Barca blank as Juve advance

Barcelona could not come close to the comeback they achieved against PSG as they could find no way past a Juventus defensive masterclass.

The Blaugrana could only register one shot on target against the Italian champions, who have conceded only two goals in their ten tournament matches this season and will join Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Monaco in the semi-finals.

Juventus made the brighter start to the match, pressing Barca high up the pitch and not allowing them to settle – in the exact manner that Paris Saint-Germain failed to do in the previous round.

Leonardo Bonucci’s clipped free-kick found Gonzalo Higuain but the striker could not connect fully and the effort was easily saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, and in the twelfth minute the Argentine striker blazed over from just inside the area in the first real opportunity.

Luis Enrique’s side quickly grew into the game – Ivan Rakitic blazed over moments after Gerard Pique’s excellent tracked run and challenging on Juan Cuadrado, while Lionel Messi blazed wide from twelve yards after Luis Suarez’s effort was initially blocked.

The hosts exploited Juve’s right flank with Jordi Alba continually finding space behind Dani Alves – firstly just missing a Messi lobbed ball and then cutting back to Neymar, who’s curled effort went just wide.

Referee Bjorn Kuipers let the game flow as much as possible but Andres Iniesta and Neymar were both booked late on in the half for robust challenges.

The Italian champions sat deeper in the second period – an early counter attack culminated in the Colombian Cuadrado dragging his shot wide of goal when well placed, but largely the hosts were dominant in possession and wayward in finishing.

Neymar and Messi’s early efforts both failed to trouble Buffon before the Italian international made a fingertip save to tip the Argentine’s effort – headed for the bottom corner – around the post.

Messi then curled his free-kick inches over before Ter Stegen was almost caught out at the other end; scrambling back desperately to tip away a deflected Pjanic shot after Sergio Busquets had been caught in possession.

The hosts continued to be uncharacteristically wasteful – Buffon could only punch a corner across goal but Messi’s hooked attempt went over.

Javier Mascherano – who had never before scored in over 300 appearances for the club – was introduced with 13 minutes remaining and was almost immediately thwarted by the ever-reliable Buffon at point-blank range.

But it wasn’t to be for Barca who’s comeback against Paris Saint-Germain was not repeated and the Turin-based side advance into the last four.

Barcelona 0-0 Juventus (0-3 agg.)

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi (Mascherano 77), Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic (Alcacer 58), Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

Juventus: Buffon; Alves, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado (Lemina 83), Khedira, Pjanic, Mandzukic; Higuain (Asamoah 88), Dybala (Barzagli 73)

Referee: Kuipers (NED)

Tags Juventus
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