Alvaro Morata returned to haunt Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu as his goal sent the Champions League holders out of the tournament and put Juventus in the final.
Juventus went into Wednesday’s second leg of their semi-final at the Santiago Bernabeu holding a 2-1 advantage, but they were on the back foot throughout the first half in Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot after James Rodríguez fell under challenges from Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini. The goal came in front of the south end where before the game a gigantic tarpaulin had depicted Alfredo Di Stéfano, the man who changed this club for ever when he arrived in 1953. It was Ronaldo’s 307th goal for Madrid, equalling Di Stéfano’s record. Only Raúl lies before him now and he will be caught in due course.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men continued to threaten at the beginning of the second period too, but it was Morata – who played in last year’s final for Madrid before being allowed to leave the club – who proved the difference.
Having also scored in the first leg, he found the net against the run of play shortly before the hour mark this time to stun a partisan crowd into silence.
Real pushed hard for the goal that would have forced the match into an additional 30 minutes and preserve their hopes of a mouthwatering Clasico final, but Juventus clung on to book their meeting with Barcelona in Berlin on June 6 with the 1-1 draw.
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