The Italian giants led 2-0 from the first-leg in Monaco and saw off their opponents in style in Turin
Dani Alves set up a goal for Mario Mandzukic and scored a brilliant volley to send Juventus through to the Champions League final, against either Real Madrid or Atletico.
Monaco had started strongly with Kylian Mbappe hit the post in the fifth minute, although the striker was ruled offside anyway.
Gonzalo Higuain missed a big chance at the other end when he tried to dink the ball over Danijel Subasic but his effort fell short and was hacked away. Mario Mandzukic followed suit, denied by the Croatian stopper from close range.
By now the hosts were well on top and a goal felt imminent. It came when Alves, who set both goals for Higuain in the first leg, whipped in a cross for Mandzukic. His header was saved well by Subasic but he stayed calm and slammed the rebound home from a tight angle.
Alves had an even bigger say one minute before half-time, with a tremendous long-range volley after Subasic had punched it out, which ripped back past him and ended the tie as a contest.
Mbappe struck from close range in the second half but it was too little, too late for the Ligue 1 side.
1. Juventus are the best team in the world
Okay, so the whole point of the Champions League is to decide this, and on June 3 in Cardiff we will get the official answer, but as a unit, Juventus are the best in the world.
Real Madrid have the strongest squad, with two entire starting XIs that would be good enough to go deep in the competition, but in terms of how the Italians set up, they have a far more cohesive plan than their likely opponents in the final.
The defence is incredible, with Juve’s BBC of Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini more than a match for Madrid’s Bale, Benzema, Cristiano trio.
Wing-backs Alex Sandro and Dani Alves, in particular, offer plenty of thrust and between Higuain, Dybala and Mandzukic, no skill-set is missing.
But football is a squad game and it may come down to those on the bench to make an impact in the final.
It will be a sensational clash—and despite the improbability, Atletico could make it yet and offer Juve a whole different challenge.
2. Full-backs decide the tie
Beyond the incredible contribution of Alves to all four of Juventus’s goals, Monaco were hampered by injuries to theirs.
Benjamin Mendy was not fully fit and had to be taken off in the second half, and he had been the Ligue 1 side’s best hope of a goal during the first period with his rampaging runs down the left flank.
Fabinho came on but he wasn’t fully fit either—although he should have had a penalty when fouled by Mandzukic.
The impact they made in their condition makes you wonder what might have happened if either had been able to play in the first leg or were in better shape here.
3. Buffon d’Or?
Juventus stopper Gianluigi Buffon came close to reaching the Champions League final without letting in a single goal after the group stage, until Mbappe struck after 69 minutes.
He started this game uncharacteristically shakily, missing a cross and being beaten by Mbappe but saved by the post, but soon regained his usual poise.
Keeping Monaco at bay in both legs of the semi-finals would have meant matching Jens Lehmann’s achievement set over a decade ago for Arsenal in 2005-06.
Despite the Frenchman’s strike, Buffon is a quite legitimate candidate for the Ballon d’Or podium alongside usual suspects Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The last—and only—goalkeeper to win the award was Lev Yashin in 1963.
If Buffon can keep one more clean sheet and help Juventus triumph in Cardiff, winning his first Champions League medal, it would take a cold heart to deny him the award.
Now FIFA have introduced their own The Best awards ceremony too, thee is space for some sentimentality.
4. Goodbye Monaco
This is not only the last of this Monaco side in this seasons Champions League, but perhaps full-stop, with Europe’s giants hovering like eagles, ready to pick meat from bone.
Kylian Mbappe is the hottest striking prospect in Europe and Real Madrid are targeting him to replace Karim Benzema.
Chelsea have been linked with Tiemoue Bakayoko, while Bernardo Silva’s magic wand of a left foot is in hot demand by Premier League sides including Manchester United.
Monaco’s most impressive player on the night was Benjamin Mendy, and any side in need of a young left-back who can put in a mean cross will be quick to think of him—Manchester City are rumoured to be mooting a move.
Barcelona are tracking bombastic winger Thomas Lemar too, although he didn’t start here. It’s easy to imaging this semi-final was this squad’s last ‘hurrah’ together, despite how it ended, and they will move on to pastures new.
5. Mbappe confirms his credentials
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez couldn’t do it over 180 minutes, but Kylian Mbappe breached Juventus’ brick wall defence.
The forward netted only the third goal scored against The Old Lady in the tournament, with his sixth strike of the competition. All six have come in the knock-out stages.
While it did Monaco little good after the four they had already shipped over the tie, it confirmed the forward’s talent and impressive ability to show up when it matters.
With each passing game he plays his price tag keeps growing. If anybody wants him they have to move this summer, for their bank account's sake.
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