Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid: Tevez gives Bianconeri slender lead

Date: 5th May 2015 at 10:39pm
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Tevez - Juventus v Real MadridJuventus will take a slim advantage to the Estadio Bernabeu after running out 2-1 winners over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Bianconeri took the lead in the eighth minute through an Alvaro Morata tap in before Cristiano Ronaldo struck with a close range header to level the tie. Carlos Tevez netted the winner for the Old Lady with a second half penalty.

Alvaro Morata looked dangerous against his former employers who released him last year. The Spaniard tested Iker Casillas early on  with a delicately lob which the Madrid keeper was equal to.

Undeterred, he came back to haunt Los Blancos two minutes later. Some horrendous positioning from Marcelo left Carlos Tevez in acres of space inside the area. His shot across the goal could only be palmed out by Casillas straight into the path of Morata at the far post who finished and respectfully contained his jubilation.

But if the opening stages of this match had belonged to Massimiliano Allegri’s side, the latter part of the first half belonged to the visitors.

Toni Kroos and Ronaldo both fired warning shots from range before Carlo Ancelotti’s team broke through just before the half hour mark.

A quick exchange of passes left Patrice Evra for dead and found James Rodriguez in the area who flicked the ball across the goalmouth and towards Ronaldo for the competition’s all-time top goalscorer to nod in his 9th of the campaign unchallenged from point blank.

Madrid should have been ahead before half time. Daniel Carvajal surged down the left wing and laid the ball off to Isco on the overlap who cut the ball back from the byline. Rodriguez launched himself at the ball with a diving header but the Colombian’s effort thudded off the crossbar.

Both sides continued to show intent in the second half, with Madrid slightly on top.

But a Madrid corner in the 57th minute backfired. Tevez picked up the ball from a clearing header and brought it away on the break from inside his own half and steamed into the area before going down under a challenge from Carvajal – leaving Martin Atkinson no choice but to point to the spot.

The Argentine stepped up and calmly stroked the ball down the middle as Casillas guessed wrong and dived to his left and suddenly Juventus had a precious advantage against the defending champions.

Allegri seemed satisfied with the narrow lead, and brought on Andrea Barzagli for the hardworking Stefano Sturaro to sure things up defensively with a back three.

Los Meringues pushed for a second equaliser, controlling the possession and frequently occupying their opponent’s half, but a clear cut chance wouldn’t fall their way.

With the centre of the field congested, Madrid opted to push out wide and get crosses into the box, but time and time again they couldn’t find their targets with a couple too high for a leaping Ronaldo and the Bianconeri defence imperiously heading balls clear.

Substitute Fernando Llorente almost increased the advantage when he got clear and touched the ball round Casillas, but he was pushed too wide by his countryman and his ball back to Roberto Pereyra was intercepted.

As the minutes ticked down, the Old Lady looked to ensure the victory and keep hold of the ball. As Madrid seemed to have run out of ideas, the final whistle sounded with Juventus ahead at the halfway stage of the tie.

 

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