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Carlos Tevez’s second-half penalty keeps alive Juventus’ plans of reaching their first UEFA Champions League final since 2003 as they travel to Madrid next week with a one-goal lead. Alvaro Morata scored the opener inside 10 minutes after Carlos Tevez's effort was spilled by Iker Casillas. Cristiano Ronaldo levelled the score before the break after nodding in James Rodriguez's cross from close range.But, once the hosts took the lead following Dani Carvajal’s trip on Tevez, manager Massimiliano Allegri’s intentions of seeing the game out was clear. In the end, Juve held on and extended Madrid’s miserable record in Italy to no wins in their eight games.Here are the major talking points from the game:
#1 A fantastic spectacle
Considering that this was the first leg of a semi-final between an Italian club (stereotypical reference to Italy's defensive mentality. Check) and an Italian manager, who knows what it takes to win Europe's biggest prize, you would have forgiven people for thinking that this was going to be a cagey encounter. The fact that both sides combined for just two goals in their quarter-final encounter and that was to be expected. But the game was anything but cagey.
Although the second half wasn't as free flowing as the first, with too many niggly fouls, it was still far more entertaining than what many would have predicted. Both sides were determined to go into the second leg with an advantage and that was evident in how both teams attacked and wanted to score. If the second leg is half as good as this, then we are very lucky indeed.
#2 A day of failed experiments for Real
The semi-final of the Champions League is not the time you want to be experimenting with your starting XI and the formation you play. But, injuries to Luka Modric and Karim Benzema meant that Carlo Ancelotti was forced to play Sergio Ramos in central midfield and Gareth Bale alongside Ronaldo up front and play an old-fashioned 4-4-2 with Isco and James Rodriguez operating as the wingers.
Unfortunately for the visitors, all of Ancelotti’s best-laid plans failed. Ramos was an unmitigated disaster in central midfield. The Spaniard either misplaced his cross field balls, over hit his crosses or failed to find his teammate with a simple ball. Up front, although Ronaldo got the goal, he wasn't as effective as he usually is and Bale was largely anonymous on his comeback trail after injury.
Even regulars who played in their natural positions had an off day. Iker Casillas looked as though his days of being the best keeper in the world are long over and Marcelo, although great going forward, put his side in trouble repeatedly thanks to his lack of positional awareness. All in all, a day to forget for the Italian, who will be pleased to come away, largely unscathed and with an away goal as well.
#3 Tale of two contrasting strike pairings
To be a very good striker, pace, power and an ability to score a goal alone isn't enough. If it was, then the pairing of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo would have come out head and shoulders above Juventus' pairing of Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata. Instead, on a day of reunions, both on and off the pitch, it was Morata and his link up with Tevez that made the difference in Turin.
The level of understanding between Juve's strike pairing, their ability to go short or long, stretch defences and move into positions that will create problems for defenders put Ronaldo and Bale to shame. If the game was billed as a contest between Ronaldo and Tevez, the efforts of the supporting cast swung the tie in the home side's favour. Given how much better Real looked after moving to a 4-3-3, Ancelotti must quickly decide on his choice of players and formations and also, if needed, be brave enough to drop one of his attackers, in favour of better balance in the side.
#4 To press or not to press
One of the reasons why many teams don't like to press their opposition is because of the risk involved. But, if done well, pressing, especially high up the pitch can be a wonderful offensive tactic as it helps the team retrieve the ball and attack immediately. Both Juventus and Real Madrid tried to play the pressing game in Turin, but it was the hosts who showed the reigning European champions how it's done.
In the opening 10 minutes, Allegri's side pressed as a team and put pressure on the visitors, who didn't have any time on the ball and forced them into mistakes. Real, on the other hand, pressed, but only as individuals. Although Ronaldo, Bale and even Isco took turns at pressing the Juve defence, because they didn't have any support, it was a futile attempt. One that Ancelotti is unlikely to employ at home next week.
#5 Juventus still have a job to do
If you saw the celebrations of the Juventus players at the end of the game, you would have thought that they went through to the final of the Champions League. While some of it was maybe due to the fact that it is their first home game after clinching their fourth successive Scudetto, the truth is that Allegri's side still have a long way to go before they reach their first Champions League final in over a decade.
While it is a good result for the hosts, it isn't a particularly bad one for the Spanish side as well, who know that even a 1-0 home win would be enough to send them through. Had Fernando Llorente buried the header just a few minutes before the final whistle, it would have been the perfect result for the hosts. Instead, both sides will meet next Wednesday in what promises to be an intriguing second leg.
