LONDON: A controversial Arturo Vidal penalty handed Juventus a narrow 1-0 win over Monaco while goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a series of outstanding saves to help Atletico Madrid hold Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw in the first two Champions League quarter-final first legs on Tuesday.

Juventus midfielder Vidal, who has missed two penalties this season, held his nerve and fired into the roof of the net in the 57th minute at the Juventus Stadium in Turin after Ricardo Carvalho bundled over Alvaro Morata, who had been sent clear by Andrea Pirlo’s lofted through ball.

There was controversy surrounding the decision as television replays suggested that the initial contact by the Portuguese defender may have been just outside the penalty box. “Seeing the incident, it’s outside the area,” Monaco defender Andrea Raggi told Sky Sport Italia.

In a repeat of last season’s final, Slovenian Oblak produced a heroic performance with a string of fine saves to repel holders Real at the Vicente Calderon to keep the Atletico’s hopes of reaching the last four alive ahead of next week’s return game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Obviously you always want to score and win, but it is important not to have conceded at home,” Oblak told Television Espanola. “I don’t know (who is the favourite now). Real have a great team with a lot of great players so we will see what happens in the return leg.”

Juventus had spurned several chances in the opening half when Monaco, who stunned Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates on their way to the last eight, also came close, only for Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco to shoot straight at Gianluigi Buffon.

The Turin giants, however, were given a break by Czech referee Pavel Kralovec, who pointed to the spot just before the hour when Morata, under pressure from Carvalho, slumped to the ground on the edge of the area.

Monaco’s protests that the foul was outside the area went unheard and Vidal, who had blazed over twice in the opening half, calmed nerves by firing past Danijel Subasic.

Monaco had been denied a penalty of their own in the first half when Anthony Martial tangled with Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini. Juventus, who lead Serie A and are in the Coppa Italia final, remain on course for a treble under new coach Massimiliano Allegri and will be more than happy to travel to the French principality for the return match on April 22 with a clean sheet from the first leg.

“I haven’t seen [the penalty] again so I can’t judge,” Allegri said. “It seemed to be a foul as a last man, however from the bench I didn’t see if it was outside or inside.

“People who want to enjoy themselves can go to the circus. We have one objective and that is getting through. I’m happy with the result and the performance in parts, especially how we managed to defend at the end without conceding.”

Atletico have had the upper hand over their wealthy neighbours in six derby meetings already this term but Real dominated for long periods and will be furious not to have come away with at least one away goal.

Gareth Bale had probably their best chance as early as the third minute when he ran clear through the centre after a mistake from Diego Godin but Oblak raced out and blocked the Welshman’s shot.

Tempers flared after the break as Atletico forward Mario Mandzukic was then left with a bloody nose thanks to a stray elbow from Sergio Ramos and the Croatian was on the end of more rough treatment soon after when Dani Carvajal punched him in the stomach.

Both Ramos and Carvajal escaped unpunished but the European champions, who were forced to hold on in the final stages as Atletico launched several attacks, will be missing Marcelo and Atletico will have to do without Mario Suarez in the second leg after both saw yellow cards.

“The first half was very different to the second half,” Real captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas said. “In the first half we were the better side but we were denied by some fantastic saves by Oblak. The tie is still open, very open.”

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2015

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