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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Monaco v Juventus, Champions League semi-final

Monaco took on Juventus, with the winner over two legs likely to face Real Madrid in the final.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Kick of is at 7.45pm.

Here are tonight’s teams…

Monaco: Subasic, Sidibe, Dirar, Fabinho, Jemerson, Glik, Lemar, Bakayoko, Silva, Mbappe, Falcao.

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Pjanic, Marchisio, Dani Alves, Dybala, Mandzukic, Higuain .

We’re underway…

Many expected Juve to sit back, but they’ve shown some signs of attacking ambition in these opening stages.

The visitors have begun the game with a back three.

Monaco are coming more into the game now, though Juve continue to threaten on the counter.

As I type, Dybala bursts forward, though Higuain slips as he tries to collect his teammate’s pass.

Half chance for Juve. A lofted through pass finds Dani Alves, but Higuain can’t quite reach the latter’s cross.

Shortly thereafter, a Monaco free kick finds the head of Mbappe, but the young striker’s header is straight at Buffon.

It’s been a lively and very entertaining opening.

Dani Alves crosses to find Mandžukić, whose header is tame and straight at Subašić.

Juventus will be happy with how they’ve started this game.

Decent chance!

Dirar crosses to Mbappe, who hits it on the volley, though the attempt from a tight angle is straight at Buffon.

Monaco Soccer Champions League Supporters cheer prior to a Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Monaco and Juventus. Claude Paris Claude Paris

Dirar has been influential down Monaco’s right and has put in a few dangerous crosses already.

Meanwhile, Bonucci has just been booked for a late challenge on Falcao.

A corner falls to Higuain, but he can’t direct his volley on target.

This is a more open and free-flowing game than many would have predicted.

MONACO 0-1 JUVENTUS (HIGUAIN 29)

Dani Alves bursts forward and plays a clever backheel to the onrushing Higuain, with the striker hitting it first time into the corner of the net.

That’s a big advantage to Juve, as they claim a vital away goal.

A Lemar free kick is played into a dangerous area, and Bakayoko narrowly fails to get on the end of it.

Monaco haven’t played too badly, they’ve just been undone by a moment of magic from the visitors.

Here’s a look at that beautiful Higuain goal…

LIUBCHENKO / YouTube

Free kick in a promising for Juve.

Dybala, however, curls it straight at Subašić.

Monaco have found themselves in some promising positions in the first half.

However, a combination of Juventus’ usual resilience at the back and the hosts’ less than clinical finishing means it remains 1-0 to the Italians.

HALF-TIME: MONACO 0-1 JUVENTUS

The second half has begun…

Good chance for Monaco!

Pjanic gives it away to Silva, who plays through Falcao, but the ex-Man United striker’s finish is tame, and Buffon saves comfortably.

Lemar plays through Mbappe, but Buffon is alert and gets to the ball ahead of him.

Monaco are continuing to probe, while Juventus are sitting back a bit more in this second half.

Very good chance for Juve.

The hosts lose the ball in their final third, and Subašić saves a one-on-one with Marchisio.

Moments later, Mbappe narrowly fails to get on the end of Dirar’s cross.

MONACO 0-2 JUVENTUS (HIGUAIN 59)

Dani Alves plays a glorious cross to Higuain, who finishes consummately on the volley.

The Argentine international has looked sluggish and uncomfortable on the ball at times tonight, but you can’t argue with his finishing ability.

Monaco make changes, as Germain and Moutinho replace Lemar and Bakayoko.

It looks like Mbappe will be moved to the left, with Germain joining Falcao up front.

Meanwhile, Chiellini has just been booked for a deliberate-looking elbow on Falcao.

That second goal has really taken the wind out of Monaco’s sails.

There is a sense of dejection and a noticeably flat atmosphere, as the French team struggle to get back in the game.

Moutinho plays through Silva, but the Monaco attacker is penalised for controlling the ball with his hand.

Meanwhile, Cuadrado replaces Higuaín, as Juventus look to adopt an even more defensive approach.

Rincón replaces  Marchisio for Juventus, while for Monaco, Touré comes on for Bernardo Silva.

It continues to look all too comfortable for the Serie A side.

Monaco continue to dominate possession and territory.

However, in stark contrast to most of their Champions League performances this season, Monaco’s attacking has been increasingly slow and laboured in recent minutes.

Juve make a final change, as Lemina is on for Pjanić. The visitors look set to see out this game comfortably.

As I type though, Buffon makes a good save from Germain’s header, after a dangerous set piece is flighted into the box.

FULL-TIME: MONACO 0-2 JUVENTUS

Right, that’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.

You can read our report of the game here.

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