Buffon and Higuain the Juve heroes
GIANLUIGI BUFFON was the Juventus rock once again as his side stole Monaco’s thunder last night.
Gonzalo Higuain will take the plaudits for his double strike that gave his side a priceless advantage to take to the semi-final second leg in Turin on Tuesday.
But it was built on the foundation of Buffon and a defence that has conceded only two goals in 11 Champions League games this season.
The veteran Italy goalkeeper, 39, and his grizzled defenders were given a test in the Stade Louis II but it was a night when Juve’s old heads showed the composure which thwarted the youthful energy and drive of the Ligue 1 leaders.
Yet it could have been different had teenage wonder boy Kylian Mbappe taken two first-half chances.
First, he found himself in the clear when Radamel Falcao’s long ball caught Juventus napping – but sent a tame header straight at Buffon.
Then Nabil Dirar sent a teasing cross to the near post but
MONACO JUVENTUS
Mbappe’s volley was blocked superbly by Buffon.
Monaco were made to pay as Juve grabbed a priceless away goal after 29 minutes from a classic counter-attack.
Dani Alves produced another of the penetrating runs from the back that marked his Barcelona career. The Brazilian was checked just outside the box, but sent a sumptuous backheel into the path of Higuain who swept the ball past Danijel Subasic. Monaco kept coming, though. Early in the second half Bernardo Silva put a chance on a plate for Falcao but the Colombian went for placement over power and Buffon saved.
Then, in the 59th minute, Tiemoue Bakayoko dithered on the ball and was robbed by Paulo Dybala. He fed Alves, whose diagonal ball to the far post was tailor-made for Higuain to fire home. Game over. Richard JOSE MOURINHO did not want to be in the Europa League back in September.
Eight months, seven countries, thousands of air miles and 12 games later, it has become all-important for him and Manchester United.
And yesterday, as United prepared to face Celta Vigo in the semi-final first leg here, he was talking up the competition like never before.
Mourinho has never failed to guide any of the clubs he has managed into the Champions League over the course of a full season.
It would be as big a blow to his own pride and reputation as it would be to United’s if they fail to do it in his first season at Old Trafford.
With Liverpool’s win at Watford on Monday taking United’s top-four hopes out of their hands, Mourinho has effectively given up on qualifying for the Champions League by the front door and is piling all his chips on going through the back door by winning the Europa League.
But he tried to take the spotlight away from himself by suggesting a loftier ambition: United can “close the circle” in Stockholm on May 24 by completing the set of all four European trophies and the Inter-Continental Cup and the Club World Cup.
Only Bayern Munich, Juventus, Ajax and Chelsea have won all four European trophies – the European Cup/ Champions League, the old Cup Winners’ Cup, the UEFA Cup/Europa League and the Super Cup.
And only Bayern, Ajax and Juventus can add the old Inter-Continental Cup and Club World Cup to their honours board.
Given the backdrop of a marathon season and his injury problems, Mourinho thinks it would be some achievement.
“It is the only competition that Manchester United have never won and it would be great to close that circle and say we are a club that won every single competition in the football world,” he said.
“I think it would be a good achievement given the problems we’ve had and, of course, it would allow us to be back in the Champions League next season.”
United will be boosted by the quick return of Eric Bailly,