Monaco 0-2 Juventus: In focus - Kylian Mbappe and Paulo Dybala

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  • Gonzalo Higuain scored both goals as an imperious Juventus beat Monaco 2-0 in their Champions League semi-final first leg to take a huge step towards next month’s final in Cardiff.

    Both of Higuain’s goals came from Dani Alves assists, with the Argentine hitman rounding off a breathtaking team move to open the scoring just before the half-hour mark and converting the second from close range after the break.

    While the second leg in Turin next Tuesday will be no formality, Juventus have never lost a two-legged European tie to French opposition and so impressive were they at the Stade Louis II that it is hard to imagine Monaco recovering.

    We take a look at the two key stars from the game and compare Kylian Mbappe with Juve’s Paulo Dybala.

    Basic stats

    Mbappe

    Goals – 0

    Shots – 3

    Dribbles – 4

    Pass success – 83%

    Chances created – 0

    Dispossessed – 2

    Dybala

    Goals – 0

    Shots – 1

    Dribbles – 4

    Pass success – 86%

    Chances created – 1

    Dispossessed – 1

    Effectiveness

    Mbappe

    In the first half the 18-year-old was electric and Juventus were grateful to – who else? – 39-year-old goalkeeper Gigi Buffon who twice in quick succession was forced to deny the Monaco frontman.

    When he was not feeding on the assists provided by Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar and the rest of Monaco’s incisive attacking unit, Mbappe was living up to comparisons with Thierry Henry by storming down the left before switching feet to pull makeshift right-back Andrea Barzagli out of position. That way, Radamel Falcao was able to get into shooting positions, and the Colombian did enjoy chances.

    But Juve soon adapted and handcuffed to the touchline for much of the second half, his influence on the game waning as Monaco struggled to pick the visitor’s lock.

    Dybala

    Juve’s night went something like this: a move started by Dybala, then brilliantly assisted by Dani Alves for a clinical finish from the classy Gonzalo Higuain.

    The statistics do the 23-year-old a disservice because he was central to Juve’s sharp attacking threat. They rely on Dybala’s creative ingenuity to manufacture opportunities for Higuain and he didn’t let them down tonight.

    His sumptuous flick in the build-up to the opening goal was a fine illustration of his creative exploits – watch it, gorgeous.

    A masterclass display from the Argentine, even without a goal to his name.

    Key moments

    Mbappe

    13th min: Juventus clearly ignored all the column inches in the build-up because the backline pushed up too far from a corner and totally ignored Mbappe who was left free to meet Nabil Dirar’s lofted pass back into the box. But from 12 yards he can only direct a tame header straight at Buffon.

    16th min: Dirar again is the man to find the 18-year-old as he intercepted a pass in midfield, charged down the right wing and fired in a low hanging cross to the near post. Mbappe’s movement was first class and but Buffon’s reactions were more than a match as he moved to deny the striker with a fine save to his left.

    53rd min: He whipped out his box of tricks to try and jink past Alves but the full-back was too alert and when Mbappe dived to the floor the referee wasn’t having any of it – a microcosm for his night, clever but not quite clever enough.

    Dybala

    28th min: A beautiful team goal from back to front with the transition picking up pace after a lovely flick from Dybala in midfield before Alves’ delightful backheel finds Higuain on the edge of the area to coolly slot home.

    59th min: The Alves-Dybala combination pays dividends again as the pair work to dispossess Tiemoue Bakayoko in midfield. The Argentine springs clear on the right-wing, feeds Alves who pings a perfect cross to the back post for Higuain to easily stab past Danijel Subasic.

    64th min: He can really do it all. On his left foot, he works a yard of space inside his own half on the left-wing and sprays a stunning cross-field pass right into the path of Alves but the full-back loses his footing and couldn’t find the cross for what would have been a third.

    Our verdict

    Mbappe

    Plenty of promise from the 18-year-old and more than justifying his hype with this performance.

    A little more conviction would have seen this be his night but Buffon and the Juve defence are a colossal force to contend with.

    It looks like he won’t be a Champions League winner but continue his progression at this rate and it won’t be long before he is.

    7/10

    Dybala

    He’s a kid himself and it’s difficult to comprehend that when he’s five years older than Mbappe.

    Make no mistake, though, Dybala is a special talent and he put in a complete performance tonight.

    There’s a reason he is the jewel of the Old Lady’s attack and proved so in a classy display.

    8.5/10

    Your verdict

    All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com

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