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Tevez decision on Juventus future imminent The Argentine is set to give the Bianconeri the final word on whether he will stay in the next few weeks, with Boca Juniors standing by to swoop. Apr 16, 2015 Carlos Tevez is expected to make a decision on his future in the next few weeks, with Juventus stepping up their pursuit for Paulo Dybala in fear of losing their star striker this summer. The Argentine has netted 25 goals this term, leading the Old Lady to the verge of the Champions League semi-finals as well as helping to open up a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A. However, the former Manchester City man has already told club officials that his current deal - which expires in June 2016 - will be his last, due to his desire to end his career with his first club Boca Juniors. It is understood Tevez has now confirmed to the club that he will give a definitive answer on his future by the first week of May, with a summer move a distinct possibility. Tevez has been in regular contact with Boca in recent weeks as he prepares to come to a decision which could signal the end of his career in Europe, nine years after he shocked the world by joining West Ham United from Corinthians. For now, Tevez is said to be focused only on winning Serie A and challenging for the Champions League, while he has also set his sights on the Capocannoniere award given to the league's top scorer. His 46 goals in 86 games have made the 31-year-old a cult figure in Turin, with Juventus' improved fortunes in Europe this season having been largely linked to his own vastly improved form in continental competition. Juve's interest in Palermo striker Dybala will now be ramped up as a result of the uncertainty over Tevez's immediate future. While club executives are thought to be keen on snapping up the 21-year-old Argentine regardless of Tevez's decision, they are now set to make significant strides in their quest for a new striker in case they find themselves shorn of their figurehead frontman ahead of next season.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO .- Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Preview: Juventus vs. Lazio Apr 16, 2015 The top two teams in Italy will meet in Turin this weekend as league leaders Juventus take on in-form Lazio. With a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A the Bianconeri are unlikely to be caught, but a win for the visitors would help them to further strengthen their grip on a Champions League place. Juventus There are just eight games left to play in Serie A this season and for a long time Juventus have been in cruise control on their way to a fourth-successive title. However, their 20-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end last weekend, as they fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at bottom-of-the-league Parma. Massimiliano Allegri did rest a number of key players for that match in preparation for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Monaco and with big names like Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez back, they secured a 1-0 victory. The second leg of that tie will take place at the Stade Louis II next Wednesday, but against Lazio there will be no players left out as they face the only team with a slim chance of catching them at the top. It would take a disastrous collapse for them to lose their commanding lead, but a second straight league defeat would certainly offer hope to Lazio and even third-placed Roma that the title is still up for grabs. Recent form in Serie A: D W W W W L Recent form (all competitions): W W W W L W Lazio At the start of the season, there were some who felt that Lazio could challenge for a place in Europe, but very few would have predicted the position that they are in now. They have been in scintillating form in recent months and an eight-game winning run has lifted them up to second place in the table. To make things even sweeter for the club's fans, they are now above their city rivals Roma and they could be set to record their highest Serie A finish since they won the league 15 years ago. A combination of brilliant attacking play and a number of fine defensive displays have been the key to their unbeaten streak and they have bagged 21 goals in those eight games, while conceding just twice. The forward trio of Felipe Anderson, Antonio Candreva and Miroslav Klose have been scoring for fun and all three players found the back of the net last weekend, as they romped to a 4-0 win over Empoli. Recent form in Serie A: W W W W W W Recent form (all competitions): W W W W W W Team News Angelo Ogbonna is suspended for Juventus after picking up a yellow card at Parma last weekend, while long-term absentees Paul Pogba, Kwadwo Asamoah and Martin Caceres are still missing. There are reports that Fernando Llorente will start up front, while Allegri is expected to revert to a 3-5-2 formation. Lazio have been dealt a double injury blow, as first-team regulars Stefan de Vrij and Marco Parolo have both been ruled out. Luis Pedro Cavanda and Diego Novaretti are banned and will also miss the trip to Turin. However, the Biancocelesti will be able to call upon the services of Dusan Basta and Mauricio, who were suspended last weekend. Juventus possible starting lineup: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pereyra, Evra; Tevez, Llorente Lazio possible starting lineup: Berisha, Basta, Cana, Mauricio, Lulic, Biglia, Cataldi, Mauri, Candreva, Anderson, Klose Head To Head In this season's reverse fixture, it was Juventus who claimed the points, as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico. The Bianconeri have a wonderful recent record against Lazio and they have lost just once in their previous 15 meetings. This is not the last time that these clubs will meet this season, as they will face off in the Coppa Italia final on June 7. We say: Juventus 1-1 Lazio Juventus may have one eye on their Champions League trip to Monaco, but they won't be taking Lazio lightly, especially after last week's upset at Parma. The visitors are on an exceptional run of form and although their winning streak may come to an end in Turin, we think that they will have enough quality to claim a point to further their European aspirations. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO .- Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Marchetti fit to face Juve Apr 16, 2015 Federico Marchetti can play for Lazio against Juventus on Saturday, but Stefan Radu is in doubt. The top two in Serie A clash this weekend, click here for a match preview. Goalkeeper Marchetti fractured his nose last week and underwent surgery to stabilise it. “Marchetti can be called up, as he trained regularly with the protective mask,” chief medic Stefano Salvatori told Lazio Style Radio. “As for Radu, he did not train with the squad, but worked separately with a positive response. We did not give him a complete session to avoid risking a relapse. We’ll evaluate tomorrow morning what work he can do. “Santiago Gentiletti and Filip Djordjevic had more or less complete sessions this week, so their situations are improving, even if they lack consistency. “Filip will have his final visit tonight that should give the definitive all-clear. The player feels he is ready.” Serbian striker Djordjevic fractured his ankle in January and is on the verge of a comeback. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Pirlo: ‘Allegri brings calm’ Apr 16, 2015 Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo says Coach Massimiliano Allegri has brought ‘calm’ to the Bianconeri in Europe. The Old Lady triumphed 1-0 over Monaco on Tuesday night to put themselves in a good position to qualify for the Semi-Finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2003. “He’s brought us a great calmness,” Pirlo explained in an interview with Sky. “He didn’t give too much importance to the games, as though we had to win them all to go forward, after the less than beautiful performances in recent years. “So he gave us security, he’s experienced a lot of Champions League games with Milan, and that’s helped.”

Asamoah to return to Juventus training in ten days after five-month absence Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah is set to make a return to training with Italian giants in the next ten days after a five-month injury-induced absence, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively report. Apr 16, 2015 The news is a massive boost for coach Avram Grant as the Ghana coach could have the talented player for the start of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June. The midfielder is expected to join his club team-mates in training within the next ten days after recovering from a career threatening knee injury, insiders at Juventus have exclusively told Ghana’s leading football news outlet. Asamoah could even return to action for Juventus in their midweek league match against Fiorentina on 29 April, the club’s doctors are confident. The 26-year-old started training in the gym last month in preparation for his return to full-scale training with the Bianconeri after suffering the damaging injury. Now doctors have cleared him to return to full scale training with the entire team which is a massive boost for Ghana in their qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. The ex-Udinese man was ruled out of action for four months back in December 2014 after picking up a knee injury, which forced him to miss the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The Ghana national team stalwart was forced to miss the recently concluded 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea due to the injury, and the required surgery to correct his knee problem, which was a success. The Black Stars went on to reach the final of the competition before losing to Cote D’Ivoire in a penalty shoot-out. Asamoah had been one of the most important players for Juventus before his injury, playing a versatile role in the squad which included his ability to adapt to the left back and midfield positions. Bianconero coach Massimiliano Allegri will be pleased to hear about the positive progress of his player, as the season heads towards the business end, and the UEFA Champions League comes back into the picture for Juve.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO .- Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Felipe Anderson: 'Lazio fight Juve' Apr 16, 2015 Felipe Anderson insisted Lazio will face Juventus “with heads held high” in Serie A and the Coppa Italia. The Brazilian spoke to Lazio Style Radio on his 22nd birthday, ahead of Saturday’s clash between second and first in the table. “We must go to Turin in order to play our football with heads held high. It’ll be tough to score past Gigi Buffon, but we’ll run hard and aim to win. We all run for each other at Lazio.” They’ll also encounter Juventus in the Coppa Italia Final in June and that will be at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. “It would be my first trophy for Lazio. We want to win it and are working very hard to make it happen. “Coach Stefano Pioli’s secret is humility. We’ve won eight Serie A games in a row and he keeps telling us we’ve achieved nothing. We continue to work and sweat both in training and in a match situation. “I am an easy-going guy and like to have contact with the fans. I love to see people smile. Rome is a wonderful city and even going to training means driving past beautiful landscapes. The Romans are just as passionate as the Brazilians.” Felipe Anderson had a very tough first campaign in Italy, but has exploded in recent months with 10 Serie A goals and seven assists. “At the end of last season I realised I’d be able to make my mark at Lazio. I didn’t want to go on vacation, because I was aware that I could do well here. I believed and the fans were important too. “The club chose me and I chose them. Gradually we built up a deep rapport that goes straight to the heart. My family is also happy and we can now celebrate together. “I had a good training regime in the pre-season camp at Auronzo and the Coach always reassured me. I always worked hard and knew I had to repay Pioli for his faith in me. “I also tried to make the most of the opportunity afforded to me by Antonio Candreva’s injury. My first goal with Lazio was wonderful and the fans had been waiting for such a long time. “I can still improve inside the box, as when I go into the one-on-one with a goalkeeper, I tend to get it wrong. “Scoring in the Rome Derby was fantastic. After five minutes I was still looking up at the scoreboard, as I couldn’t believe my name was up there.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/champions_league/2015/04/14-94462_0/FOTO+Che+festa+allo+Stadium+per+Juventus-Monaco%21 http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/AmnaTlHTeWB/Juventus+v+Monaco+FC+UEFA+Champions+League/MCAKlydmKWc

JUVENTUS - LAZIO .- Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Pioli: ‘Lazio have achieved nothing’ Apr 16, 2015 Lazio Coach Stefano Pioli warns they ‘haven’t achieved anything yet’, but says they’ll try to beat Juventus on Saturday. The Aquile have stormed into second place in Serie A, but face a tough run-in, and Pioli isn’t allowing his team to relax. “We must stay focused,” Pioli told SportMediaset. “We’re happy, but we haven’t achieved anything yet. We must continue to work meticulously. I knew the potential this team had, and the club has put exactly the right conditions in place to work. “We haven’t reached our goal yet, though, there are still too many game to go before we can start celebrating. “Can we win at Juventus? We want to try. We’ll go out there to play our game, and if we leave everything on the field we’ll have no regrets.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Buffon & Pirlo can guide Juventus to Champions League final, says Ferrara The former Bianconeri boss is hoping the club can make it all the way to Berlin this season, with the Italian duo spearheading their bid. Apr 16, 2015 Former Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara believes that veteran duo Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon can guide his old side to the Champions League final. The Bianconeri have one foot in the last four, having beaten Monaco 1-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash courtesy of an Arturo Vidal penalty. And the 48-year-old believes the quality of two of their veteran Italy internationals can get them to the Berlin showpiece on June 6. "We are talking about two phenomena," he said of the duo to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "They have made history in world football, not just in Italy. In their case, age does not matter. They are champions who have been lucky enough not to have serious injuries and have shown their value for almost 20 years. "Why can't they reach the final? I'm optimistic by nature but the path is very long, starting with the return clash in Monaco. "From an Italian perspective I hope they can. Objectively it's very difficult but not impossible. Now they're all games that can be decided with one moment. "Gigi and Andrea have unique experience." Juve take their 1-0 aggregate lead to Stade Louis II on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45CET.

Tevez allowed to leave Juve? Apr 16, 2015 It’s reported that Carlos Tevez will join Boca Juniors at the end of the season, having asked to leave Juventus. It’s no secret that the Apache wants to end his career in Argentina with the team he supported as a child, and it was expected he would leave at the end of his contract in 2016. However, more recent reports have linked the striker with an early departure, and this morning’s Corriere della Sera claims that Tevez has asked to leave. According to the newspaper, the former Manchester City striker was honest with the Bianconeri hierarchy, stating his desire to be allowed to leave at the end of this season. It’s thought that the Old Lady have reluctantly agreed, but are still hoping their star man will change his mind. The paper believes that the good relationship between Tevez and the club meant the Turin giants couldn't deny the striker the chance to return home, with all that is asked is that the Argentinian international continue to give his all until the end of the season. The player’s international Coach, Tata Martino has also spoken about a potential move, saying he’d have no problem picking Tevez if he played with Boca. “The most important thing for me is that Tevez continues to play as well as he is at the moment,” Martino told Tuttosport. “It doesn’t matter whether that’s at Juventus or Boca. Only he’ll know what’s best for his future. “I will say this, though: Juventus are a great team, but so are Boca Juniors. It wouldn’t be a step down.”

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Why Monaco Goal Proves Juventus Still Need Arturo Vidal Apr 15, 2015 It hasn't been a vintage season for Arturo Vidal. Injury issues haven't been enough to keep him off the field—he's started 20 times in the league and come off the bench on four occasions—but they have taken their toll on his ability to influence games. Last campaign, Vidal scored 18 times in all competitions. That's just three fewer than Carlos Tevez managed, despite the Chilean being a midfielder. So far this season, he's bagged just seven. But when he took the ball from Tevez to take and convert Juventus' penalty against Monaco on Tuesday night, he reminded us all of something integral to his game: his unwavering self-belief. There were reports earlier in the year, such as this one from the Express' Ben Jefferson, that the Bianconeri were willing to take a cut-price deal on the injury-prone "ticking time bomb." There was some concern about the severity of his problem, but there's no doubt that the anxiety gave way to hyperbole. You don't just write off a 27-year-old athlete—especially not one as talented and as determined as Vidal. Juve had many opportunities against Monaco, and Vidal had already seen a shot of his own fly over the bar before he stepped up to take the penalty in the 57th minute. Ricardo Carvalho's tackle on Alvaro Morata would later prove to be controversial, but there was nothing contentious about the way Vidal drove his shot past Danijel Subasic. It was exactly the kind of goal he needed to get the monkey off his back. For the rest of the game, he looked like a player reborn. We've seen flashes of Vidal's best this season, but this was a game where the dogged, relentless battler of old returned to the fore. At times, it looked like he was capable of winning the game solo, just through sheer force of will. Speaking to the Sky Sport Italia after the game, here in English via football-italia.net, he said: When I saw the ball go over [from his earlier shot] I felt tense, but I looked up and saw my wife, so she gave me more confidence to carry on. The ball bobbled, but for some reason I’m missing chances that I never used to. Now I’ve scored, I hope to feel more confident. It’s normal to feel a little scared in a quarter-final against a team that did so well in the first leg against Arsenal. We were worried at leaving spaces behind us, but in the end we got there. [Then for the penalty] I felt confident, so I asked Carlitos for the ball and then I scored. We don’t have a first choice penalty taker, it’s whoever feels most up to it will take it Sounds simple, but there must have been huge pressure involved in taking the ball from Serie A's current capocannoniere and Juve's most reliable goalscorer. It's not the kind of strain that most players would invite upon themselves—especially not in a Champions League quarter-final. And that's what makes Vidal special. Not only is the Chilean one of the world's best all-round midfielders, but he's also a natural leader and the kind of footballer that managers can rely on to take control of games. Yes, Paul Pogba keeps getting better, and yes, there might come a day when the young Frenchman is so good that Juve will only need one dynamic, goal-scoring inspiration in midfield. But that day hasn't come yet. Arturo Vidal is still a priceless part of the Juve setup, and selling him would be a step back for the Bianconeri.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Juventus 1-0 AS Monaco: Arturo Vidal's penalty gives Bianconeri slim lead after first leg Apr 15, 2015 Prior to Juventus and AS Monaco's quarterfinal showdown, both sides possessed two of the best defensive records in the Champions League. However, of the teams that qualified for the knockout round, Leonardo Jardim's side scored the least amount of goals in the competition. Therefore, the Bianconeri's narrow one goal victory was unsurprising. Jardim persisted with a variation of a 4-2-3-1 with Fabinho replacing the injured Jeremy Toulalan to join Geoffrey Kondogbia in the double-pivot, while Joao Moutinho sat slightly behind Anthony Martial to shadow Andrea Pirlo, and help the striker press from the front. It was evident from the first whistle that Monaco aimed to play on the break. Despite a positive Juventus start inspired by Carlos Tevez, the home side encountered difficulties bypassing Monaco's midfield block. Juve's attacking players were unable to receive the ball between the lines, get behind Monaco's back four, and their passing across the pitch was shockingly underwhelming. Certainly Monaco's discipline and organization was a key component to Juve's first half issues, but their transitional defending was worrying throughout. On paper, Berbatov's exclusion provided Jardim with a pacy front trio, and they constantly exposed Juve's leggy back-line. Giorgio Chiellini, nor Leonardo Bonucci are renowned for their speed, and with full-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra eager to join the attack, simple long balls into the channels ignited quick counter attacks. In the opening 10 minutes both Martial and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco got the better of Bonucci down the left, with the latter receiving the best chance to open the scoring, but he fired a low effort directly at Gianluigi Buffon. Carrasco was a nuisance throughout, and his clipped ball into the left channel nearly saw Chiellini concede a penalty on Martial. The Portuguese winger also created Monaco's best chance in the second half, sending substitute Bernardo Silva free on goal, but Buffon comfortably pushed his near post effort aside. Meanwhile, Juve's sloppy passing — particularly Pirlo in the first half — enabled the away side to quickly facilitate the ball into attacking areas, but they failed to monopolize their chances and missed the target on each attempt. Juve's territorial dominance forced Monaco to defend without the ball for large portions of the match, but their pace and ability to repeatedly capitalize on sloppy passes in central areas should have resulted in goals. Juve's difficulty in open play was also interesting. While Pereyra's running and Tevez's incisive passing didn't break lines, Allegri's side relied on lofted balls from deep areas to fluster the Monaco back-line. Frankly, apart from optimistic shots from distance, the home side's best chances stemmed from this route of attack. First, Pirlo dinked a ball towards the far post for Morata, but he skied his shot over the net. Shortly afterwards, Marchisio's delivery towards the far post fell to an unmarked Tevez, but the Argentine fired a tame effort on goal. With minutes to spare in the first, it was Vidal who received a stunning pass from Tevez, but the Chilean's wayward shot from inside the box flew wide. The buildup to the winner, though, epitomized Juve's threat in these areas. Pirlo was gifted enough space to launch the perfect ball over the top for Morata, who was subsequently clipped down by Ricardo Carvalho, thus resulting in a penalty - which in fairness was simply a free kick. It was a rare occasion where Morata's pace stretched the Monaco back-line, but Juve were equally rewarded for persisting with their penetration from deep areas. Both managers swiftly reacted to Vidal's opener, as Juve dropped a tad deeper into two banks of four, thus handing the onus to Monaco to break them down. However, apart from Kondogbia dispossessing Marchisio in midfield and forcing a save from Buffon, and Berbatov's skewed header from point blank range. Monaco's threat in the final third was scarce, as the home side remained compact, while the dynamic Vidal's work rate was equally influential in regaining possession. Whereas Berbatov's introduction offered Monaco a reference point upfront, the French side was equally deprived of pace in the final third. Allegri's reluctance to push for a second goal saw Andrea Barzagli replace Pirlo as Juve moved to a 3-5-2, which in theory transitioned into a 5-3-2 to stifle Monaco's threat on the break. The match was settled by a controversial penalty decision, yet Juve's penetration from deep, along with Monaco's pace in transition shaped its overall pattern. Although both sides profligate finishing presents a tense second leg encounter in France, Juve have displayed their maturity to soak up pressure and punish teams on the counter under Allegri, further elucidating why they're clear favourites next week.

Marchisio set for renewal Apr 15, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has reportedly agreed a new deal with the Old Lady that will be announced in the next few days. The 29-year-old’s current deal expires next summer, but according to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, he has reached an agreement with the club to renew until June 2019. An official announcement could come in the very near future, but according to the newspaper it may be delayed until hours before the Turin derby on April 26. ‘Il Principino’ has been an integral part of Juventus’ recent success and is a product of the club’s youth system. Marchisio has been a mainstay of the Old Lady’s domestic and European challenge this season, scoring twice and making nine assists in 41 appearances.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Juve’s big guns the difference Juventus will have a lead to defend next week after downing Monaco by a single goal. Luca Cetta praises crucial contributions from key players. Apr 15, 2015 Interviewed by giornalaccio rosa dello Sport ahead of yesterday’s match, Arturo Vidal’s message was simple: “I want to score some crucial goals and this is the right time!” With a tense Champions League quarter-final first leg deadlocked just after half time, Vidal stepped up to break Monaco’s stubborn resistance. The superb penalty turned out to be the only goal of the game. Danijel Subasic could do little to stop a spot-kick which arrowed into the top corner. Vidal spoke to the pink paper at length about battling through the pain to take the field for Juventus after a knee injury early last year which nearly cost a spot at the World Cup. The recovery was slow and criticism forthcoming. And the Chilean, for three seasons a prolific midfield scorer, had failed to find the target in seven European matches, no opportunity more glaring than his miss from the spot against Olympiacos. On the stroke of half time he spurned a glorious chance to put the Bianconeri ahead. Were the gremlins surfacing? “When I saw the ball go over, I felt tense, but I looked up and saw my wife, so she gave me more confidence to carry on.” Then the referee pointed to the spot. This was the chance to put things right. “I felt confident, so I asked Carlitos [Tevez] for the ball and then I scored.” His penalty was hit with the confidence of a man up for the big occasion. It lifted a weight off his shoulders. Free of the shackles, Vidal lived up the ‘Warrior’ moniker, never giving Monaco players a moment’s rest. Juventus will admit they are not one of the favourites to lift the ‘cup with the big ears’. It’s a strong squad, but not as deep as some. Like with the penalty, luck doesn’t go astray in Europe. And as Vidal demonstrated they need their principal components to be decisive at the right time. Just as was the case with Andrea Pirlo, making his first appearance since the Round of 16 first leg. Massimiliano Allegri had late doubts whether he would make it, but Pirlo’s presence slightly re-jigged Juve in comparison to during his absence. Part enforced by Monaco’s disciplined shape and part Pirlo, the Old Lady was more vigilant in building from the back. The Metronome’s radar was a little rusty. After almost two months out this was to be expected. But his long-range missile for Alvaro Morata after half time was game-changing. The Spaniard and Ricardo Carvalho tangled and while contact took place just outside the area, a penalty was awarded. In real time it’s easy to see why. The decision was close, Vidal’s finish unerring. Before and after the goal the visitors threatened. The opening minutes were like that of two boxers exchanging jabs. Juventus took the initial ascendency. Then Monaco landed a strong blow. Yannick Ferreira Carrasco wasted a golden chance after Anthony Martial’s burst, denied by Gianluigi Buffon. Juve’s captain looked the most assured man on the field, dealing with what Monaco threw his way and producing the serenity needed in the final minutes to protect the lead. That Monaco could exert such pressure - Dimitar Berbatov also came close with a late header - will offer hope for the return. Giorgio Chiellini felt the Turin side started badly. “Our initial approach was wrong, leaving too many spaces to their strikers who can be devastating on the counter, but then we adjusted and controlled the game.” Stats show Monaco have a better record in Ligue 1 away from home than at the Stade Louis II. They were devastating away to Arsenal. With their ability on the counter it’s clear why. While looking dangerous in that regard, next week they will need to score. That should, in theory, leave gaps for Tevez and Morata - well shackled on Tuesday - to exploit. But as Buffon warned, Juventus will need to be spot on with their passing to avoid quick transitions: “We made some mistakes in our passes and created three or four very dangerous counter-attack situations for them.” If the first leg is anything to go by it will be an evenly-fought battle. But thanks to their big players shining at the right moments, Juve will go to the Principality with an advantage to defend.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Vidal: 'I asked to take penalty' Apr 15, 2015 Arturo Vidal revealed why he took the penalty for Juventus against Monaco. “I asked Carlos Tevez for the ball.” The spot-kick proved decisive for a 1-0 first leg quarter-final victory, his first Champions League goal since November 2013. “I felt confident, so I asked Carlitos for the ball and then I scored. We don’t have a first choice penalty taker, it’s whoever feels most up to it will take it,” the Chilean told Sky Sport Italia. Vidal had missed a golden opportunity on the stroke of half-time, ballooning over the bar. Did he feel at that point he was never going to break his Champions League drought? “When I saw the ball go over, I felt tense, but I looked up and saw my wife, so she gave me more confidence to carry on. “The ball bobbled, but for some reason I’m missing chances that I never used to. Now I’ve scored, I hope to feel more confident. “It’s normal to feel a little scared in a quarter-final against a team that did so well in the first leg against Arsenal. We were worried at leaving spaces behind us, but in the end we got there.”

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) If you want fun, go to the circus - Allegri The Juventus boss has defended his tactics in the 1-0 win over Monaco, saying he is "only interested in reaching the Champions League semi-finals". Apr 15, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has told his side's fans that they should "go to the circus" if they want entertainment. The Bianconeri played it safe in their Champions League quarter-final against Monaco in Turin, winning 1-0 courtesy of a penalty from Arturo Vidal. However, the former AC Milan boss has defended his tactics and was delighted to see the Chilean return to goalscoring form. "Yes, the result is good, there's no doubt about it," he is quoted as saying by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "It was crucial not to concede in the home leg. Let's not say that we're already in the semi-finals though. "It was a boring game? If you want to have fun, you should go to the circus. I'm only interested in reaching the semi-finals. "We are pleased with the performance. Whoever thought that it would be an easy quarter-final is mistaken. "In truth, Vidal has been playing well for some time. This time, he scored which is for the best. He and Tevez are the penalty takers." The Italian champions travel to the prinicipality for the second leg next week as they look to reach the last four for the first time since 2003.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Arturo Vidal Penalty Helps Juventus Take Slender Lead Over Monaco Apr 15, 2015 A contentious Arturo Vidal penalty gave Juventus the 1-0 Champions League quarter-final victory over Monaco. The decider will be in the Principality on April 22, where ASM have won only twice in the competition this season. The Bianconeri were the favourites on paper in this first leg quarter-final, but fresh from a shock defeat to Serie A bottom club Parma and facing a Monaco side that eliminated Arsenal with a 3-1 win in London. They had scored only seven goals in their eight games so far, but conceded fewer than any other club in the Champions League this season. Andrea Pirlo made his first appearance in three weeks, but Paul Pogba was still sidelined and Andrea Barzagli only fit for the bench. The visitors missed Jeremy Toulalan and opted for Ricardo Carvalho and Anthony Martial rather than Wallace and Dimitar Berbatov. After an expected bright opening from the home side in which Morata volleyed over the bar from just six yards after being picked out by an inch-perfect pass Andrea Pirlo pass, it was actually Monaco who slowly began take control of proceedings. First Yannick Carrasco passed up a golden opportunity to give the visitors a vital away goal to take back with them to France after being picked out in the area following a fine driving run by Anthony Martial, only for the Belgium winger to somehow fail to beat Gianluigi Buffon from close range when it seemed easier to score. Then just seconds later the same player again tested Buffon with a low shot from the edge of the area, which the Juve captain did well to turn round the post after the ball was deflected en route to goal. And when an unmarked Layvin Kurzawa also directed a header off target just past the quarter-hour mark, the home fans’ unhappiness with how Monaco were dominating was clear for all to hear. But Juventus soon recovered their poise, and control of the contest, despite strong Monaco appeals for a penalty after Giorgio Chiellini appeared to haul the speedy Martial down in the box, with the hosts missing a glut of opportunities as the game moved towards the break. First Tevez failed to make good enough contact with the ball after being found unmarked at the back post by Claudio Marchisio’s curling left-wing centre, before left-back Patrice Evra blazed wildly over the crossbar after fine approach play on the right-hand by-line from Roberto Pereyra. However, it was Vidal who was guilty of the worst miss of all. The Chilean was played clean through on goal by a delicious defence-splitting pass from Tevez, only for the midfielder to miss the target with only Danijel Subasic to beat in the Monaco goal. Monaco were first to threaten in the second half, Bernardo Silva breaking into the box at the end of a swift raid before forcing a save out of Buffon with his left boot. Nabil Dirar went off with a knee injury and Tevez was unable to tap in a corner, then Monaco threatened on the counter with Buffon palming a Bernardo Silva shot round the near post. In the 57th minute, however, Juve were gifted an opportunity to score. When Ricardo Carvalho brought Alvaro Morata down in the area, Vidal stepped up to the mark and beat Subasic with a driven spot-kick. The Chilean hadn’t found the net in this tournament since a hat-trick against FC Copenhagen in November 2013.Then, with Juve still celebrating, Kondogbia tried to surprise Buffon with a shot from distance but the veteran keeper flicked the ball out for a corner. Sensing a backlash, Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri withdrew playmaker Andrea Pirlo for defender Andrea Barzagli, and Monaco’s ability to retaliate steadily weakened. Kondogbia did wriggle into the area as time ticked away, but the save was easy for Buffon and full-time soon ended the principality club’s tame challenge. Juve comfortably saw out the closing stages, but they will be far from confident of sealing the deal next week given they have lost every Champions League contest they have ever played on French soil. Juventus did enough to claim the win this evening after a dominant performance. They were in control of the match and they enjoyed a huge amount of the ball. Monaco deserve CREDITfor their defensive display and they almost managed to claim a draw, but for a rare defensive lapse by Carvalho that gave away the penalty. With the scoreline so finely poised, there is still everything to play for when the teams meet at the Stade Louis II next Wednesday. The Bianconeri were not at their absolute best, but they managed to grind out another narrow victory. They struggled to create many clear-cut chances against a stubborn Monaco defence, but Carlos Tevez and Vidal both missed very presentable openings in the first half. Once they went ahead, they expertly killed the game off to ensure a vital result. The visitors may argue that the foul for the penalty happened just outside the box, but Carvalho was extremely fortunate not to pick up a red card. In the end, they failed to take their chances and it means that they will have big task on their hands to overturn the deficit in the return meeting. The Bianconeri face a top-of-the-table clash in Serie A at the weekend when they welcome Lazio to Turin while Monaco will be looking to continue their Ligue 1 title challenge against Rennes on Saturday evening.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Juventus use intelligence to secure first leg victory over Monaco Apr 15, 2015 Was it a penalty? Was it a red card? So many questions, such intelligent tactics, but at the end of the first 90 minutes, it was Juventus that walked away with a 1-0 win against Monaco and deservedly so based on the number of chances they fashioned. Monaco winger Nabil Dirar upset the home fans when he referred to Arsenal as a better side than Juventus. Italians thought Borussia Dortmund was a harder test for the Old Lady than Monaco would be, yet here the two teams stand, in the quarterfinals due to one particular point: Intelligence. "This is a tough side to play against and paradoxically it was easier against Borussia Dortmund because of their style of football. Monaco know their limitations and therefore play to stop the opposition playing. It means waiting a little longer and making an extra five or six passes to find the right breakthrough," noted Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri accurately in his post-match conference. Both Juventus and Monaco understand their strengths and play with their heads more than their hearts. Caution weighs heavily on their minds and every move and decision is thought of a dozen times before it is executed. Neither side play the exciting football of those opponents they defeated in the last round, yet more than any other teams in this competition, they are both fully aware of how to adapt to situations and make their intelligence count. Expected to be a cagey affair, it was the visitors who created the better chances once they settled in, opting for a speedy attack as opposed to the technique of their experienced forward, Dimitar Berbatov, who started on the bench. The strategy was quickly made clear: absorb pressure then hit on the counterattack. After all, there's nothing the Old Lady despises more than being run at with pace. With Juventus consistently passing inwards, attempting to direct play through the middle and find the players between the lines, they became somewhat predictable. Every move just took a little too long to execute, thus allowing their opponents plenty of time to take their position and defend in organised fashion. What the Bianconeri needed were faster passes, quicker thinking and speedy movements to uncover a gap at the back, provoke an error and simply exploit the situation. Instead, they were imprecise with their play and possession was easily squandered in midfield. Monaco grew in confidence as they countered with speed and the moment they lost the ball they pressed high up the pitch to exert pressure on a shaky Andrea Pirlo. The problem with the side from the principality, much to Allegri's delight, is their attacking ambition ebbs and flows in unusual manner. The smallest incident will provoke caution resulting in defensive play and Juventus eventually began to dominate, as they adapted well to the opponent and created chance after chance. The moment Juventus lost the ball through the middle, they would devote numbers to winning it back to maintain attacking momentum. The ball moved quicker, the movements were faster and Juventus became more dangerous. Arturo Vidal had a glorious chance to take the lead just before halftime only to waste yet another opportunity. Most will point out that his performance was impressive -- if only because he expended so much strenght, relentlessly running to halt the opponent and win back possession. Yet while his determination and heart were, and always are, a joy to watch, his technique is not what it used to be and when the accurate balls reached his feet, one lost confidence in his ability to covert. It is precisely why fear was so keenly felt by all the home fans when it was Vidal who stepped up to take the penalty. Pirlo delivered a beautiful pass forward for Alvaro Morata, only for the Spaniard to find his heels clipped, going down in the box to earn his side a spot kick. Pirlo had hardly had a great night, looking sluggish and out of touch for much of the first half, yet his geometric passes are still a thing of beauty and always decisive as they were on this occasion. Did Vidal have the confidence? Apparently so, as he asked for the opportunity, reflecting a confidence and knowledge that a successful strike would break down any psychological barriers that still existed in his mind. Needless to say, he was unstoppable thereafter, running everywhere and anywhere to keep the opponents at bay while Monaco attempted to control their temper. Monaco were furious with the referee, as Morata appeared to have been fouled outside of the box, but Juventus were still granted the controversial penalty. The goal left both sides perplexed and bad football ensued with neither side knowing whether or not to go for a goal or play with caution. While Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim eventually decided to bring on Berbatov to give his side more attacking verve in a 4-2-4, Allegri opted to change to a 3-5-2 formation, effectively defending with five men to guarantee the result -- yet another example of playing with one's head, managing the game to perfection. Based on the overall balance of the game, the Bianconeri deserved the win simply because they created an abundance of chances, but Jardim's men proved exactly why they find themselves at this stage of the competition, for few sides possess their tactical intelligence and organised style of play. It was a pure moment of quality that broke the deadlock, delivered by the one man who looked out of sorts on the pitch: Pirlo. Neither Carlos Tevez nor Morata proved especially effective on the night and the tie is still wide open. One can only hope that the pressure on Monaco to score at home will offer Allegri the opportunity to play a reactive and counter-attacking game in the second leg -- exactly how they played in Germany to defeat Dortmund.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Juventus Champions League Adventure Set To Raise Big Money Apr 15, 2015 Following Juventus’ first leg Champions League quarter-final against Monaco, the potential financial windfall of qualification has been analysed. The European competition is one that promises an increased income to all teams who compete and now the Bianconeri have the opportunity to boost their earnings. Italian newspaper Tuttosport have reported that the Old Lady have already collected €78 million so far during the competition and that they now have the chance to make another 10 if they are to eliminate Monaco. This additional fee is made up of €4.9m as a general bonus, €1.6m for the market pool of television rights as well as another €3m for potential ticket sales. Furthermore, if Juventus are to make it to the final of the competition then their earnings could exceed that of €100m. As a whole, the revenue of the Champions league accumulates to a huge amount of money and it is even set to increase next year by a total of €500m, which is a 32% inflation on the current total.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Juventus rode their luck vs. Monaco in the club's UCL quarterfinal first-leg win Apr 15, 2015 It was far from easy at the Juventus Stadium despite the home side edging AS Monaco in a 1-0 win. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri expected nothing less. The Serie A champions vowed not to make the mistake of underestimating their opponents, a trap that Arsenal fell into. "Monaco were a surprise but they aren't anymore," Allegri explained on the eve of the game. Saturday's defeat to Parma served as a timely warning of what can happen if you take even a team 57 points worse off than you too lightly, let alone Monaco. Monaco have the best away record in Ligue 1 (10-2-4) and by some distance. It's seven points better than their nearest rivals PSG's. And in addition to scoring 12 goals in their past four excursions from the Principality, they boast the meanest defence in France and the Champions League. Still, a cautious optimism filled the air in Turin on Tuesday night. Juventus captain Gigi Buffon had admitted to French media outlet L'Equipe that when the draw for the Champions League quarterfinals was made, "there were two or three teams it would be better to paired with and Monaco were among them." Monaco were considered the "least hard" of those remaining in the competition, and as France Football reflected French clubs have a "Juventus Syndrome." Stade Français, Marseille, Nantes, Rennes, Bordeaux and Monaco have all tried and failed to knock them out of Europe over the last 60 years. Even though Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim dismissed the notion that his team was an outsider, it travelled the short distance across the Alps to Turin with everything to gain and nothing to lose. Getting the psychological and tactical approach to this game would be a delicate balance for Allegri. In his opinion, Monaco represented a trickier proposition than the team they knocked out in the last round, Borussia Dortmund. "When you play against a team that concedes few goals, the games are more complicated," he said, "because you risk throwing yourself forward in a daredevil way and leaving space in behind." This analysis had a clear bearing on his game plan and the attitude of his players. It was obvious from the outset that Juventus were wary of the threat Monaco posed on the counter with Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Anthony Martial. In the first quarter of an hour, Juventus got it wrong. They were a little too deep and, as a consequence, couldn't get their press going. That had the effect of allowing the visitors to play out all too comfortably and still break. They looked nervy. Left-back Patrice Evra spoke afterward about anxiety setting in and feeling the pressure. Monaco should really have gone ahead too when, after nine minutes, Martial burst up the left-hand side and squared it to Ferreira Carrasco in space who, little more than six yards out, aimed a shot straight at Buffon. Had he gone either side of the Juventus captain, Monaco would have packed an away goal with them on the flight home. Juventus meanwhile were initially imprecise and lacked patience in their passing. Making his first appearance in almost six weeks, Andrea Pirlo mishit a few chances. So did Leonardo Bonucci and Arturo Vidal. The strikers Carlos Tevez, who like Pirlo looked rusty after a shorter injury layoff, and his partner Alvaro Morata too often came short. They didn't run in behind and stretch or move Monaco around enough and so, to begin with, Juventus were limited to long-distance efforts, a forte of theirs: no team has scored more goals (17) from outside the area in Europe's top five leagues. Tevez opened the scoring with one in Dortmund and tested the Monaco goalkeeper Daniel Subasic early, but neither he nor Vidal sniped with lethal accuracy. Aymen Abdennour was a rock in front of Subasic and Joao Moutinho policed Pirlo well. Only by stepping up and playing with a higher line did Juventus make life difficult for them. Claudio Marchisio found Tevez alone at the far post for a rushed shot that he had more time to control and place. The Argentine then turned provider in releasing Vidal with a delightful pass with the outside of his foot, but, in seeking to find the top corner, Vidal lifted his effort agonisingly over the bar. They were glorious opportunities that, even though Juventus hadn't shone, merited a half-time lead. In between them, Martial had a penalty claim correctly turned down with Giorgio Chiellini's challenge ruled nothing more than a coming together. Juventus were more fortunate with the decisions. Before the hour mark, Pirlo went long, Morata and Ricardo Carvalho chased it and, while looking at the ball, clashed. It was a foul but it started outside the box, and while a separate less significant contact continued inside it didn't justify a spot kick in and of itself. Vidal, who missed one against Olympiakos in November and Cesena in February, made no mistake this time. It was a big moment for him. He acknowledged in an interview with Italian outlet La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport on Tuesday that putting off a knee operation and then rushing back from it for the World Cup had detrimentally affected his performances this season. With Pirlo and Tevez not fully fit and Paul Pogba out injured, Juventus needed him to be decisive. Along with the veteran Buffon, who made another important intervention by palming a Bernardo Silva shot wide in the second half, he was Juventus' best performer even if it still wasn't vintage Vidal. True, Juventus didn't look their best. Former Juventus player Gianluca Vialli, for instance, said on Sky Sports Italia that he believed a draw would have been fairer on Monaco. But no one could deny that it's a great result for the Serie A club. They got a win, a clean sheet, and a little bit of Lady Luck too. Juventus recognise they need it if they are to end an almost two-decade wait for this trophy. Juventus are realistic enough to admit that Bayern, Real Madrid and Barcelona are on a different level and that if they're going to win this thing, Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea from 2012 have to be their model. Ahead of next week's second leg, it must be said Monaco are little bit less formidable at the Stade Louis II than they are on the road. Their home record is only good enough for ninth in Ligue 1. Finally maturing in Europe, Juventus are handling these games better, particularly when things aren't going as they had planned or would wish, as was the case in the first half. Italian publication La Stampa defined this matchup as their "Big Chance" to reach a first semifinal since 2003. They start in Monaco in pole position.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) JUVENTUS 1-0 MONACO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYER RATINGS Arturo Vidal’s penalty was enough to give Juventus a 1-0 Champions League quarter-final victory over Monaco. Apr 15, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon 7.5 - A contender for man of the match. Made a great opening save very early in the game, his first of many. A superb one-handed save from Martial kept Juve in the game. SuperGigi. Stephan Lichtsteiner 6.5 - Tracked back when needed but also provided a great outlet for Juve down the right. Leonardo Bonucci 6.5 - An early mistake aside, his performance next to Chiellini was vital to Juve’s clean sheet. Made some timely interceptions and great clearances. Giorgio Chiellini 7.0 - Utterly rock solid at the back, keeping Martial and Carrasco relatively quiet. Even managed to stride out of the defence on occasion to get Juve moving forward. Patrice Evra 7.5 - Arguably his best performance in a Juve shirt. Kept Dirar quiet all night and made two perfectly timed tackles to deny Monaco Arturo Vidal 7.5 - An average first half was replaced by a stellar second. Broke up numerous Monaco attacks and took his penalty with a clinical finish. Andrea Pirlo 6.5 - Didn’t make a great start to the game and misplaced a few passes but he grew as the game went on. Provided the defence splitting pass that led to Juve’s penalty. Claudio Marchisio 6.5 - Not as effective in the first half but improved for playing in Pirlo’s position in the second half. Roberto Pereyra 7.0 - Another stellar performance, making intelligent runs out wide to create space for the front men. Marked Raggi well when the defended tried to push forward and created a series of chances for his teammates. Carlos Tevez 6.5 - Had some decent shots from distance but failed to make them count. Worked tirelessly though throughout the entire 90 mins. Alvaro Morata 6.5 - Lacked the final touch but his positioning was brilliant and he earned Juventus the penalty that ultimately secured the win. Substitutes Andrea Barzagli N/A Stefano Sturaro N/A Alessandro Matri N/A

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Allegri: Juventus must score in Monaco The Bianconeri will take a one-goal lead with them to Monte Carlo thanks to Arturo Vidal's penalty but their boss does not believe it will be enough to seal a semi-final spot. Apr 15, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri was satisfied with Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League win over Monaco in Turin but the Juventus coach is in no doubt that his side will have to score in next week's quarter-final second-leg clash at the Stade Louis II. The Bianconeri were made to work hard for their victory, with the Serie A side only managing to break the deadlock from the penalty spot when Arturo Vidal hammered home from 12 yards after Ricardo Carvalho had tripped Alvaro Morata. Allegri was happy with the final scoreline at Juventus Stadium but he does not feel the Old Lady's one-goal advantage will be sufficient to progress to the last four. "The result is good," the Bianconeri coach told Sky Sport Italia. "Now we have a little advantage, but the return leg will not be easy. "We know our opponent better now. They were well organised in defence and they have technical and physical attackers who are not supported a lot up front yet still create problems. "We tried to play too quickly at times. We lacked patience. We had other chances to close out the game but we messed up the final ball too often. "It was a good game, though, and a well deserved result. Monaco have the best defence in the Champions League and the French championship, so it is difficult to score against them. "I'm always optimistic but we'll have to score there." However, Allegri believes that Juve will be even better equipped to break Monaco down next week given fit-again duo Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez will both have more game time under their belts. "Andrea played 70 good minutes, considering he'd not played for 50 days," the former AC Milan boss added. "In games like these, his set-pieces are fundamental and he can always give you a hand. We needed his quality and it was his long ball that led to the penalty. "His condition, like that of Tevez, is not great. But next Wednesday they will both be better."

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Buffon Dedicates Juventus’ Win Against Monaco To Morosini Apr 15, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon dedicated his side’s 1-0 away win in the Champions League quarter-final over Monaco to former Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini on the third anniversary of his death. The 37-year-old acknowledged that Juve were put under pressure early on but was delighted with the result and the clean sheet that the Old Lady will take with them into the return leg in Monaco on April 22. “There are two very positive points to be taken from this result: that we won and that we didn’t concede a goal at home,” said Buffon to Sky Sport Italia after the game. “That clean sheet is something that we can benefit from in the return leg.” “There we some difficulties early on as they had some chances after we made some mistakes and they played some good football. “When you play at this level, it is impossible not to play against teams who have a lot of quality, they played well and proved this.” Buffon was also asked if he hopes to carry on playing until he is 40-years-old. “One should stop playing when you take to the pitch and realise that you are no longer yourself, but I don’t think that’s the case for me yet,” said Buffon. “Therefore, it seems that it would be a mistake for me to quit too early, why should I stop if I still feel good?” Buffon finished by dedicating Juve’s win to Morosini and Fabrizio Quattrocchi who was an Italian security officer killed in Iraq in 2004; as it fell on April 14, the day when both Italians died. “I want to dedicate this victory to Morosini and Quattrocchi,” said Buffon. “Morosini made me proud to be a footballer and Quattrocchi made me proud to be an Italian.”

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Juventus 1 - Monaco 0: Initial reaction and random observations Apr 14, 2015 Piece of cake, right? Well, not really. Not anything close to it. Juventus had wonderful scoring chances, but didn't take advantage of them as we continuously pounded our heads against the table. Monaco had quality scoring chances in their own right, but got stonewalled by rather legendary Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon. The difference, as it turned out to be, was a second-half goal from the penalty spot courtesy of Arturo Vidal (which may or may not have been an actual penalty because of where the foul on Álvaro Morata took place). JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@chiellini: "Monaco defend deep and break on the counter. After a tough first 20 minutes, we then got into our stride and deserved to win." Juventus needed all of the patience Max Allegri talked about in the pre-match press conference simply because of how they started out the game. It was a struggle without a doubt, and Juve could have easily fell behind Monaco because of how dangerous the French side's counterattack was in the first half. Monaco was defending like madmen despite Juventus having a couple of very good scoring chances that Vidal and Carlos Tévez didn't take advantage of. Monaco showed they belonged at this stage. They really did. They truly put Juve's defense under pressure on the counter, something they clearly set out to do from the onset. That patience proved vital — and because of it Juventus are heading to France with a slim 1-0 lead on aggregate. Allegri's squad was able to recover after the shaky start that saw Monaco pepper Buffon's goal. But Juve got Allegri's favorite result. Yep, a 1-0 win. There's just something about it that sits okay with me. Maybe it's the fact that Juventus have won most of those 1-0 games lately. (Don't say Parma over the weekend, that game never happened, remember?) Random thoughts and observations That was a truly classic Arturo Vidal penalty conversion. It reminded me of his PK against Real Madrid a few seasons ago. When he strikes them well, the opposing goalkeeper has absolutely no chance. None. And, for that matter, it was a classic Arturo Vidal kind of game (outside of the scoring chances being skied into the stands, of course). I point to two instances in the second half with the ball in Juventus' defensive third as a prime example of that. Monaco is looking to get a cross off in the right corner as Stephan Lichtsteiner defends the ball. In comes Vidal, applies the pressure on defense, then picks the pocket of the Monaco player and starts a Juventus attack. It was essentially Vidal in a nutshell, the player we've come to love because of how hard he works during a game. Vidal is the Man of the Match for many, I'm sure, but it's hard not to give it to Buffon for the simple of the legendary keeper keeping Monaco off the scoreboard. His first save of the night came on what ended up being one of Monaco's best scoring chances. I also like the little grin he got on his face after collecting an easy cross late in stoppage time. Almost like you could see the thought bubble and "You think you can beat me?" rising up above him at that moment. I laughed after the first half when the guy doing the halftime show here in the U.S. said Juventus were "dominating" Monaco because they had the vast majority of the possession. Sometimes misleading stats can be misleading. Just remember that. Vidal successfully converting the penalty kick eases the frustration a little bit, but Juventus sure did miss some wonderful chances, didn't they? It could have been much, much better than just a 1-0 win. This is where we talk about Andrea Pirlo and the up and down night he had. My predicted lineup in the match preview was a 3-5-2 with the other Andrea, Andrea Barzagli, getting the start ahead of Pirlo. That's mainly because I have quite liked what the Vidal-Marchisio-Pereyra central midfield has been doing as of late. The pace and speed of that trio has been really, really good together, and the results in truly big games as of late back it up. Plus, it's a whole lot to put on Pirlo — regardless of his résumé — coming off a lengthy injury absence just to expect him to come in and be his usual self once again. And at times it showed. Pirlo's passing was off and the overall speed of Juve's game was different than those games during his absence. But the pass he sent over the top to Morata right before the decisive penalty was called is why Pirlo is on the field. He's able to make a moment of magic with one of his slick passes and change the game a few seconds later. Patrice Evra had some huge tackles Tuesday night. He's quietly been a steady performer and far from the complete liability I worried he might be when Kwadwo Asamoah was ruled out for an extended amount of time earlier this season. Remember all of those Juventus players who were in danger of missing the second leg if they picked up a yellow card Tuesday night in Turin? Well, we're all good. Not one Juve player was shown a yellow. Alessandro Matri and Stefano Sturaro were two of Juventus' three subs used in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Just like we all thought when this season began, right? Yuuuuuup. Dimitar Berbatov's substitute appearance reminded us all about how he kinda-almost-but-not-really-sort-of-then-didn't join Juventus a couple of summers ago. That was fun. Is a 1-0 lead the perfect thing to have happen in the first leg? No, but it definitely could have been worse because of all those nerve-wracking as Monaco came storming forward on the counterattack. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@gianluigibuffon: "We head into the second leg with two positive factors: a win and a clean sheet from tonight's game." Amen to that, Gigi. Amen to that.

JUVENTUS - MONACO 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57' - Penalty) Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic) Juventus Match-Winner Vidal: I Needed That Goal For My Confidence Apr 14, 2015 Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal confessed that he was desperate to take and score his side’s penalty against Monaco to boost his low confidence. The Chilean has been frustrated personally with his recent performances while he has also missed from the spot in this competition previously this season – most notably a last minute group stage penalty kick against Olympiakos which did not prove costly for his team. On this occasion, he was coolness personified and said afterwards: “I was low and missing a bit of confidence so I took the ball to take the penalty and thankfully, I scored. “I am happy with that goal and from here on out, I hope to play with more confidence.” He added: “We heard a little fear and anxiety during the game [from the crowd] but I think that this is normal because we are playing a very good Champions League team. In the end though, it was important to win the game and we did.”