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Juventus edges out Monaco 1-0 in Champions League quarter-final

Xinhua, April 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Juventus will take a narrow advantage back to Monaco after Arturo Vidal's penalty sealed a 1-0 first-leg win in the Champions League quarter-final here on Wednesday.

The Serie A champions vowed not to make the mistake of underestimating their opponents.

"Monaco were a surprise but they aren't anymore," Allegri explained on the eve of the game. A trap that Arsenal fell into, Saturday's defeat to Parma served as a timely warning of what can happen if you take even a team 57 points worse off than you too lightly, let alone Monaco.

The former Bayer Leverkusen man has already missed two spot kicks this season, but held his nerve to smash high into the top left corner and give his side the advantage going into the return fixture.

However, Monaco won't be too disheartened at taking a solitary goal deficit back to the Principality, given that they were rank outsiders to progress to the last four before kick-off.

Former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho gave away the penalty, bundling over ex-Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata inside the area.

Monaco played on the counter attack, in a game which the Italian outfit dominated possession.

However, the Ligue 1 side always looked dangerous on the break, and but for Gianluigi Buffon, who made three tremendous saves, could have even taken a lead into the second leg.

Massimiliano Allegri was satisfied with the 1-0 result in Turin but he is in no doubt that his side will have to score in next week's quarter-final second-leg clash at the Stade Louis II.

Next week's second leg, Monaco is a little bit less redoubtable at the Stade Louis II than they are on the road. Their home record is only good enough for ninth in Ligue 1. Experienced Juventus are handling these games better. Endi