Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said Wednesday that his side were just 90 minutes from the Champions League final after their impressive 2-1 win over holders Real Madrid in the home leg of their semi on Tuesday. The Turin giants, who sealed their fourth consecutive Serie A title last weekend, took an early lead when former Real forward Alvaro Morata tapped in after Carlos Tevez's powerful shot was parried into his path.
Cristiano Ronaldo equalised for the Spanish side with a header.
But Tevez gave the hosts a deserved victory by converting a penalty on 57 minutes after being bundled over by Real's Dani Carvajal. "Many little steps made together have taken our #euroJuve up to here: 90 minutes from the Final!," Allegri posted on his Twitter account, @OfficialAllegri.
"Thanks to the guys and to all of you!". The result means a draw in next week's return leg in Madrid will see Juve through to the final in Berlin on June 6.
They will also progress if they lose by one goal, but also score more than one, as in a 3-2 or 4-3 defeat. But they will go out if they lose 1-0 or by a deficit of two goals or more. The outcome also keeps alive Juve's hopes of completing a treble, as they are in the final of the Italian Cup, where they will face Lazio. "Juve No Limits," read the front-page headline of Wednesday's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Great display of quality football, courage and personality". Twice European champions Juve were dominant in Serie A as they won three consecutive league titles under former coach Antonio Conte, who left last year and became Italy boss.
But they struggled in Europe.
Indeed, Tuesday's victory was seen by many as symbolic of the regained European stature of a team that was ejected from the Champions League in the group stage 17 months ago with a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray on a snowy night in Istanbul.
"We needed to show ourselves that we could compete at the top level," said Juve and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
"A 1-1 would also have been a good result from this point of view. "What's important is us travelling to Madrid with the door still open for a place in the final".
Morata said that Juve should approach the return as if the first leg had ended 1-1. "We've won a great match, but you have to play two games to make the final, and we need to put in a perfect performance.
"We know what kind of team Real Madrid are. They're the best in the world, and we'll need to be even better.
"It's important we don't stop here, we need to carry on working hard. "Everyone's happy about our victory but it's vital that we don't think that the tie is done and dusted".
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