The Biaconeri, led by Massimiliano Allegri, recorded a superb victory against dark horses Monaco in the the first leg of the Champions League semi-final and the Italian got his tactics spot on against Leonardo Jardim’s exciting young side.
A superb performance from Gianluigi Buffon and the Juventus defence kept Kylian Mbappe & Co at bay and a goal from Gonzalo Higuain in each half ensured that the visitors go into next week’s second leg tie with a seemingly unassailable 2 away goals lead.
Prior to the game, tributes flowed in for the legendary Gianluigi Buffon on making his 100th Champions League appearance.
??? The brilliant Gigi Buffon starts for Juve and makes his 100th #UCL appearance! ??? pic.twitter.com/VtwO2OxXQx
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 3, 2017
100 – Gianluigi Buffon is only the 2nd Italian player to reach 100 #UCL appearances for the same team after Paolo Maldini. Captains.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 3, 2017
“Buffon was already an Italian international when Mbappé was born.” Enough said.
— Dan Dracea (@DDracea) May 3, 2017
buffon to score the winning goal
— JLara (@LaraHmayed) May 3, 2017
On the day Kylian Mbappe was born in 1998, a 20-year-old Buffon kept a clean sheet for Parma v Venezia…
Tonight they face each other. #UCL pic.twitter.com/nI2Jg7FaxT
— SportyBet (@sportybet) May 3, 2017
On the day Kylian Mbappe was born, Gianluigi Buffon made his 108th appearance for Parma pic.twitter.com/UAhcHOalL9
— Coral (@Coral) May 3, 2017
Buffon: “I had promised to retire this season if I kept a clean sheet vs Barca over 2 legs, but the president said we all say silly things” pic.twitter.com/C0VLLwuYDC
— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) April 30, 2017
In the early stages of the game, Kylian Mbappe began to run circles around the Juventus defence and the fans couldn’t get enough of the sensational youngster,
200 mill bid needed for mbappe do it @ManUtd
— h r (@aerrozeppelin) May 3, 2017
Mbappé is actually exposing Bonucci and Barzagli. He’s 18 years old. I can’t believe my eyes.
— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) May 3, 2017
Haha.. Juventus defence having more problems in 25 minutes than in the 2 legs against Barca because of a teenager #UCL #Mbappe
— #人気 (@Iam_Foweb) May 3, 2017
Mbappé is actually incredible
— thömas (@thomassss29) May 3, 2017
Mbappé is honestly better than Benzema and Suarez. Phenomenal talent!
— MÖ (@LasaetaR) May 3, 2017
Mbappe is the future
— Uncle Marcz ?? (@Marcus_Marcz) May 3, 2017
Im sorry, Is Wenger winding us all up with all this Mbappe talk? that kid is already too expensive for us, and he could go anywhere he wants
— Jonn Hirons (@JonnHirons) May 3, 2017
Commentator just mentioned that Mbappé is 5 years younger than Dybala. Somehow, that particularly blows my mind – Dybala is a kid himself!
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) May 3, 2017
his skills and ability to move with the ball is likely compared to this legend thierry henry praises#MBAPPE
— ibrahim isiyaku (@ibrahimisiyaku3) May 3, 2017
@_Zeets mbappe is everything weve heard balotelli shouldve been but wasnt. mbappe is the whole deal man and it’s amazing. racist analysts be damned
— Cody S (@rwbluemoon) May 3, 2017
Then in the 27th minute, Gonzalo Higuain helped Juventus draw first blood by getting on the end of a sleek Juventus move to give them the advantage through a valuable away goal.
Only Higuaín could bottle as many chances as he has and score a goal like that
— José (@MourinhoMindset) May 3, 2017
Fabulous football from Juve. Great goal finished off by Higuain.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 3, 2017
Gonzalo Higuain: Has scored just his third goal in 25 Champions League knockout appearances #ASMJuve
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 3, 2017
Shock horror, Higuain scores in a big game.
— Transfer News (@TrustyTransfers) May 3, 2017
Only taken Higuain about a decade to turn up in a big game and my head has completely fell off
— Liam Williams (@__LWilliams) May 3, 2017
i don’t even care about Higuain rn its all about Dybala
— Rachel Bonnetta (@rachelbonnetta) May 3, 2017
Higuain can’t believe he scored.
— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) May 3, 2017
DANI ALVES IS SO GOOD HE CAN MAKE HIGUAIN SCORE IN BIG GAMES.
— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) May 3, 2017
Oh no! This Higuain goal doesn’t fit the narrative of that stupid stereotype. Beautiful finish.
— Matteo Bonetti (@TheCalcioGuy) May 3, 2017
Higuain haters where you at?
— Bateson87 (@bateson87) May 3, 2017
Mbappe is twice the player Higuain is. Man got carried by Ronaldo and is now scoring against farmers in Italy, embarrasing
— ㅤ (@LewisJB_) May 3, 2017
Higuain looks like the type of player who turns up on a match day hungover to shit with last night kebab yet still manages to bag a goal!
— Rhys Ballam (@rhysballam4) May 3, 2017
Higuain scoring goals in the CL knockouts when he looks more suited to playing darts. Bewildered.
— ㅤ (@Highsbury) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves, who provided the assist for Higuain’s opener was having a typically superb game so far.
No Juventus player has recorded more assists in the Champions League this season than Dani Alves (3).
Genius backheel. pic.twitter.com/Zdp5GvM8HQ
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 3, 2017
selling Dani Alves will always be one of Barcelona’s worst mistakes
— fátima ? (@JustHoldLouie) May 3, 2017
That back pass from Dani alves ?. #monacojuventus #UefaChampionsLeague
P.S – we miss him in barca ?
— girish kandan (@girishkandan) May 3, 2017
Barcelona wishing more and more they didn’t let Dani Alves go#monacojuve
— Matthew Muscat ⚪⚫ (@Matt_Muscat09) May 3, 2017
Dani alves is not even playing as a defender today…. Just wow
— BONER (@Abizz_Songetry) May 3, 2017
I support a club that sold Thiago and Dani Alves and bought André Gomes and Jeremy Mathieu.
— Messi World (@MessiWorId) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves left on a free transfer….Let that sink in. Gracias Bartomeu ??
— NAZ (@FCNazalona) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves was so average for most of the season but he has been great in CL past few rounds- Juve needed his Champions League DNA
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) May 3, 2017
Just before the hour mark, Gonzalo Higuain broke Monaco hearts once again after getting on the end of a pinpoint Dani Alves cross to side the ball past Subasic.
? @G_Higuain has now scored 30 goals across all competitions in back-to-back seasons ?
2015/16: 38 goals
2016/17: 30 goals(vía: @Squawka) pic.twitter.com/nlP3YOHDOD
— Willians Ocando. (@wllocando) May 3, 2017
Higuain as surprised as anyone by that goal. #monacojuventus #UefaChampionsLeague
— Kartikey (@Kartikey_) May 3, 2017
Watching Higuain run when Juventus are on the counter ? #MONJUV #juventus pic.twitter.com/KQGZrF4u8c
— Cheryl Cutting (@Chezza_92) May 3, 2017
Barca Twitter celebrating like we don’t all know what is going to happen when we’re all forced to support Higuain in a final.
— Darryl (@LordMoloch) May 3, 2017
Higuain at the double. Looking very much like a Real Madrid Juventus final. Take that.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 3, 2017
Gonzalo Higuaín showing that you can have a diet of Gregg’s pasties and still be a hero in the Champions League. What a man.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 3, 2017
So, about that Dani Alves bloke…?
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves deserves a life time contract after this game.
— Khaledalnouss (@khaledalnouss1) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves: plays
Me: pregnant— Chiarè (@davrkness) May 3, 2017
How good is Dani Alves that HE could turn Higuain into a big game goal scorer. Doing something that even Lio Messi couldn’t do. LOL
— George D. Metellus (@GDMetellus8) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves with his second sensational assist tonight ???? #ASMJUV pic.twitter.com/r7Ppfx2KRB
— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) May 3, 2017
HIGUAIN 2-0!!!! SUPER ASSIST BY DANI ALVES…..AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/sxQBiF7NCd
— Tarek Khatib (@ADP1113) May 3, 2017
Gonzalo Higuain with a double for @juventusfcen . Being in shape appears to be over rated.
— Rob Stone (@RobStoneONFOX) May 3, 2017
Yesterday, it was Ronaldo and his 6-Pack. Today it is Higuain and his Dad Bod. No matter your physique, Football has room for all
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 3, 2017
Dani Alves (12) has more assists than Lionel Messi (10) in the Champions League since 2012/13. pic.twitter.com/Kl4MQvuKK8
— Kevin Blundell (@kevin_blundell) May 3, 2017
The scores would end at 0-2, with the visitors having one foot in the final, where they will likely face Real Madrid.
Buffon looking for someone who can actually score past him ?pic.twitter.com/kYixlras6l
— The Soccer Life (@TheSCRLife) May 3, 2017
Strikers who haven’t scored past Buffon this season:
Messi
Suarez
Neymar
Mbappe
FalcaoYour challenge is set, Cristiano… pic.twitter.com/ULf2xIBEZ4
— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) May 3, 2017
Juventus have now gone over 600 minutes without conceding in the Champions League. Buffon is still the man! @gianluigibuffon @juventusfc
— Daniel John Mace (@cobbl1995ers) May 3, 2017
Juventus has already lost 6 European Cup/Champions League finals. Will be painful to see Buffon lose another one, that too to Real Madrid. ?
— Fiaz Hamzath (@fiazhamzath) May 3, 2017
Buffon of Parma, in action during match against Fiorentina on October 31, 1998
Kylian Mbappé was born 7 weeks later pic.twitter.com/C1ypYUWfGg
— Holuwasehun (@i_am_aoejnr) May 3, 2017
Gigi Buffon deserves a Champions League title underneath his belt. Juventus need to win this not only for themselves, but for him. pic.twitter.com/12pvYiey4s
— Mootaz (@MHChehade) May 3, 2017
i would trust gianluigi buffon with my life
— Lina (@_llixos) May 3, 2017
Barack Obama was the President of the United States the last time Juventus conceded a Champions League goal. pic.twitter.com/dAvPhY7J38
— SlashFootball (@slashfootball) May 3, 2017
And the was a lot of praise heaped on Allegri for masterminding this win.
Despite losing Pirlo, Vidal & Pogba, Juve are an even stronger side than the 2014/15 finalists. Credit to Allegri & their transfer committee
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) May 3, 2017
Winning the title’s & getting to the CL final with Juve is alright, but I bet Allegri dreams about being called a fraud by DT & Troopz…
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) May 3, 2017
Someone please tell me why Max Allegri would leave Juventus for Arsenal
— Jamie (@JCollettCFC) May 3, 2017
Allegri getting to the champions league final with Mandzukic, a targetman playing LW. It’s time to put some respect on his name
— ️️ (@VintageCoutinho) May 3, 2017
Arsenal are insane if they don’t offer Allegri unlimited funds and contract to manage them next season
— MAGS ARE BACK 2017 (@ProperBr00tal) May 3, 2017
Great credit to Allegri again, the wing-backs were crucial throughout the first half, always free for switches of play. Alves magnificent.
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) May 3, 2017
Have you even seen Mbappe this half? Allegri has given his defenders licence to practice the dark arts on him Italian style.
— cabral opiyo (@CjSonOfAnarchy) May 3, 2017
Allegri is The Godfather ??? pic.twitter.com/w1FEepR90F
— Freebets.co.uk (@freebetscouk) May 3, 2017
