By COLE KELLOGG
Juventus hadn’t played in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League in a dozen years, but you couldn’t tell on Tuesday.
The Italian champions jumped all over Real Madrid in the early going of their first-leg clash in Turin, and Carlos Tevez helped them capitalize, setting up a first-half Alvaro Morata goal before converting a second-half penalty he helped draw as Juventus posted a 2-1 victory.
Morata opened the scoring against his former club early in the match as he tapped home a hard-driven ball from Carlos Tevez that Iker Casillas could only get finger tips on before it found Morata wide open on the back post.
Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors got on the board through a combination from James Rodriguez and Ronaldo. The Colombian volleyed in a cross from the right side of the box and the Ballon D’Or winner scored the free header from inside six yards. The goal was Ronaldo’s 76th in UEFA Champions League play, the career record.
Juventus had the majority of the attacking play early on in the first half, with Tevez leading the way against a shaky Real Madrid defense.
Martin Atkinson awarded a penalty to Juventus in the 56th minute of play after Daniel Carvajal fouled Tevez in the penalty area. The Argentine put the resulting penalty past Madrid captain Iker Casillas.
The Italians reverted to a back 3 around the hour mark, replacing Stefano Sturaro with centerback Andrea Barzagli. Minutes later, Chiellini got horribly bloodied up after taking an elbow to the face. The Italian defender had to come off temporarily for a new uniform.
Three minutes from time, it looked as if Roberto Pereyra would make an immediate impact on the match for Juventus. Fernando Llorente found his way around the Madrid defense and goalkeeper, but his ball to the center of the box couldn’t get to Pereyra.
A Pirlo free kick in stoppage time led to the last real chance of the match. Casillas was positioned well, though, and was able to get to the header from Llorente.
Pirlo is one of the top 10 players I’ve seen play in the last 25 years. What a vision on the field, makes everything look so easy and simple.
Credit to Juve for a well played game yesterday! Pressure is surely on Real next week at the Bernabeu.
Every time I talk to my dad about Tevez, he keeps saying the same thing: with him in the line-up, Argentina would have won last summer’s World Cup. The guy plays his heart out every time he stpes on that field.
So much for the death of Seria A. The league has 3 teams left in Europe, alongside La Liga…
Vidal is an outstanding outstanding under the radar player/ athlete, no wonder every team in the world wants or wanted him , R Madrid B Munich, M Utd Etc. Such an important player…I see him shining under a coach like Simeone though… who wants him too. He is so versatile and all over the field, he uses both legs to shoot,a good header ….anywhere on the field!!! a joy to watch even with a bad knee!!!
As well as The Old Lady played today Madridstill got what they wanted in the end. They got their road goal and if you think Juventus can hold them in Madrid more power to you but I don’t think they can.
Juve got a lot more than anybody thought they would. Going into the second leg with bunker and counter being the best option is ideal for them. Tevez, Vidal and maybe Pogba can do some damage. Still, I don’t think they’ll pull it off but Madrid doesn’t get tested like this often and when they do they usually don’t respond well.
Agreed, that’s still a good result for Real. They are only a goal down and got an away goal. If Juve bunker I could see Real winning 1-0 and going through. Should be an interesting second leg, especially if Real can get an early goal.
yeah, the difference in talent between juve and the other semifinalists is apparent when you see that madrid played as poorly as they did and still only lost 2-1. if juve had been bayern or barca, madrid would’ve been out of contention already.
Pirlo overrated? I mean, he’s 35 or 36 so he has lost a step, and at this point Vidal is far more important than Pirlo to Juve’s midfield, but Pirlo in his prime was an incredible player. Right up there was Xavi as the the best managers of the game in the modern era.
He was. Today he needs to leave that position to somebody else that can contribute more than a couple of passes a game.
Every team needs one Tevez or Vidal.
Bale is the most overrated player in the world. Pirlo is number two.
In a few years James will be the best player in the world.
CR7 scored another tap in.
For all the money they spend Madrid still a mentally weak team.
Can’t agree about Bale and especially not about Pirlo. Tevez is the man though.
Here’s a couple opinions about Pirlo from other world class players:
Pirlo is a genius. Together with Baggio, I think he’s the greatest talent that Italian football has produced in the last 25 years.
Gianluigi Buffon
Andrea has demonstrated all his great talent and worth. When we played together, everything started with him. He always had the great gift of being able to visualize and anticipate plays before everyone else. His vision, what he can do with the ball, and what he’s able to create, make him a true superstar. Andrea has something which you don’t see very often.
Roberto Baggio
Forzaaaa!!! Fino alla fine
whats he doing shining? get on the damn field! you’re not paid to shine the boots
Wow, sounds like you just told Tevez to “go home and get your shinebox.”
Why Tevez didn’t play last World Cup I will never know (or accept).
His goal-scoring tally for Argentina is actually poor, 13 goals in 66 caps.
In the locker room, its been reported that he’s something of a cancer.
Finally, Messi and Tevez are rumored to not get on well.
Plus, just look at the guy. Looks like the largemouth bass that I yanked out of the pond this past weekend.