a chance inside his area. 33 P. Evra - Like Lichtsteiner on the opposite flank, he married efficient attacking support with sound defence, though Madrid's goal originated down his side. 8 C. Marchisio - Had his customary attempts from long range but never tested Casillas. Ran his socks off to harry his Blancos counterparts. 21 A. Pirlo - Some enticing deliveries from crosses and dead balls, though he was caught in possession a few times. Still, made one vital tackle during the closing stages. 27 S. Sturaro - The biggest game of his career, and he passed the test with flying colours. His awareness on the left forced Madrid into some careless turnovers and he displayed an excellent understanding with Evra. 23 A. Vidal - Didn't have much impact in the final third once again, and even though his was an honest shift, there was again a sense that the Chilean is not back to his standards of previous years. 10 Carlos Tévez - Once again the match winner for Juventus. His early shot was saved but then turned in by Morata for the opener. The Argentine subsequently won and converted the second-half penalty that decided the first leg. 9 Á. Morata - In the right place at the right time to prod in a rebound against his former club, and it was his timely pass that released Tevez in the build-up to the penalty. Substitutes 15 A. Barzagli - Didn't put a foot wrong at the back. 14 F. Llorente - Helped out defensively, but fluffed his lines at the death when presented with a header at the back post. 37 R. Pereyra Real Madrid 1 I. Casillas - Hard to blame him for either goal and he was quick off his line to stop a few Juve breaks from becoming critical. 15 Daniel Carvajal - The right-back was too slow to keep up with Tevez and conceded the penalty that gave Juve a crucial advantage for the second leg. 3 Pepe - Aggressive at the right moments, though he was beaten to the punch by Morarta during the build-up to the opener. 2 R. Varane - Missed his connection once, whch allowed Llorente through, and he was lucky to not see a few lapses punished. 12 Marcelo - Caught dreadfully of position for the opener and could have been punished further during a nerve-inducing first half. 10 J. Rodríguez - Rattled the woodwork with a diving header, and was on hand to create two chances for his team with his deliveries into the box. 4 Sergio Ramos - Drafted into a midfield role but was all over the place, coughing up possession and failing to protect his defence. 8 T. Kroos - Came close with a pair of long-range efforts and his distribution restored a sense of normalcy to a few Madrid attacks. 23 Isco - One encouraging burst set up a header for James that hit the bar, but he wasn't direct enough at the right moments. 11 G. Bale - Apart from a good cross for Ronaldo, his return to the starting XI was the definition of anti-climactic. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo - Netted a close-range header to give his side a priceless away goal, but he too struggled to break the resistance of Juve, especially in the second half. Substitutes 14 J. Hernández - Couldn't continue his vein of scoring form off the bench.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Sturaro Praises Midfield Performance Against Real Madrid May 5, 2015 Juventus starlet Stefano Sturaro has praised the impact of his side’s midfield, during the 2-1 Champions League semi final first-leg victory over reigning champions Real Madrid. Goals from Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez were enough to see off Los Blancos, who retaliated with a Cristiano Ronaldo strike, and Sturaro has picked out the midfield in particular as being worthy of praise. “I had roughly the same tasks as Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, and we had to turn back to help the midfield cope,” reflected the 22-year-old to Sky Sport Italia, after a tense fixture at the Juventus Stadium. “Sometimes we suffered, but before us we had great players. “When they attacked on the outside of midfield we had a little bit of fatigue, but we did not suffer too much.” The return fixture will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu on 13 May, with the aggregate victor earning a place in the final in Berlin on 6 June.

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Vidal: Juventus Dream Is To Win The Champions League Final In Berlin May 5, 2015 Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal says that his side is one step closer to winning the Champions League, after they beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of the semi-final at Juventus Stadium on Tuesday night. Goals by Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez twice gave the home side the lead, but a Cristiano Ronaldo goal inbetween gave the Bianconeri a slim lead heading in to next week’s second leg in Madrid. “We played really well against a very good side and are happy to take a lead to Madrid, but we need to play like that for 90 minutes in the second leg if we are to progress,” Vidal told Sky Sport Italia after the game. “It will be another semi-final at the Santiago Bernabeu and we have to go there and play our own game. “We are only thinking about our dream and after tonight it is a bit closer, to go to Berlin and win the Champions League.”

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Morata: Home win means nothing against Real Madrid The former Blancos forward was buoyed by the Bianconeri's 2-1 win in Turin but pointed out that next week's return clash at the Bernabeu will be far more "dangerous". May 5, 2015 Alvaro Morata has pleaded with his Juventus team-mates not to get carried away by their 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg. The 22-year-old forward tapped in the opener for Massimiliano Allegri's men in Turin against the club with whom he became a European champion last season before being sold to the Bianconeri for €20 million. Cristiano Ronaldo equalised for Carlo Ancelotti's side before Carlos Tevez secured the win for Juventus but Morata thinks it would be foolish to think they are any nearer to next month's Champions League final in Berlin. "I'm happy, we've won, which is always very difficult against Real Madrid," the Spain international told TVE. "It was a good result, but we have to work because Madrid are the best in the world in my opinion and it will be difficult to eliminate them. "When you win it is always good. Yes, it's good result. But at the Santiago Bernabeu it will be much more dangerous and we have to work hard this week to have a chance. "Against Madrid you have no advantage. We know their players and the second leg awaits us." Morata also discussed his decision not to celebrate his strike, which he says was out of respect to the club who fashioned him into a professional footballer, but stressed that his loyalties now lie with the Italian champions. "I'll never said a bad word about Real Madrid, I'm very fond of the club who raised me," he added. "Some people are looking for things that are not there. "I always said I would not celebrate if scored against them because I want Madrid to always win - except for when they're facing me. I am grateful to the coach and the club but now I am with Juventus; they are my club now."

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID 2 - 1 Álvaro Morata (8') Cristiano Ronaldo (27') Carlos Tévez (57' - Penalty) Semi-final - 1st leg Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Martin Atkinson (England) Ancelotti: Real Madrid paid price for lack of patience against Juventus The former Bianconeri boss admitted his side had underperformed in the first leg in Turin but remains confident they can get through to the final. May 5, 2015 Carlo Ancelotti blamed a lack of patience and quality for Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final defeat at Juventus on Tuesday. The visitors were sloppy throughout and eventually succumbed to a 2-1 first-leg loss thanks to an Alvaro Morata tap-in and a Carlos Tevez penalty either side of a Cristiano Ronaldo header. Ancelotti, going up against his former club, was disappointed with the outcome but remains confident his side will progress to next month's final in Berlin by winning next week's second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Madrid coach told TVE: "The game could have gone better for us. We tried but not always with the right quality or efficiency. "We tried to have control of the game. We had bad luck as well because we could have scored to make it 2-1 but instead we conceded. It does not leave us happy but we still have the confidence that we can come back. "We lost patience. The game did not start well, we left space between the lines which cost us a goal. Then we played well. We tried to continue [in that vein] but we could not." Ancelotti again played central defender Sergio Ramos in midfield - a tactic that worked so well in the second leg of the quarter-final against Atletico Madrid - but the Spain international struggled to make any kind of positive impact. "It was not just a bad game for Ramos," the Italian trainer said. "We lost precision passing out of defence too. The match seemed straightforward when we were playing well. But Juve are dangerous on the counterattack."