Juventus produced an Italian masterclass in defending as they fought out a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp, sending them through 3-0 on aggregate to the Champions League Semi Finals.

The Italian champions did all the hard work scoring three in the first leg in Turin, after Paulo Dybala scored twice in the first half and Giorgio Chiellini headed in midway through the second.  

But no such goalmouth action was warranted in the second leg as they demonstrated a resilient defensive display against a Barcelona team lacking in ideas as the game wore on.  

Managing only one shot on target, in a game they needed to score four to win, through a deflected Lionel Messi shot that Gianluigi Buffon palmed away to safety.  The Spanish champion’s consistent pressure resulted 19 shots off target but only demonstrated why Juventus have conceded two goals in the whole of this year’s Champions League.

The best chance of the game fell to Barcelona’s star man Messi, when the ball fell to him from a Luis Suarez touch only to drag the shot wide.

Juventus weren’t just a there to defend however and created chances of their own. Gonzalo Higuain twice had the chance to score, when he fired well wide in the opening stages and then slide in but could not trouble Marc Ter Stegen.  

The two time Champions League winners edged out the game, allowing Barcelona only chances from outside the box and sending them through to the semi-finals.

 

 

The game began in bizarre fashion without Juventus right back Dani Alves on the pitch as he shook hands with the Barcelona bench. But an edgy affair played out in the opening encounters, with Juventus refusing to give Barcelona time on the ball to allow their passing style of play. The first chance of the game fell to the Italian champions’ striker Gonzalo Higuain, who received the ball via a deflection only to snatch at the ball and fire well wide from 15 yards.

The striker had another chance to open the scoring when a lobbed through ball from Miralem Pjanic allowed the Argentinian to slide in but he couldn’t make clear contact from eight yards out, giving Marc Ter Stegen a comfortable save.

Lionel Messi was presented with Barcelona’s best chance of the half but couldn’t find the target from 10 yards out firing just wide with his laces from a Luis Suarez pass.  

The Argentinean then called Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon into action at his near post, hitting a deflected shot from just outside the box.

Juventus without the ball put several men behind the ball forcing Barcelona wide and limited the Catalans chances. 

 

 

Barcelona came out in the second half much the same as they did in the first, on the front foot dominating position, putting the Juventus defence under immense pressure.

However, as in the first half The Old Lady had the chance to end the tie early doors when Juan Cuadrado found himself with time in the box but could only drag his shot wide of the post. 

This was a small pause in the Barcelona attacking onslaught, as Messi had three chances within 10 minutes firing over each time without causing Buffon into a save.  

Juventus then came back with their own half chance, when Pjanic tried his luck from the edge of the box only for his shot to be deflected high up into the air and cause Ter Stegen to palm it over his bar to safety.  

The five time Champions League holders continued in vain to find a way back into the tie with several shots firing just over, but Juventus held strong to reach their second semi-final in the last three seasons of the competition.

Juventus will find out their fate for their next round opponent on Friday, with Atletico Madrid, Monaco and Real Madrid also through.