Juventus host Monaco tomorrow for second leg match of the semi-final of the Champions League with confidence after winning on the road 0-2. The Italians, who have never lost a European match against a French team, concede the fewest goals (two in the whole competition) and have not lost in their stadium for 20 months.
Juventus not only has a favorable aggregate score, but is also clearly superior both in offense and defense. Furthermore, Massimiliano Allegri‘s men have greater experience at these stages of the competition, making a victory by Monaco seem highly unlikely.
In terms of statistics, Juventus has advanced 11 times when facing a French team. Allegri’s team has been tremendously solid in defense allowing just two goals throughout the group stage and none since the round of 16. Not even the powerful Barcelona was able to score a goal against Gianluigi Buffon in 180 minutes.
In attack, Juventus has considerable firepower with the Argentine duo of Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain. The first was decisive in the series against Barca (with two goals in Turin), the second scored a double during their win in Monaco a week ago.
Higuain, often criticized for his poor performances in important matches, was praised for his performance against Monaco. He confirmed his good moment by scoring in the match against Torino coming off the bench.
For Monaco, the duo formed by the Colombian Radamel Falcao and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe now have just 90 minutes to force overtime in Italy. Falcao is shining again this year after two dreadful seasons in England (Chelsea and Manchester United) and fully recovering from a serious knee injury that threatened his career.
With 28 goals this season (in 39 matches), Falcao wants to return to being a vital player in Europe as he was in Porto and Atletico Madrid. He and Mbappe need spectacular performances if they want to help Monaco overcome their toughest hurdle so far in this European campaign.
