Juventus played a brilliant game of football to out-class their French opponents Monaco 2-1 to reach the final of the Champions League
The Italian club ended Monaco’s Champions League dreams with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night, as they entered the final of the Champions League in style for the second time in three years.
First half goals from Mario Manduzkic and Dani Alves secured a victory for Juventus even as Monaco celebrated youngster Kylian Mbappe scored a goal in the second half. Unfortunately for the French side, Juventus continued to play with an impenetrable defence.
Now, Allegri’s men will either play Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the final match in Cardiff later this month.
Dani Alves was the man of the night as he fired Juventus into a stunning victory. His assist helped Mandzukic to net the first goal, and then minutes later, Alves himself scored a goal as a dejected Subasic looked on helplessly.
The second goal came a little before half-time, and Juventus trooped off in high spirits while their Monaco counterparts painted quite a stark contrast.
A 14th European final for Dani Alves then. Not bad, him.
— Alex Richards (@AA_Richards) May 9, 2017
Dani Alves has reached more Champions League finals than Eden Hazard has CL goals. I'm spinning
— Will (@TheCityIsRED1) May 9, 2017
World class from Dani Alves! pic.twitter.com/XT7y6DraEV
— True Soccer Life (@TrueSccrLife) May 10, 2017
For the 14th time in 11 years, Dani Alves is heading back to the big stage ?? pic.twitter.com/kM9SAvqSqE
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 10, 2017
uventus' four goals vs. Monaco:
Dani Alves assist ☑️
Dani Alves assist ☑️
Dani Alves assist ☑️
Dani Alves worldy ☑️He cost nothing. ☑️ pic.twitter.com/SvC3DF6R50
— PurelyFootball UK (@PurelyFootball) May 10, 2017
When you try to remember why you let Dani Alves go for free pic.twitter.com/QGQflPwon2
— Rabona (@RabonaApp) May 10, 2017
Dani Alves assisted three goals and scored one against Monaco in 180 minutes. To think Juventus got him on a free. Unplayable.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) May 10, 2017
Dani Alves in the Champions League this season:
30 chances created
22 successful crosses
21 tackles won
4 assists
3 goalsMaster of all. pic.twitter.com/5kauWQvk0n
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 10, 2017
Reminder: Dani Alves has won 3 Champions Leagues trophies, 4 UEFA Super Cups and the Europa League back-to-back.
King of Europe.
— Sameer (@Sameer_R13) May 9, 2017
Whenever people talk about Juventus, there is one man you can simply never resist talking about – Gianluigi Buffon. Although he wasn’t tested much thanks to Juventus’ stunning defence, he was under immense pressure from Monaco’s tough forwards.
Yet, he managed to complete 76% of his passes. For everything that he has done so far, and everything that he continues to do at the age of 38, Buffon is clearly a goalkeeping legend.
I hope Juventus win the Champions League for Buffon. He deserves it.
— Spencer FC (@SpencerOwen) May 9, 2017
So it's gon be Real Chasing Back to Back UCL Vs Buffon Tryna win the only trophy that has eluded him…
— Damii (@damii10) May 10, 2017
Most minutes without conceding in CL history:
Jens Lehmann 853
Keylor Navas 737
Edwin van der Sar 653
Dida 623
Gianluigi Buffon 600#afc pic.twitter.com/pZqqZCE0jD— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 10, 2017
Buffon: "Everyone thought [2015] was my last final. I did too. It goes to show if you work hard your dreams can come true." #wednesdaywisdom pic.twitter.com/P15fpIp8am
— Elite Daily Football (@SuperBettingBro) May 10, 2017
Buffon is like wine.He Just becomes better with age. #JuveMonaco #GainWithXtianDela
— BoomXhakaLaca (@ItsMrArsenal) May 9, 2017
Buffon can save the world .. #JUVASM
— Mr 1-5 (@westcoast_031) May 9, 2017
Gianluigi Buffon is the 10th player in history to reach 150 games in UEFA competitions, moving level with Jamie Carragher. pic.twitter.com/Bg5u7evzRE
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 9, 2017
With everything said and done, the one thing people need to admit is that Kylian Mbappe is truly the future of Monaco. With players like Lionel Messi struggling to score against Buffon, Mbappe showed the world how its done at just 18 years of age.
Of course, Twitter exploded and the frenzy refused to die down even though Mbappe’s goal failed to do much for Monaco.
Mbappe: 6 goals in UCL 18 years old
Hazard: 5 goals in UCL 26 years old
Levels. pic.twitter.com/hu0y7b9CtW
— = (@mozerrte1) May 9, 2017
Mbappe just did something MSN couldn't do. pic.twitter.com/qpNF93Mu8c
— ? ? ? (@PSGIsLife) May 9, 2017
"Look, see that 18 year old? His name is Mbappe, want to score against Buffon? Ask him how.." pic.twitter.com/b9r3ORZgg9
— Danny Welbeck (@WelBeast) May 9, 2017
Dear Mbappe,
How did you score past Buffon and the Juventus defence?
Please reply,
-Leo pic.twitter.com/aMcP89aSRN
— Soccer Fan Base (@Soccerfanbase) May 9, 2017
Kylain Mbappe’s season by numbers:
2370 mins played
70 mins per goal / assist
25 goals
9 assistsGolden Boy. pic.twitter.com/nCJZ57XqGQ
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 10, 2017
Kylian Mbappé wasn't even born when Gianluigi Buffon was part of the Italy squad at the 1998 Word Cup in France – 19 years ago.
Crazy! ? pic.twitter.com/tip028RrAB
— AccaTracker App (@AccaTrackerTM) May 10, 2017
Kylian Mbappé across all competitions for Monaco in 2016/17:
41 games ?
25 goals ⚽️
9 assists ?️Breakthrough season. ? pic.twitter.com/RoWRhKuAWr
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 10, 2017
Kylian Mbappé has now scored 6 goals in the Champions League KO this season; Cristiano Ronaldo (8) is the only player with more.
— 8 Fact Football (@8Fact_Footballl) May 9, 2017
Kylian Mbappé is the youngest player in history to score in a Champions League semi-final.
18 years and 140 days old. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/qfezLLf7HJ
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 9, 2017
“He was born in 1998. I had already been at the World Cup by then. This is the beauty of life, the beauty of living."
– Buffon on Mbappé. pic.twitter.com/q7bkEZBSv5
— Football Talk (@_FootyTalk_) May 9, 2017
Juventus have always been a team with one of the strongest defence in football right now, and last night, that was out for the world to see.
Allegri has put together an impenetrable defence, and that is what is making all the difference for the team.
The deadly centre-back pairing of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini established a strong dominion over the opposition strikers, and they’ve done this time and again before.
This is certainly a huge achievement considering how they’ve restrained big names like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mbappe in their last few matches. They have conceded goals, but their quality is undoubtedly the very best.
What about this Juventus team? The best defence since these cats. pic.twitter.com/1Bsi5Nxj2c
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 10, 2017
(P.S For those wondering, this picture is a shot from a series based on the sensational OJ Simpson case, wherein Simpson’s defence lawyers managed to prove that he did not commit the murders of his wife and her rumoured lover despite all evidence saying otherwise. Yup, that’s still not as strong as Juventus’ defence).
Tougher to penetrate:
?: Juventus’ defence
❤️: The Wall pic.twitter.com/acuZbBu7FF— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 9, 2017
Played 6 knockout games, conceded 1 goal.
Good luck getting past the superheroes in defence at Juventus. pic.twitter.com/k5L1Q7nw9c— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 9, 2017
"Attack wins you games but defence wins you titles" – Sir Alex.
Juventus is the proof of this. Chiellini DAMN.
— Danny Welbeck (@WelBeast) May 9, 2017
A special Juventus team, built from the back. Attacking players work hard in defence so they can enjoy the play in the attack. Balanced.
— Gareth Wheeler (@WheelerTSN) May 9, 2017
Juventus: a team with a goalkeeper, a team with a defence, a team with a midfield, a team with an attack and a team with a bench. Excellent.
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) May 9, 2017
Allegri is the best. Just look at how Juventus transition from defence to attack and attack to defence.
— Dezil Dez (@DezilDezz) May 9, 2017
Juventus haven't lost at home for 626 days.
That defence. ? pic.twitter.com/ofdZ91KCsw
— bet365 (@bet365) May 9, 2017
This is an optical illusion – it may look like a brick wall but in fact it's Juventus' defence. pic.twitter.com/3BUoCGedGo
— Jon Benjamin (@JonBenjamin19) May 3, 2017
When Monaco meets Juventus' defence pic.twitter.com/N3buhYlwR6
— Rameez (@Sychlops) May 3, 2017
Now that that’s done, it all comes down to which Spanish team will qualify to play against Juventus in the final – either the defending champions or the new challengers.
