08 May 2017
LAST TIME OUT
A ruthlessly efficient performance in Monte Carlo last Wednesday has put Juventus firmly in the driving seat of this semi-final tie and within touching distance of a ninth UCL final.
Gonzalo Higuain's brace means that Monaco will have to do what no European side has ever done before at Juventus Stadium and score more than two goals without conceding at the other end if they are to go to Cardiff in place of the Old Lady.
Juve have emerged victorious in all 11 of their previous two-legged ties against French sides, including against Monaco in both the 1997/98 UEFA Champions League semi-finals and the 2014/15 quarter-finals, more on that later.
What's more, the Italian champions have won all 37 of the UEFA competition ties in which they won the first leg away from home, most recently against FC Porto in the last 16.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WEEKEND?
It was back to domestic business for both sides last weekend with Juve and Monaco each taking a small step closer to their respective league titles.
While Higuain was lashing in a last-gasp equaliser in the Derby della Mole, their French counterparts were scoring three goals for the 27th time this season in a comfortable away win at Nancy.
In front early on thanks to an own goal, Tuesday's visitors cruised to victory in northern France as further strikes from Bernardo Silva and Thomas Lemar made the points safe.
A 5-0 victory for PSG over Bastia means that Leonardo Jardim's men remain three clear of the capital club with a game in hand.
The principality outfit hit the 150 goal-mark in all competitions after Saturday’s 3-1 league victory over Toulouse.
Saturday's draw with Torino brought an end to Juve's 33-match winning streak at Juventus Stadium where they nonetheless remain unbeaten in all competitions since August 2015.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Tuesday night will be Juventus and Monaco's sixth meeting in Europe's premier club competition with the Bianconeri looking to eliminate the Red and Whites at the semi-final stage for the second time.
The Old Lady prevailed in style in 1997/98, powering through to the final 6-4 on aggregate: Alessandro Del Piero netted a hat-trick - two penalties and a free-kick - before Zinedine Zidane gliding through to score and add gloss late on in a 4-1 thrashing in Turin.
Marcello Lippi’s side would finish the job in Montecarlo, despite a 3-2 second-leg loss featuring goals from Del Piero and Nicola Amoruso.
Only two seasons ago, Arturo Vidal’s penalty in the home first leg proved the difference in a 1-0 aggregate victory for Massimiliano Allegri’s men in the 2015 quarter-finals en route to the showpiece event in Berlin.
