Monaco 0-0 Juventus (agg 0-1)

**Raptor** · 22nd April 2015

Monaco v Juventus

Monaco 0

Juventus 0

FT 90 +5
HT 0-0
(agg 0 - 1)

Juventus have lost just one of their last eight games in European competitions against French sides

Juve last won Champions League in 1996
Monaco had 57% of possession
One shot on target for each side
Semi-final draw on Friday

Treble-chasing Juventus reached a first Champions League semi-final since 2003 as they defended solidly to earn a second-leg goalless draw in Monaco.

The runaway Serie A leaders, who are also in the Italian Cup final against Lazio,
led 1-0 after the first leg
through Arturo Vidal's penalty.

The hosts dominated possession for the majority but rarely tested Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Home substitute Dimitar Berbatov did have a shot smothered after the break.

The Old Lady have become the first Italian side to reach the semi-final since Inter Milan won the competition back in 2010.

The last four draw will be made on Friday, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid also through.

Italian clubs dominated Europe at the start of the millennium, winning the Champions League three times between 2001-2010, but in recent years they have struggled.

However with Juventus 15 points clear in Serie A and likely to be able to rest a number of players domestically, their bid to end a 19-year wait for the trophy is strong.

Monaco's Stade Louis II was near a 18,523 sell out

French midfielder Paul Pogba could be fit for the semi-finals and Juventus missed his power and creativity, managing just two shots in the first 45 minutes.

Monaco, third in Ligue 1, dominated possession but, barring a Bernardo Silva break and a strong penalty shout by Aymen Kondogbia, they failed to threaten.

The progress of the principality side has surprised many after the sale of James Rodriguez, top scorer at the 2014 World Cup, to Real Madrid in July and the loan of Colombian striker Radamel Falcao to Manchester United.

But, having scored just four goals in six group matches before stunning Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates in the first leg of their last 16 tie, they could have done with the departed duo's extra attacking quality.

Desperate for some firepower, Monaco brought on former Manchester United striker Berbatov and he was only denied by some alert goalkeeping by Buffon.

The hosts continued to control the play but Juventus looked comfortable defensively and almost enhanced their advantage when Andrea Pirlo struck a post from 25 yards in injury time.

Andrea Pirlo, 35, is the fourth-most capped player in the history of the Italian national team with 113 caps

Monaco have won only one of their six quarter-final games in the Champions League

Juventus's Patrice Evra spent four seasons at Monaco between 2002-2006

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Monaco