LAST Thursday, Italy’s famous pink paper La Gazzetta Dello Sport ran a long feature analysing Juventus’ chances of emulating Inter Milan’s 2010 treble this season

The Serie A champions have a 12-point lead at the top of the table over Lazio before the two teams meet on Saturday and remain on track for a fourth successive league title while they also face the Biancocelesti in the Coppa Italia final.

But it’s the Champions League where the Turin giants are aiming to make their mark and a 1-0 victory at the Juventus Stadium in the first leg of their quarter-final against AS Monaco on Tuesday ahead of the return in the French principality puts Juve in pole position for a place in the last four of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2003.

Then, Juve faced Real Madrid in the semi-finals – a scenario very much likely this season with the European champions still very much in the fray after a goalless draw at city rivals Atletico Madrid in their quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

As Gazzetta drew parallels of Juve’s current campaign with Inter’s 2010 one, it noted that Inter had got the easiest draw in the quarter-finals five years ago when they were pitted against CSKA Moscow. Monaco presented a plum draw for Juve with Corriere dello Sportrunning the headline ‘Juve lands Monaco with a smile’ when the draw was made last month.

Inter then faced defending champions and favourites Barcelona in the semi-finals before overcoming Bayern Munich in the final. Barca and Bayern are also in the last eight this season but they had contrasting results in their quarter-final first legs on Wednesday.

Luis Suarez scored a sensational double as Barca overwhelmed Paris St Germain 3-1 at the Parc des Princes and put one foot in the semi-finals ahead of the second leg at their Nou Camp home while Bayern lost by the same score-line at FC Porto’s Estadio do Dragao with an inspired Ricardo Quaresma scoring twice.

Porto’s victory also gives Juve a glimmer of hope.

Although a semi-final tie against Real would see the two of Europe’s most aristocratic clubs meet yet again and revive memories of their 2003 semi-final which Juve won 4-3 on aggregate, Massimiliano Allegri’s side would certainly prefer playing Porto in the semis before squaring off against either Barca or Real [as things stand] in a final battle for the title.

But before all that, Juve have to negotiate 90 minutes against Monaco at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday after Arturo Vidal’s controversial penalty gave them their narrow first-leg advantage.

A majestic pass from Andrea Pirlo saw Alvaro Morata brought down by Monaco’s Ricardo Carvalho although they argued that the foul took place outside the box.

And Pirlo, who returned from a seven-week injury layoff in the first leg, hopes victory against Lazio will hold Juve in good stead for the return leg against Monaco.

“It’s important we win [against Lazio] as it’ll help us keep our [Serie A] lead intact over the chasing pack and also act as perfect preparation for next week’s match in Monte Carlo,” Pirlo, a part of the AC Milan side that beat Juve on penalties in the 2003 final at Old Trafford, told Sky Sport on Thursday.

“We watched various clips on Monaco and knew that they’re an organised unit. It’s vital we remain vigilant, because there’s still all to play for in terms of a semi-final berth.”

Like Juve, Monaco are also looking to make the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a decade.

With Porto showing the same verve they showed in 2004 when they beat Moanco in the final, Leonardo Jardim’s men would be looking to rediscover the spirit of that side which beat Real and Chelsea on a barnstorming run to the title clash in Gelsenkirchen.

Sitting third in Ligue 1 where they are vying with Olympique Marseille for that final Champions League playoff spot for next season, Monaco face Stade Rennes on Saturday looking to consolidate their position before renewing hostilities with Juve.

“I just think anything’s possible in the second leg,” Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev told the club website. “We’ll give it everything we’ve got at the Louis-II. I’m hopeful.”

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2015

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