Mbappe brings home consolation goal

Much as expected, Juventus defeated AS Monaco in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals in Turin on Tuesday, with a 2-1 home win. The 4-1 aggregate victory put the Italian side into its second Champions League final in three seasons.

The odds were stacked against Monaco even before the game began. Juventus had won all previous 11 knockout ties against French opponents, while Monaco had never won in Italy.

Mario Mandzukic shot in the host’s first goal after an earlier header was saved by Danijel Subasic, but Dani Alves doubled the lead on Tuesday with a fast volley after the Monaco goalkeeper punched a clearance.

Monaco’s consolation prize was a goal from youngster Kylian Mbappe in the second half from a cross from Joao Moutinho. Mbappe’s goal was his team’s 150th this season in all competitions. Only Real Madrid (158) and Barcelona (160) have scored more from all the teams in the five big European leagues.

Juventus, who have not won this competition since 1996 and lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the 2015 final, will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in Cardiff on June 3. Despite not winning the competition since 1996, no team has reached the Champions League final on more occasions than Juventus – six – level with AC Milan.

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