Champions League: Vidal on target as Juventus eye long-awaited return to last four
JUVENTUS 1 AS MONACO 0
JUVENTUS edged closer to their first Champions League semi-final for more than a decade last night after a controversial penalty gave them a slender first-leg advantage over Monaco.
Midfielder Arturo Vidal’s thunderous spot-kick decided a predictably tight contest in Turin which leaves Serie A’s runaway leaders well placed to end their 12-year wait to return to the last four.
But the 57th-minute penalty award provoked debate, with Monaco’s former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho appearing to make contact with Juventus forward Alvaro Morata just outside the area.
Monaco’s Geoffrey Kondogbia, who scored in their last-16 defeat of Arsenal, went closest to equalising but veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stopped his shot from distance and a tame late effort.