Juventus in UCL final after 4-1 aggregate win over Monaco

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Juventus, four goals up on aggregate and already thinking about their date with destiny on June 3, switched off for one moment and Kylian Mbappe nipped in to score what was nothing other than a consolation but, to Allegri, it appeared as though the world had ended.

In a spell between the 22nd and 44th minute, Juventus had eight clear chances to score and had it not been for an inspired performance from Danijel Subasic in Monaco’s goal, what turned out to be a drubbing could have become a rout.

Gonzalo Higuain had a shot cleared off the line; Mandzukic was thwarted, as was Claudio Marchisio; Paulo Dybala, the architect of the victory over Barcelona in the quarter finals, could scarcely believe he fluffed his lines when sent clean through.

Ultimately, though, the misses never mattered. Mandzukic killed off any last lingering hopes Monaco were clinging to when, at the second attempt, he made sure a magnificent cross from Dani Alves got the finish it deserved, stabbing his shot into the roof of the net after Subasic saved his initial header.

Alves was superb here and the creator turned scorer just before half-time when he thrashed a volley in from 25 yards after Subasic had failed to clear his lines with a punch. Not for the first time, you questioned Barcelona’s wisdom for allowing the Brazilian to leave them last summer.

Mbappe’s strike was deserved for the spirit they showed – it was the first time the Italians had conceded in 690 minutes – but it was never anything to halt Juventus’ march.

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