The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Juventus cruise to win and book place in final
champions league: Italians ease past Monaco to earn place in Cardiff
Juventus secured their place in the Champions League final after coasting to a 2-1 win over Monaco in Turin.
The Serie A leaders never looked like letting slip a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, and tightened their grip on the tie when Mario Mandzukic put them ahead after 33 minutes.
Brazilian defender Dani Alves crashed in a superb second just before half-time.
Monaco’s 18-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe netted a consolation in the 69th minute as Massimiliano Allegri’s impressively organised Italian side booked their place at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on June 3.
Monaco, this season’s surprise contenders after coming through qualifying to reach the last four, were forced into a change when winger Nabil Dirar suffered a problem in the warm-up and was replaced by Benjamin Mendy.
Juve took the lead after 32 minutes. Alves whipped the ball into the Monaco box from the right towards Mandzukic, whose header was saved before the Croatian lashed the rebound past Subasic.
Just before half-time, Juventus doubled their lead with a superb strike from Alves. A corner was punched out by Subasic and as the ball dropped to Alves 25 yards from goal, he volleyed it into the net.
Monaco managed to get on the scoresheet when Mbappe converted a cross from Joao Moutinho.