Monaco, April 23 (IANS) Juventus grounded out a 0-0 draw with Monaco to secure a 1-0 win on aggregate and become the first Italian team since Inter Milan in 2010 to qualify for the Champions League semifinals.
With Spanish side Real Madrid beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 in Wednesday’s other quarter-final, the semi-finals now offer the mouth-watering prospect of four top teams that have all won European football’s premier club competition multiple times. Barcelona and Bayern Munich have already reached the last four, reports Xinhua.
Juventus, two-time champions, won’t be the strongest team in Friday’s semi-final draw. But the dogged defending Juventus deployed to blunt Monaco’s youthful attack showed it will be a challenge to break down.
Midfielder Arturo Vidal’s first-leg penalty goal proved decisive in this quarter-final. The return from a thigh injury of midfielder Paul Pogba will give Juventus plenty of attacking intent in the semis.
Striker Carlos Tevez, a 2008 Champions League winner with English club Manchester United, also is a constant headache for opposing defenders.
Stopped in the quarter-finals in 2013, 2006 and 2005, Juventus will play in the semis for the first time since 2003, when it was a losing finalist on penalties to fellow Italian club AC Milan.
Juventus are also running away with fourth consecutive Serie A title and can complete a domestic double in the Italian Cup final against Lazio on June 7.