JUVENTUS have enjoyed quite a 2016-17... and nothing summed it up quite like the 2-0 Champions League win away to Ligue 1 leaders Monaco on Wednesday.
Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain struck twice as the Italian side produced a masterful all-round display to beat Monaco 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
The Argentine has been known to bottle big games in the past with only two UCL knockout goals.
The Argentina global scored with a first-time finish in each half, the impressive Dani Alves creating both goals to take the sting out of Monaco, who had started strongly.
Juventus were vast in all areas against a Monaco side who have lit up Europe this season with their brand of attacking soccer.
It was the first leg of their semifinal clash, with Real Madrid also having taken a commanding 3-0 lead over Atletico Madrid in the corresponding tie on Tuesday.
He missed marauding Benjamin Mendy at left-back and now Monaco must attempt to become just the third team ever to overturn a home first-leg deficit in the Champions League.
"You have to hand it to the players, because it wasn't easy to come here to Monaco for the first leg", Allgeri said.
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There were surprises on the team sheet, with Monaco fielding natural winger Nabil Dirar at right-back while Alves, a career full-back, was preferred to Juan Cuadrado on Juve's right flank.
However, the 39-year-old Buffon was in immaculate form on the night, with his final save - a last-minute tip-over from Valere Germain's header - extinguishing Monaco's hopes of taking a much-needed goal to Italy.
Midfielder Bernardo Silva also acknowledged the 2015 Champions League runners-up's superiority, saying: "We gave everything, but today Juventus played a lot better than us, they were superior". "But I think being clinical made the difference".
The goal slowed Monaco's momentum and Juve's Dybala had a free-kick saved by Danijel Subasic prior to the interval. Higuain set himself up for the opener, slowing down a counter-attacking raid just long enough to allow Alves to occupy Kamil Glik, with the Polish defender baffled as his opponent backheeled a one-two assist for the Argentinian.
"We are very concentrated on the championship.
Buffon made some incredible saves", Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said.
Allegri still had complaints about his side's performance in Monaco, and says they must remain focused to turn this season into an extraordinary one. That's why we work hard and train every day.
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