Juventus have not been in the last four in Europe’s elite club competition since 2003. See How Greeny They Are

The team are so excited being onthe top 4, The Serie A leaders played out a 0-0 second-leg draw at the Stade Louis II to win their quarter-final tie 1-0 on aggregate, Arturo Vidal’s penalty in Turin last week ultimately proving to be the difference. --- While Juve have recovered from the Calciopoli scandal that rocked Italian football in 2006 to dominate again domestically in recent seasons, they have not been in the last four in Europe’s elite club competition since 2003.The two-time European champions will therefore be the underdogs in Friday’s draw alongside holders Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, clubs who have 10 appearances in the semi-finals between them over the last four seasons alone.

But a bullish Allegri said: “We are not afraid. This was an important objective for us but not the final one.
Juventus' goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon celebrates. Source: AFP

“There would be no point in qualifying if we didn’t want to go even further. We will of course look to reach the final.”

In his first season in charge of Italy’s most successful club, Allegri has Juve on the brink of retaining the Serie A title, in the final of the Italian Cup and now they remain in with a chance of continental glory, 30 years after they won their first European Cup on the night of the Heysel disaster.

“It is a great year for Juve. The supporters can be happy. The results show that we are on our way to becoming strong again and building a basis for the future,” Allegri added.

“The performances were not sensational. The two games were not beautiful but we defended well and we needed to be brave and tenacious.”


Juventus' players celebrate with their fans after they qualifyed for the semifinals. Source: AFP

Vidal had recovered from illness in time to start the game in the principality and Allegri revealed that the bug from which the Chilean was suffering had passed on to strikers Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata, who were both sick after being substituted.

“That shows how big the result is and that we have an exceptional group of players who managed to hold on to their advantage. We are enormously satisfied at being through.”

It was the sort of rock solid defensive performance so often associated with Italian teams in the past, as Juve kept a ninth clean sheet in their last 10 games.

“There was a lot of pressure on the players after 12 years of waiting. It’s the Italian way, it’s ugly but it works,” French full-back Patrice Evra told beIN Sports.

Evra was part of the Monaco side that reached the Champions League final in 2004 and he admitted that the principality club deserved more for their performances over the two legs.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti sent a warning to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus that his side will not relinquish their Champions League title lightly after finally seeing off Atletico Madrid to progress to the semi-finals 1-0 on aggregate.

It was the first time in eight meetings that Real had beaten Atletico this season, but Ancelotti dismissed suggestions they lack the firepower to compete with tournament favourites Bayern Munich and Barca.

“If we play with the desire we did today, Real Madrid can compete with anyone,” said the Italian.

The holders were without the injured Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, as well as the suspended Marcelo.

But Ancelotti is confident that at least Bale and Benzema could be fit for the semi-finals.

“We will recover the injured players for the semi-finals so the things are going to improve.

“I think Bale and Benzema will be fit quickly but I cannot say an exact day.”

Hernandez was an unlikely hero having started just six games all season before Wednesday, but Ancelotti hailed his professionalism despite a lack of first-team opportunities due to the form of Benzema.

“Hernandez played very well, he played with a lot of desire. He has suffered a lot this season, he has played very little but he never gave up.

“In the difficult moments he continued to train well and that has paid off for him in the end.”

A gracious Diego Simeone said: “When I was a boy I was taught that in a game you have to compete and when you give everything and lose I would go home happy. When the team works like it did today there are no negative feelings.

“I think a lot of coaches would envy having players that run for 90 minutes despite the difficulties in front of them.

“We congratulate the opponents because they played very well and scored a great goal.”