Champions League semi-final first leg, Juventus Stadium – Juventus 2 (Morata 8, Tevez pen 57) Real Madrid 1 (Ronaldo 27)
Juventus will take a slim advantage with them to the Santiago Bernabeu after goals from Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez gave them a precious 2-1 win over Real Madrid in Turin.
The home side started with great intensity and were soon rewarded when former Real Madrid striker Morata tapped home after Iker Casillas could only parry Tevez’s low strike into his path.
Real slowly gained a foothold in the game and drew level after 26 minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo nodded home from close-range after a precise volleyed cross from James Rodriguez.
The Spaniards dominated for the remainder of the first-half but were caught out 10 minutes into the second period when Tevez broke away and was brought down in the area by Dani Carvajal.
The Argentine took the spot-kick and drove the ball down the middle to give Juventus a deserved win ahead of next week’s second leg in Spain.
KEY MOMENTS:
8’ – GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Real Madrid. Marchisio feeds the ball into the right-hand channel of the penalty area for Tevez, who cracks a low shot across goal which Casillas can only palm straight into the path of Morata. The former Real man taps the ball home and Juventus have the lead!
24’ – CHANCE: A warning for Juventus as Ronaldo’s pace sees him sear past Chiellini and into the penalty area, but his shot from the right is dragged well wide.
25’ – CHANCE: Lichtsteiner has a rush of blood to the head as he gets into the area with the Real Madrid defence backing off, slicing his shot well wide from 15 yards.
26’ – GOAL! Juventus 1-1 Real Madrid. Juventus had a warning two minutes ago and this time Ronaldo has his goal. He owes an awful lot to Rodriguez though, as the Colombian lobs an excellent volleyed cross over for the Portuguese star to nod in from two yards out.
56’ – PENALTY! Tevez bursts clear on the break, only to be tripped by Carvajal as he runs into the penalty area. Should that have been a sending off too? Martin Atkinson takes no further action.
57’ – GOAL! Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid. The Argentine striker drives the ball down straight the middle! Juventus have the lead again!
87’ – CHANCE: Varane completely misses the ball and Llorente bursts past him into the area. The Spaniard beats Casillas to the ball but is driven too wide and Real eventually clear.
KEY STATS:
Carlo Ancelotti has won only five of his 24 games against Juventus as a manager (D12, L7).
Juventus have only lost one of their last 55 competitive games at home (W46, D8).
Carlos Tevez has scored more goals in the Champions League this season (7) than he had in his five previous Champions League campaigns combined.
TALKING POINT:
Will that win be enough for Juventus to get into the final? They started the tie as underdogs but have a real chance now with the attacking threat of Tevez and Morata combined with their ever-impressive midfield. Real will need to be much better in Spain.
[MATCHCAST: FULL MATCH STATS AND COMMENTARY]
MAN OF THE MATCH
Carlos Tevez (Juventus): The Argentine may not want to stay in Italy for too much longer but he could leave as a European champion at this rate. His tireless play and sharp shooting set up the opener before he earned the game-winning penalty which he dispatched himself.
PLAYER RATINGS
Juventus: Buffon 7, Lichtsteiner 6, Bonucci 7, Chiellini 8, Evra 7, Marchisio 7, Pirlo 7, Sturaro 6, Vidal 7, Tevez 8, Morata 7. Subs: Barzagli 6, Llorente 7, Pereyra N/A.
Real Madrid: Casillas 6, Carvajal 4, Varane 6, Ramos 4, Marcelo 6, Pepe 7, Kroos 6, Isco 6, James 7, Bale 5, Ronaldo 7. Subs: Hernandez 6, Jese N/A. Eurosport
