Juventus poised to book semi-final spot with aplomb in Monaco
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Armed with a one-goal advantage and a clean defensive slate from the first leg, Juventus look good value to press home their advantage at Monaco’s expense in this quarter-final tie.
Having gone all the way to the 2003/04 finale, Monaco are no strangers to defying the odds in top European competition, as they proved by ending Arsenal’s involvement in the first knockout round this season.
This particular foray into the latter stages of the Champions League looks like ending more prematurely though, thanks largely to the French side’s inability to bank a precious away goal in Turin.
Unlike the Gunners who turned up needing a miracle (which they nearly achieved), Juve can sit back at the Stade Louis II and invite a team built on counter attacking onto them, before picking their moments to kill proceedings off.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side only require the 21/10-rated draw, however, as the Old Lady demonstrated by sweeping Dortmund aside 3-0 on the road to register a 5-1 aggregate rout, they are well capable of completing the double at 7/5.
Juventus have only lost once on their travels in the past 16 games in all competitions, while history is also on their sides. The Turin-based behemoths have dumped out French opposition 10 out of 10 times in knockout European football in the past.
Serie A’s dominant force of the last three years finally appear ready to justify some hype on the continent, especially with Carlos Tevez in world-beating form.
The Argentine rightly drew criticism for his lack of European goals while at Manchester City, but he’s rectifying that reputation adorned with black and white, scoring six times in the competition this term.
A sixth goal in as many games for Tevez is a 7/4 chance, while throwing said bet into a wincast makes the punt more appealing at 10/3.
Juve notching 2-3 goals on the night is also a 7/4 poke.
