..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus better than Barcelona and won't collapse like PSG, says Lippi

Juventus are better than Barcelona and will not collapse in the same way as Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou, according to their former head coach Marcello Lippi.

The Serie A leaders dispatched Barca in ruthless fashion in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, with Paulo Dybala scoring twice in a 3-0 win in Turin.Barca suffered a 4-0 loss to PSG in the away leg of their last-16 tie before recording a record-breaking 6-1 triumph in the second leg to progress to the last eight.

Lippi, however, says Juve are unlikely to allow such a comeback to take place.
"Barca's arsenal is unique but it's only in the attacking sense," he told La Stampa. "Juventus are the better team and if they can disconnect the front three as they managed to in the first leg, they have a great chance of winning the second leg."They have to play the same as they did in Turin, exploiting all their virtues, because they won't be able to stop them.

"Barca will try in front of 90,000 spectators, and they did it well against PSG, but Juve are not PSG. I don't imagine Juve will allow it to happen. But, in football, of course anything can happen."

Lippi took Juve to four Champions League finals across two hugely successful spells at the club, although their triumph against Ajax in 1996 was the only time they lifted the trophy.

The last final they reached under Lippi was in the 2002-03 season, a campaign in which they beat Barca 3-2 on aggregate in the quarter-final after a 2-1 second-leg win in Spain, with Pavel Nedved and Marcelo Zalayeta scoring the goals to send the 10-man visitors through.

"It was a great game," Lippi recalled. "In that Champions League, we beat Spanish football because we also won against Deportivo La Coruna and Real Madrid."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Luis Enrique: Barcelona have nothing to lose

Luis Enrique believes Barcelona have nothing to lose as they look to turn around a 3-0 first-leg defeat against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Barca face a tough task to reach the last four after last week's disappointment in Turin, but have reason for optimism after pulling off a miraculous comeback in the round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain, incredibly progressing 6-5 on aggregate after a 4-0 loss in the first leg.

Luis Enrique realises Barca may need five goals in order to make it to the semis, though, and has advised the fans not to leave Camp Nou this time around."We have nothing to lose. We only have one option and that is to attack, to attack and to keep attacking," the Barcelona coach said at a news conference.

"We needed to stay calm against PSG, but also go for it. We need fewer goals, only three, but our objective is to score five goals in case they score as well.

"We have to be effective and put pressure on them. We know what we have to do and how we want to do it. I have no doubt that at some moment we will be close on aggregate.
"I advise the fans not to leave in the 80th minute, we saw against PSG what can happen. The comeback against PSG gives reason for optimism. "We have another chance to make history. We will give everything, right until the 95th minute. We scored three goals in three minutes, so everything is possible. I hope it is going to be a special night for everybody involved."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona need perfection to pull off Juventus comeback - Iniesta

Andres Iniesta believes Barcelona need perfection in order to pull off another miraculous comeback and reach the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Juventus.

The Catalans saw off Paris Saint-Germain to book their ticket for the last eight, recovering from a 4-0 defeat in the first leg by winning the return match 6-1 at Camp Nou.Barca find themselves in a precarious situation once more following last week's 3-0 loss in Turin, but Iniesta refuses to throw in the towel.

"There are a lot of similarities compared to the game against PSG. We need to have the same attitude right from the first minute," Iniesta stated at a news conference ahead of Wednesday's second leg.

"It will be complicated to pull off another comeback, but I am sure it is possible. We have to play a perfect game. We have to create the maximum number of chances and score goals. We probably need our best game of the season.

"An early goal would be a boost, but we have to be patient. We cannot afford to lose patience if the goal does not come.

"I think Juventus have only conceded two or three goals this Champions League. But this does not change anything for us. We know that we have the potential to score goals. I am convinced they know we can hurt them.

"The first leg was a bad result for us. We did not do the things we had to do. It is a complicated task, but we have the players to turn things around. We need a perfect match."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Leicester City 1 Atletico Madrid 1 (1-2 agg): They think it's Saul over...it is now

Atletico Madrid reached a third Champions League semi-final in four seasons as Leicester City's dream run came to a halt following a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium.

Having claimed a 1-0 first-leg triumph courtesy of Antoine Griezmann's controversial penalty, Diego Simeone's side were typically efficient in Tuesday's return leg - Saul Niguez's first-half header rendering Jamie Vardy's goal immaterial.

As shock Premier League champions last season, the Foxes have rarely wilted in the face of improbable odds, but the requirement of another two goals against a side so tactically astute and defensively disciplined proved beyond Craig Shakespeare's men.

Leicester had won all four home games in this season's Champions League, conceding only once in the process, and they tried gamely to protect that proud record, with a vociferous crowd treated to a spirited showing.

But, having switched off in defence to allow Saul to nod in a crucial away goal after 26 minutes, Vardy's close-range finish proved their only tangible reward for a resilient second-half performance that merited at least a win on the night.

That Vardy strike give them an opportunity to apply some pressure in the remaining half an hour - and they certainly did that - but Simeone's well-drilled charges once again proved well equipped to cope with being on the back foot, keeping their bid for Europe's top prize alive and kicking.

Leicester, meanwhile, will go back to a league campaign that looks certain to end in safety and can reflect on a remarkable journey on the day that marked eight years since they were crowned champions of the third tier.

The Foxes - who overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit to get past Sevilla in the previous round - did not register a shot on target at the Vicente Calderon and Shinji Okazaki's wayward effort from Vardy's cutback continued that theme.

Although they were without the suspended Robert Huth, the hosts had Wes Morgan back from injury, but the defensive frailties that had so frequently hindered them this season under Claudio Ranieri reappeared midway through the opening half.

Filipe Luis had time to deliver a cross from the left, finding Saul in space to steer a measured header beyond Kasper Schmeichel's despairing dive for his sixth Champions League goal.

Leicester needed a swift response and Riyad Mahrez's deflected volley called Jan Oblak into action, but the Foxes offered little else in attack before the break.Shakespeare made a double change at the interval, bringing on Ben Chilwell and Leonardo Ulloa for Yohan Benalouane and Okazaki.

Chilwell was quickly into the action, firing narrowly over the crossbar from inside the box, while at the other end Marc Albrighton did enough to prevent Yannick Carrasco getting on the end of Griezmann's square pass.The home side were given a glimmer of hope when Vardy side-footed in from six yards after Chilwell's shot had been blocked in the 61st minute.

Ulloa and Vardy were denied in quick succession by heroic Atletico defending as Leicester visibly grew in confidence, while the visitors dug their heels in.

A swinging free-kick from Mahrez only just cleared the bar in the 76th minute as it continued to be one-way traffic, but time ebbed away for Leicester, who waved farewell to a stage they may not grace again for a long time.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid 4 Bayern Munich 2 (6-3 agg, aet): Perfect Ronaldo hat-trick settles thrilling quarter-final

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick guided Real Madrid into the Champions League semi-finals after a thrilling and controversial 4-2 win over Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Portugal star followed up his first-leg double at the Allianz Arena by taking his Champions League tally to 100, securing a 6-3 aggregate victory with two goals in extra time.

Carlo Ancelotti named a vastly experienced Bayern side, with Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso - three winner's medals between them - ultimately playing their final games in the competition before retirement.

Madrid missed the better of the chances in an engaging first half before Arjen Robben made the game's first telling contribution, winning a penalty from Casemiro to allow the returning Robert Lewandowski to score.

Casemiro made amends when he crossed for Ronaldo to level the scores but Bayern were ahead a minute later through Sergio Ramos' own goal on his 100th Champions League appearance for Madrid.

Bayern's hopes of completing the turnaround were dealt a major blow when Arturo Vidal was given a second yellow card for what looked to be a fair challenge, and the Bundesliga leaders had further cause for anger when Ronaldo drilled in his second from an offside position.

Ronaldo completed his historic hat-trick before Marco Asensio added a fine late fourth to make Madrid's win safe and send them into the last four for a record-breaking seventh season in a row.

As in the first leg, Bayern started brighter, but Marcelo denied Thiago Alcantara and Arjen Robben was off-target on the follow-up before being beaten to Thiago's throughball by Keylor Navas as the home defence was cut open.Madrid responded well, but Benzema nodded wide after escaping Jerome Boateng - risked in the starting line-up despite injury concerns.

Manuel Neuer denied Dani Carvajal and Ronaldo either side of Boateng blocking Ramos' effort on the line as the pressure began to mount in the latter stages of the half, with Toni Kroos and Isco keeping Madrid on the front foot after the break, only for Bayern to grab a lifeline against the run of play on 53 minutes.

Casemiro's clumsy trip on Robben saw referee Viktor Kassai point to the spot, and Lewandowski swept the ball high into the net after watching Navas dive to his left.

Madrid suddenly looked nervous and Vidal sliced a volley over the bar from Robben's chip into the area, but the visitors were punished on the break when Casemiro won possession in the attacking third and clipped a fine cross to Ronaldo, who beat Lahm to the ball and headed beyond Neuer and into the bottom corner.

Yet just a minute later, Bayern levelled the tie. Substitute Thomas Muller brought the ball down in the box, with Ramos, Nacho and Navas left looking at each other after the captain bundled into his own net.

With the tie once more on a knife-edge, Madrid were again handed an advantage as Vidal earned his second booking of the night for a challenge on Asensio, despite having clearly got a foot on the ball.

Lewandowski was sacrificed for Joshua Kimmich as an open extra-time period began, with Casemiro seeing shouts for a penalty waved away before Asensio was denied at the near post by a smart Neuer stop.Ronaldo gave Neuer no chance in the 104th minute, however, controlling Ramos' delivery near the penalty spot before half-volleying into the net left-footed; although replays showed that he had strayed offside.

And Ronaldo's Champions League ton was up soon after thanks to the selfless Marcelo, who danced through the back line and unselfishly squared to leave Neuer exposed.

Bayern's resistance was broken at last and Asensio added gloss to the scoreline with the goal of the game, driving beyond Hummels before slotting right-footed into the bottom-left corner of the net to send the holders marching into the last four.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Cristiano Ronaldo scores 100th Champions League goal

Cristiano Ronaldo continued to rack up the records as his hat-trick against Bayern Munich saw him become the first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League.

The Portugal superstar scored twice in last week's 2-1 victory over Bayern in the quarter-final first leg, which saw him move to a century of goals in European competition.And the prolific forward made another stunning contribution for the defending champions with three goals at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo was on 97 in Europe's premier competition heading into the second leg and opened his account for the evening in the 76th minute by planting a header past Manuel Neuer to cancel out Robert Lewandowski's penalty.

A bizarre own goal from Sergio Ramos forced extra time, but the Bernabeu erupted when Ronaldo thumped in a low left-footed half-volley home in the 104th minute.And Ronaldo reached his century in the second period of the additional time, tapping home from Marcelo's centre despite suspicions of offside, to complete the perfect hat-trick.


The game was put to bed by Marco Asensio in the 112th minute as Madrid celebrated a 4-2 win on the night and a 6-3 aggregate triumph.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico Madrid can compete with Barcelona, Bayern and Real Madrid, says Simeone

Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid should be considered among the current greats of European football after reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League for the third time in four years under his leadership.

Last season's beaten finalists booked a place in the last four of the competition with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Leicester City on Tuesday, progressing 2-1 on aggregate after goals from Saul and Jamie Vardy on the night.

Simeone hailed the competitive spirit of his side and suggested that if Atletico Madrid were richer they would be on the same level as Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as Bayern Munich.

"When you talk about the greats of Europe you have to put an economic and financial slant on things," Simeone told reporters. "The greats are Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid."But from a sporting point of view we are definitely competitive. When I say we are not one of the greats I mean in that sense, not in a sporting sense.

"It is great to be in the semi-finals for the third time in four years. Looking back at the first day I arrived at the club, I said my desire was to make Atletico Madrid competitive against every team we played against. It is satisfying now to say we are a competitive outfit.

"First and foremost I'm full of emotion. I'm full of pride at the performance of my team and full of hopes and excitement as we progress in the competition."What a great performance from our competitors from Leicester tonight. It was a pleasure to compete against them. They never let their heads drop. We were living in fear all night and they pushed us all the way."

Victory for Atletico Madrid came at a cost as Filipe Luis suffered a hand injury and Juanfran damaged his right thigh, with Simeone suggesting that having to take off the two defenders made his team more effective at the back.
"What we managed to do was almost reinvent ourselves during the game. We were involved in a tough situation," Simeone added. "[Jose] Gimenez played in the middle of midfield where people wouldn't expect him to. We played in the way this match needed us to perform. We always come up with a solution.
"I don't like to praise too much but today we did respond and played in the way that we needed to. The changes the Leicester manager [Craig Shakespeare] made were fantastic. They really changed the second half, even if we had a chance with [Antoine] Griezmann and [Yannick] Carrasco to kill the game.

"What they did really well when they went to a three is they managed to get a lot of people down the wings and get crosses in. [Leonardo] Ulloa did a great job in the area. The defence I ended with was perhaps more effective at combating the Leicester threat than the one that started the second half.

"Tonight we have seen a fantastic game of football. Everything that we said before the match, both teams have lived up to that. Leicester have fought as hard as they could, we have also. There was end-to-end football, both teams taking a risk. In terms of the way forward for ourselves, we are just going to keep trying and trying and insisting and keeping going."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Madrid boss Zidane hails Ronaldo: He makes the difference

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane lauded Cristiano Ronaldo for making the difference to send his side into the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Bayern Munich.

Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Madrid claimed a controversy-filled 4-2 win after extra time in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu, progressing 6-3 on aggregate on Tuesday.

However, the Portugal star's two goals in extra time were offside, after Arturo Vidal was harshly sent off for Bayern late in regulation.Zidane was full of praise for Ronaldo, who was whistled by his home fans on his way to becoming the first player to reach 100 goals in the Champions League."He has shown that in the key moments, he is there. He makes the difference," the Frenchman told a news conference.

"When he has to be, he is. He is unique and we are happy for him and for the team. And for the people who have helped us in the Bernabeu."

A Robert Lewandowski penalty and Sergio Ramos own goal, either side of Ronaldo's equaliser, sent the quarter-final into extra time.
But Ronaldo's double and a Marco Asensio goal sealed Madrid's progression to the last four and Zidane felt it was deserved, despite the controversy.

"We played against the best team by the way, but we scored six goals and they scored three, so we deserved to go through," Zidane said."We had a lot of chances in the first half and then we were not comfortable."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals 2nd Leg Fixtures 2017.04.19

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals 2nd Leg Fixtures 2017.04.19


AGG
(3-2)

Monaco Vs Dortmund

AGG
(0-3)

Barcelona Vs Juventus

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Half Time

Barcelona 0 Vs 0 Juventus

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

AGG
(0-3)

Barcelona 0 Vs 0 Juventus

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho: Martial has to start doing what I like

Jose Mourinho has told Anthony Martial that the forward must adapt to what his manager wants if he is to succeed at Manchester United.

Martial was not included in the squad to face Chelsea at the weekend, as Mourinho’s charges turned in arguably their finest performance under his management to win 2-0.

The France international has completed 90 minutes just three times in the Premier League this season, and Mourinho has now warned Martial that he must adapt if he is to thrive.

"We have been together for almost 10 months. The same way I know the players so much better now, the players should know me also much better now."The same way I know what the players like, I think the players also know what I like. The same way I have to go in the direction of the players, the players have also to come in my direction. That's the point.

"That's why Marcus Rashford, even without scoring goals, was always a player that I trust, always a player that I played, always a player that I support. Because he was always coming in the direction of what I want from a Manchester United player."Do I think Anthony is a player with great potential? Yes, I think. Do I think he can play successfully for me? Yes, I think. But he needs to give me things that I like very much."

United face Anderlecht in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final Thursday, with the aggregate scores poised at 1-1.Mourinho insists there must be no complacency amongst his players, while he has also confirmed that Sergio Romero will start in goal, ahead of David De Gea.

"At a big club like Manchester United when you start the Europa League you probably don't have motivation that high, but at this stage it must be high.
"Romero is not my goalkeeper for the Europa League. He is my goalkeeper for tomorrow. He is the priority for the Europa League, but we have situations for David De Gea to play.

"If we don't concede a goal we are through, and that is good to know. Our record at home in the Premier League is not good but in the Europa League it's perfect."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lahm bids 'bitter farewell' to Champions League

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm described Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Real Madrid as a "bitter farewell" to the competition.The holders secured a 4-2 win after extra-time at Santiago Bernabeu to seal a 6-3 aggregate triumph and a place in the semi-finals.

Bayern were on the wrong end of three controversial refereeing decisions, with Arturo Vidal given a second yellow card for what appeared to be a fair challenge, before Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with two goals from offside positions in extra-time.

Lahm, who will retire at the end of the season, praised his team-mates for their fighting spirit, but conceded that it was a difficult way to play his last game in the competition."Despite a strong performance, it was not enough to continue to the semi-finals," he wrote on Instagram. "It is a bitter farewell from the Champions League — especially for me personally, after so many years.

"However, the attitude of the team and their strength to fight against problems, shows big potential — @FCBayern will be back!"Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge accused the officials of "killing" the Germans' hopes during a hugely entertaining match.

"It was an extremely emotional spectacle. You can only compliment both teams. It was great football," he said."Unfortunately it was determined by the referee, at our expense. "It wasn't even a foul by Vidal, but of course Vidal was already at risk. This weakened us, of course, as it did in the first leg when [Javi] Martinez was sent off.

"It killed us. That must be said very clearly. Arturo gets to the ball in front of the Madrid player. It was not a foul. That's why it shouldn't be a yellow-red card.
"If you play against a team like Real with 10, it becomes difficult. The whole team fought well. Then we were in extra-time and suddenly it's 4-2 thanks to the most curious decisions from the officials."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'He'll score more than Messi' - Neville backs Ronaldo to become 'incredible' centre-forward

Gary Neville has backed former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo to complete his transformation into a traditional centre-forward and score more goals than Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

The Real Madrid star has evolved from wiry winger to powerful forward since leaving Old Trafford for the Spanish capital in 2009 and has gone onto score 395 goals for Los Blancos.Neville, who enjoyed a six-year spell at United with Ronaldo, believes there is more to come from the 32-year-old as he enters the latter stages of his career.

"I was thinking the other day, what's the long game for him? And I wonder if he's going to go on and play into his 40s," Neville said on Sky Sports' Revista de La Liga. "I wonder if he's building up for a long career as a centre-forward, where he can still score two goals and live off moments."He's living off moments more than his all-round performance now.

"Since he's gone to Real Madrid he's contributed enormously to everything they've done but he's living more off moments rather than a contribution through a whole 90 minutes.

"He'll be thinking Pele. Those numbers. Those scandalous numbers you think you can never achieve, the appearances, the goals, and that to me is where it's going. I think he'll play for longer than Lionel Messi, I think he'll score more goals in the end and will go on to do incredible things.

"I think he'll go on for a long, long time. And in this game, he's becoming a goal-scorer, he's getting in the box more, he's coming across the near post, his heading is incredible anyway.

"I think we've seen the transformation of a player. We've seen Ryan Giggs go from a flying winger to someone who played more centrally as a midfielder. We're seeing Cristiano now as a centre-forward."He knows he can't go up and down all the time now. He knows he can't go past players all the time. He'll become a goalscorer, a poacher and a good one."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Monaco 3 Borussia Dortmund 1 (6-3 agg): Mbappe, Falcao and Germain complete classy progression

Monaco were rewarded for a classy display as goals from Kylian Mbappe, Radamel Falcao and Valere Germain secured a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund and a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

Teenage France striker Mbappe showed why he is one of the most sought after talents in European football by scoring twice in last week's 3-2 victory at Signal Iduna Park, a match that was postponed by a day following an attack on Dortmund's team bus that left defender Marc Bartra hospitalised.

And it took just three minutes of this second-leg encounter for Mbappe to pounce on a Roman Burki error at Stade Louis II to become the first player to score in his first four knockout-stage appearances.

That set the tone for an enthralling first half, and Dortmund were further up against it when Radamel Falcao headed in his 45th goal in 50 UEFA appearances from a sublime team move.Marco Reus, who missed the first leg with a thigh injury, swept home shortly after half-time as Dortmund threatened a fightback.

But Monaco ensured there was no way back when substitute Valere Germain scored with his first touch with eight minutes remaining to secure a 6-3 aggregate win.

There will be sympathy for Dortmund, whose coach Thomas Tuchel claimed it was "absurd" to play last week's first leg so soon after the incident with the team bus, and they will wonder what might have been had Nuri Sahin's free-kick not rebounded off the post with the score at 1-0 here.

For Monaco, the result means they reach the last four for the first time since their run to the 2003-04 final and the youth, vibrancy and pace they possess in abundance mean's Leonardo Jardim's men will be a threat to Real Madrid, Juventus or Atletico Madrid.

A five-minute delay to kick-off due to Dortmund - with whom Bartra travelled to the game - being held up in heavy traffic only stalled Monaco's lightning start.Benjamin Mendy's long-range effort had plenty of swerve but was poorly parried by Burki and Mbappe was typically quick to coolly slot home the rebound.

Much like in the first leg, the action was end to end and Bernardo Silva crashed a free header straight at Burki, while at the other end Sahin saw a curling 25-yard free-kick hit the inside of the right post and bounce clear.

Monaco made the most of that let-off and were 2-0 up in the 17th minute. Mendy combined with Mbappe to set up Thomas Lemar for a sumptuous cross from the left that Falcao stooped to head past Burki.

Tuchel knew a swift response was needed and he rolled the dice by throwing on Ousmane Dembele - scorer in the first leg - for Erik Durm.The added pace did help Dortmund enjoy a decent spell of pressure, but they lacked the clinical edge in the final third that Monaco had so devastatingly displayed.

Dembele's presence did pay dividends three minutes after the break, though, as the Frenchman surged to the byline and poked a cross into the area for Reus to smash high into the top-right corner.

Burki's brilliant reflexes prevented Almamy Toure's looping header from re-establishing the two-goal lead. Dortmund's urgency to find goals left them exposed at the back and Falcao controlled Jemerson's long punt before wastefully scooping his shot over the crossbar.

But, after several near misses, Monaco finally put the tie beyond all doubt. Lemar intercepted Lukasz Piszczek's pass before quickly releasing Germain, who scored with his first touch 22 seconds after replacing Mbappe to spark jubilant celebrations.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 0 Juventus 0 (0-3 agg): Messi, Suarez and Neymar neutralised as Barca crash out

Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League after failing to break down Juventus at Camp Nou in a goalless draw which confirmed a 3-0 aggregate quarter-final defeat.

After recording the biggest comeback in the competition's history in the previous round against Paris Saint-Germain, Barca were unable to repeat the feat against Juve, who backed up their stunning first-leg win with an obdurate rear-guard display.

Lionel Messi missed the home side's best opportunities, firing off-target from close range in either half, the story of a match that saw his side rack up 19 shots but only test Gianluigi Buffon with one of them.Juve – beaten by Barca in the 2015 final – have now reached the semi-finals in two of the last three years as they look to win a first European crown since 1996.

Massimiliano Allegri's impressive defence has only been breached twice in 10 continental matches this season as they join Atletico Madrid, Monaco and Real Madrid in the last four.

In stark contrast to the previous round, Neymar was reduced tears at full-time as Barca went out in the quarter-finals for the third time in four seasons to leave the outgoing Luis Enrique's hopes of winning a major trophy in his final season dependant on LaLiga and the Copa del Rey.

But a trip to Santiago Bernabeu for a pivotal match against El Clasico rivals and league leaders Real Madrid coming up on Sunday gives Barca little time to lick their wounds.

Juve - unchanged from the first leg - threatened twice early on as they searched for an away goal, Gonzalo Higuain firing over from a decent opening, while Juan Cuadrado hooked an acrobatic attempt off-target.

Luis Enrique reverted to Barca's tried-and-tested 4-3-3 system, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba coming into the side, and the left-back had the hosts' first opportunity of note when, on the stretch, he diverted Messi's precise pass wide. A better chance went begging a few moments later when Messi lashed a left-footed strike wide from 15 yards after Luis Suarez's flick had set him up.

Barca continued to probe as Neymar's volleyed effort flew just past the post, before Buffon was the first goalkeeper to be tested, the veteran diving to keep out Messi's deflected strike from the edge of the area.

Juve created a good chance of their own before half time, but Higuain could only shoot straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen, having been picked out by Miralem Pjanic as a fiery contest – which saw Andres Iniesta and Neymar booked – reached the interval without a breakthrough.

The visitors came so close early in the second half, Cuadrado narrowly missing the target after an incisive breakaway, before Ter Stegen denied the winger with another effort moments later and had to keep out a Pjanic shot which took a wicked deflection.

Barca, meanwhile, saw Neymar and Messi come close without testing Buffon, prompting Luis Enrique to bring on Paco Alcacer for Ivan Rakitic in an attacking change.

It was Messi who missed Barca's best chance midway through the second half, volleying over with his right foot from eight yards after Buffon had flapped at a corner, allowing Suarez to find the Argentina international with the goal gaping.

Sergi Roberto, the hero of the last round, shot wide as time began to work against Barca, while Paulo Dybala did the same at the other end prior to being replaced by defender Andrea Barzagli in a sign Allegri was ready to fully shut up shop.

Luis Enrique even threw Gerard Pique into attack for the final stages but Barca were out of ideas and Juve joyously celebrated a famous victory when the full-time whistle arrived.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus end Barcelona's stunning Camp Nou streak

Barcelona missed the chance to equal a Champions League record when they crashed out of the competition at the hands of Juventus.Luis Enrique's side lost 3-0 to Juve on aggregate in the quarter-finals after Wednesday's second leg at Camp Nou ended in a 0-0 draw.

Victory on the night would have been a 16th straight Champions League win at Camp Nou for Barca, a feat that would have brought them level with Bayern Munich's record of consecutive home victories.

Instead, Juve's defence – which has leaked just two goals in 10 European games this season – stops the run one short of the record-equalling mark.

Barca's run of consecutive Champions League victories at home - all of which came under Luis Enrique - started in September 2014, the streak being kicked off with a 1-0 triumph over APOEL.

Prior to the Juve draw, the last time they failed to win at home was in April 2014, when a 1-1 quarter-final draw against Atletico Madrid under Gerardo Martino saw them exit that year's competition 2-1 on aggregate.
While their winning run at home is over, Barca still have an impressive unbeaten streak at their own stadium to defend when they return to the competition next season.

Barca's run without a home Champions League defeat has gone on since a 3-0 reverse against Bayern Munich in May 2013, a result which sealed a 7-0 aggregate exit.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Dortmund 'not up to it' in Monaco defeat, admits Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel concedes that Borussia Dortmund's performance levels were not at the required standard as they exited the Champions League in a quarter-final defeat to Monaco.

Dortmund lost the first leg 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park, a match that was rescheduled following an attack on the team's bus, and their task was made even harder by a slow start that saw them concede twice in the opening 17 minutes in Wednesday's return fixture.

Kylian Mbappe, Dortmund's tormentor in chief with a double last week, pounced on Roman Burki's error, before Radamel Falcao headed home his 45th goal in 50 European appearances at Stade Louis II.

Marco Reus' strike early in the second half briefly sparked hope of a revival, but Monaco's deserved progression to the semi-finals arrived in the closing stages when substitute Valere Germain scored with his first touch to secure a 3-1 win and 6-3 aggregate triumph.

And Dortmund coach Tuchel had few complaints, telling reporters: "We started well with one or two dangerous moves where we found some space and then conceded an unlucky goal. "That destroyed our belief a bit. Then we made too many mistakes in our passing and positioning.

"In the second half we tried to rally again, but we were never able to follow up on our goal. We have made great games with a back three, especially in the Champions League, but we were not good enough. "Altogether, our performance was not up to it."Burki held his hands up for his mistake, admitting he should have done more to force Benjamin Mendy's swerving effort to safety.

"Our mistakes helped them to two early goals, which made things even more difficult," he said. "We tried everything after the break and I think we put in a good performance then, but it was over after their third goal. "The first goal was my mistake, I should have used my fists to push it further away."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'I think they can win the tournament' - Barcelona star Pique praises Juventus

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique accepted Juventus were the better team in their Champions League tie and deserved to reach the semi-finals.A 0-0 draw in Wednesday's second leg at Camp Nou meant Juve progressed 3-0 on aggregate having recorded a stunning triumph in Turin last week.

The match ended Barca's 15-game home winning streak in the competition and ensured Luis Enrique's men fell one match short of equalling Bayern Munich's record.

Pique acknowledges Barca had a mountain to climb as they tried to repeat their famous comeback against Paris Saint-Germain from the previous round and feels his team were second best.

"They are a great team and over two legs they were better than us - they deserved to reach the semi-finals," Pique told BeIN Sports."I wish them the best going forward because I think they can win the tournament this season.

"We created several chances but we had such a difficult task. As time wore on, it became increasingly unlikely we would achieve our objective of overturning the result."They are Italians, they know how to defend well and they are specialists in that area. They came to play their style of football and did it very well."

Barca fans sang and waved flags to show their support to the players in the closing stages of their defeat, a reaction that delighted Pique."I think this is a hard defeat to take but the fans were fantastic and they kept singing," he said.

"They deserve to be recognised as it is one of the few times that I have seen the Camp Nou so proud in defeat."It makes me proud to be part of this club and emotional to see that even though we lost."

Pique also thanked the support on Twitter, writing: "Thank you fans. I have never seen Camp Nou react well to a defeat. Pride and emotion."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Great Wall of Turin: Buffon surprised by clean sheet against Barcelona

Juventus' performance against Barcelona took Gianluigi Buffon by surprise as the iconic goalkeeper did not expect to keep a clean sheet at Camp Nou en route to the Champions League semi-finals.

It was the Great Wall of Turin in Barcelona as Juventus held the Spanish champions to a goalless draw in Wednesday's return leg, which confirmed a 3-0 aggregate quarter-final loss for the hosts.

After completing a stunning comeback courtesy of a 6-1 second-leg victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez were neutralised by Juve trio Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli as captain Buffon heaped praise on the five-time reigning Serie A winners.

"Aside from the result, the belief and character of our approach was excellent and it's a good confidence booster to qualify comfortably against what remains probably the best team in the world," Buffon told Mediaset Premium and RSI.

"I did think we had a good chance of qualification after the 3-0 first leg result, but I honestly didn't believe we would come to Camp Nou and keep a clean sheet. When you face a side like this, with their attacking options, you think that one or two goals are always going to be scored."The fact we stopped Barcelona scoring over 180 minutes of football means we really are solid.

"Our growth process started a few years ago and needs to continue. It certainly can't just stop or plateau after this victory. It's down to us now, our destiny is in our own hands for whether we can improve. When it comes to the trophy, fate has a hand in that, too.

"Aside from our determination, which is traditionally part of the Juventus identity, we are becoming more 'European' by pressing, proving dangerous in attack and controlling the game more than we did in previous years."If we build on that even more, and continue to evolve, then we can become a truly great team."