Juventus hosted Barcelona on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
A first-half double from Paulo Dybala saw the home side take a 2-0 lead into the half-time break in Turin.
Giorgio Chiellini then made it 3-0 Juventus early in the second period, and that was how it finished on the night as Barcelona's Champions League dream was left in tatters.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
6.46pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live Champions League coverage continues from Turin as Italian champions Juventus welcome Spanish champions Barcelona for the first leg of their quarter-final. This has all the makings of a wonderful European tie, and both of these teams will be confident of winning the competition if they advance from this stage. Stay tuned for what should be a pulsating night of action!
6.49pmTonight will be the eighth European meeting between these two teams. Barcelona lead the head-to-head three wins to Juventus' two, while two fixtures have finished level. They actually met in the 2015 Champions League final, and it was Barca that landed the crown in Berlin courtesy of a 3-1 success.
6.52pmThe pair also met at the quarter-final stage of the 2002-03 competition, and it was Juventus that progressed courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate success. The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Turin, before Juventus won 2-1 after extra-time at Camp Nou to make the semi-finals. Juventus and Barcelona have history in this competition, although they have not locked horns since 2015.
6.55pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Italy. Both of these teams were in league action at the weekend – Juventus recorded a 2-0 win over Chievo in Serie A, while Barcelona suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at Malaga in La Liga. Any changes? Let's see...
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6.58pmTEAMS!
JUVE: Buffon; Alves, Bonucci, Chiellini, Sandro; Pjanic, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain
FCB: Ter Stegen; Pique, Umtiti, Mathieu; Roberto, Rakitic, Mascherano, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
7.02pmJuventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is able to recall Mario Mandzukic tonight after the Croatian overcame a knee problem, while Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Miralem Pjanic and Dani Alves are all in the XI following the club's Serie A clash with Chievo at the weekend. Sami Khedira keeps his spot in midfield, while Gonzalo Higuain, who has scored 27 times this season, leads the line.
7.05pmNeymar will miss Barcelona's next three La Liga matches after picking up an extended ban, but the Brazilian, as expected, starts tonight alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the final third. Sergio Busquets misses out through suspension, however, which means that there is a central midfield role for Javier Mascherano. The surprise selection in the Barcelona XI in Turin is French defender Jeremy Mathieu, who starts alongside Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti in a three-man back-line.
7.08pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this warm evening in Turin. I shall speak about Barcelona little bit later, but let's start with the Italian champions. Juventus have not won the European Cup since 1996, but they are seen as the dark horses to land the crown this season. Will it be their year? Only time will tell.
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7.12pmThis will be Juventus' 17th European Cup quarter-final, and they have won 11 of the previous 16. In terms of progression to this stage, the Italian champions topped Group H ahead of Sevilla – winning four of their six matches and conceding just twice to breeze into the last-16 stage once again. Max Allegri's side had very few problems in terms of negotiating the group phase.
7.15pmSome very distressing news coming out of Borussia Dortmund, who are due to face AS Monaco in the first leg of their quarter-final tonight. It is understood that a bomb exploded near the Dortmund team bus, and centre-back Marc Bartra has reportedly been sent to hospital. As it stands, the game is still going ahead, but stay with Sports Mole for the latest news surrounding this event.
Bombenexplosion am Mannschaftsbus am Mannschaftshotel. Spieler in Sicherheit. Keine Gefahr im und am Stadion. Weitere Infos folgen. #bvbasm
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 11, 2017
7.18pmPorto were the team waiting for Juventus in the round of 16, and in truth it was comfortable for the Italian champions as they won 2-0 in Portugal before recording a 1-0 victory on home soil. As a result, Allegri's side have still conceded just twice in the Champions League this season. Defensively, there are few teams more impressive than the Serie A giants, that is for sure.
7.22pmJuventus will also enter this match off the back of a 21-match unbeaten home run in UEFA competition, winning 12 times in the process. That is a record that dates back to a 2-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in April 2013, while the Italians have already faced Spanish opposition this term – drawing 0-0 at home to Sevilla on matchday one before winning the reverse fixture 3-1 in Spain.
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7.25pmAs mentioned, Juventus recorded a 2-0 win over Chievo on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top of Serie A to nine points, although the gap now stands at six. They have won 25 of their 31 league fixtures this season, and are heading for yet another Italian title. The Champions League is the one this club really wants, however, and overcoming Barcelona would be a massive step in the right direction.
7.28pmSpeaking of Barcelona, the Catalan giants will enter this match off the back of a shock 2-0 defeat at Malaga in La Liga on Saturday night. The result has left Luis Enrique's side three points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who still have a game in hand. The race for the Spanish title is not finished, but Barcelona will almost certainly have to win at the Bernabeu later this month.
7.32pmIn terms of this competition, Barcelona have reached the quarter-final stage for the 10th season in a row. They have won 14 of their 18 European quarter-finals, although have been eliminated in two of the last three seasons at this very stage. In truth, it is minor miracle that they made the final eight this term after losing 4-0 at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-16 clash.
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7.35pmBarcelona were all but out of the competition when they took a hiding in Paris, but the Spanish champions created Champions League history in the second leg when they recorded a 6-1 win at Camp Nou to progress. Worryingly, however, Enrique's side have lost two of their last three away games in the Champions League, and have won just four of their last 10 European fixtures on the road.
7.38pmBarcelona's last visit to Italy ended in a 1-1 draw with Roma in last season's group stage, although they have a strong record in two-legged affairs against Serie A opposition – winning eight of 11 such meetings. Like Juventus, the La Liga giants comfortably progressed through the group stage – winning five of their six Group C fixtures to top the section, but this is now the business end of the competition.
7.42pmDortmund against Monaco has been suspended tonight following that explosion near the team bus. Details of what exactly occurred are still filtering through, but unsurprisingly, the game will not go ahead. It looks to be another sad night for football, but things are going ahead as planned in Turin.
Das Spiel #bvbasm wurde soeben abgesagt. Neuansetzung: Mittwoch, 12.04. 18.45 Uhr. Tickets behalten Gültigkeit. #bvbasm
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 11, 2017
7.44pmHere we go then. Both sets of players have joined us on the pitch for the first 45 minutes of action. The atmosphere inside the stadium is absolutely brilliant, let's hope the football matches it!
0 minKICKOFF! Barcelona kick things off in Turin...
1 min... early pressure from the home side leads to Khedira striking one from outside the Barcelona box, but his effort was always moving over the crossbar. Positive start from the Italian outfit here.
3 minDybala shows nice feet in a tight area as he attempts to create space outside the Barcelona box, but Mascherano brings his fellow Argentine to the deck. Good chance for the hosts here...
3 min... CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Juventus as Higuain meets a super free kick from Pjanic, but his header is straight at Ter Stegen. Really should have found the back of the net!
5 minPossession football from Barcelona in the last couple of minutes as they look to gain a foot-hold in this match, but Juventus are the team very much on the front foot. Great tempo early on here.
7 minGOAL! Juventus 1-0 Barcelona (Dybala)
8 minWow! Juventus take the lead in the seventh minute as Cuadrado finds space inside the Barcelona box before sliding a cute pass into Dybala, who turns before finding the bottom corner with a wonderful strike. It is now 15 for the season for Dybala, and the home side lead in Turin.
10 minBarcelona were off-colour against PSG in the first leg of their last-16 tie, and that has been the case so far tonight. Juventus are absolutely all over the Spanish champions at the moment here.
13 minJuventus have only conceded twice in the Champions League this season, which is an indication of the task facing Barcelona in this quarter-final. The visitors have the chance to threaten from a free kick in a wide position, but Messi's set piece was always flying high and wide of the Juventus crossbar.
15 minBarcelona continue to enjoy decent possession of the football, but they are struggling to break through this Juventus defence, which continues to shuffle across and clear their lines.
17 minMandzukic strikes one from the edge of the Barcelona box, but Ter Stegen is on hand to collect. The match has settled following that early pressure from Juventus, although the home side are looking the more likely to score the game's next goal, especially when they break with pace.
20 minWe have not seen an awful lot from Luis Suarez in the opening 20 minutes of this match, although I am certain that the centre-forward will be involved at some point. Barcelona are just starting to enjoy some possession in the final third, but Buffon remains unmoved between the stick here.
21 minSAVE! Wonderful goalkeeping from Buffon as the Juventus stopper comes out to deny Iniesta, who looked to bend one into the bottom corner. Super goalkeeping from the Italian!
22 minGOAL! Juventus 2-0 Barcelona (Dybala)
23 minOh my word! Juventus have their second of the night as Dybala finds the bottom corner with a wonderful finish after being found just inside the Barcelona box. Incredible from the Argentine!
26 minBarcelona are in bags of trouble once again, but an away goal for the Spanish champions would change the complexion of this tie. The problem, however, is that I can see Juventus scoring more goals tonight. The atmosphere inside this wonderful stadium is absolutely electric at the moment.
28 minLittle over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Juventus lead 2-0 in Turin courtesy of that double from Dybala. Plenty of possession for Barcelona, but not too much else at the moment.
28 minBOOKING! Alves (Juventus) is bookes for a late challenge on Neymar.
30 minGOAL DISALLOWED! Messi has the ball in the back of the Juventus net, but the goal is disallowed. Khedira had his pocket picked on the edge of the box, and it seems that a foul has been given?! There did not appear to be any offside. Bit of confusion over that.
31 minLuis Suarez was in fact offside, confusion over!
34 minLittle over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and Juventus still lead 2-0 courtesy of a double from Dybala. Barcelona have had their moments in the final third, although the Italian champions are well worth their lead at this stage of the contest. It has been a brilliant opening 34 minutes here.
36 minAn away goal for Barcelona would change the complexion of this tie, although Juventus have only conceded twice in the Champions League all season. The Italians are a tough nut to crack.
38 minPjanic has a pop from the edge of the box after being found by Cuadrado, but the midfielder's effort was always swinging away from the crossbar. Barcelona are leaving themselves so open here.
41 minLittle under five minutes of the first period remaining, and Barcelona are enjoying plenty of the ball without really threatening to harm Buffon in the Juventus goal. The home supporters are full of voice here as they urge their team to keep their concentration in the final stages of the first half here.
43 minThere has been a relentless pace to the game in the last few moments, with both teams looking to commit numbers forward when they have possession of the ball. There is no question that Juventus would take a 2-0 win tonight, but Barcelona will be desperate for at least one away goal.
45 minSAVE! Ter Stegen pushes a Higuain strike straight into the Barcelona box, but Mathieu is on hand to turn behind. There have been some very nervy moments for the away side here.
45 min+1HALF-TIME: Juventus 2-0 Barcelona
8.31pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Juventus leading 2-0 on the night courtesy of a double from Dybala. Barcelona have had their moments in the final third of the field, but it is the Italian champions very much in control of this quarter-final as things stand.
8.36pmSTATISTICS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 68%, but the Spanish champions only hit the target with one of their five first-half attempts. Juventus, meanwhile, managed seven attempts in the opening 45 minutes - five of which were on target. Just the one yellow card to report in the first period and that came for Juventus' Alves in the 28th minute of action.
8.41pmBENCH WATCH! Juventus do not exactly have a whole host of attacking options on their bench tonight, but the likes of Asamoah, Marchisio and Lichtsteiner are available for the Italian champions. As for Barcelona, Alba, Andre Gomes, Paco Alcacer and Denis Suarez are in reserve.
46 minRESTART! Juventus resume the action on home soil...
47 min... BARCELONA SUB! Andre Gomes has replaced Mathieu at the break.
48 minHalf-chance for the home side as Higuain races into the Barcelona box before lifting a cross towards Dybala, but Umtiti just about does enough to clear ahead of the Argentine forward.
48 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for Barcelona as Messi meets a loose ball on the edge of the Juventus box, but his effort is wide of the post. Messi usually gobbles those up!
49 minCLOSE! Khedira's curling effort just misses the far post!
51 minLuis Suarez collects a sharp pass from Mascherano before turning inside the Juventus box, but Buffon is out to claim at the vital moment. This has been a wonderful start to the second period.
53 minI would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this match as both teams continue to commit players in the final third of the field. Luis Suarez is starting to have some joy in the final third and a cross from the Uruguay centre-forward leads to Iniesta firing over the crossbar.
53 minSAVE! Ter Stegen gets down low to keep out Higuain's effort!
53 minBOOKING! Luis Suarez (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Alves.
54 minSAVE! Higuain is denied by Ter Stegen once again after finding all sorts of space inside the Barcelona box. The Argentine seemed to take an age to release his strike there.
55 minGOAL! Juventus 3-0 Barcelona (Chiellini)
56 minJuventus! The home side lead 3-0 in Turin as Chiellini rises above Mascherano inside the Barcelona box to power his header into the bottom corner. What a massive goal!
57 minBOOKING! Iniesta (Barcelona) is booked for a poor challenge on Pjanic.
60 minLittle over 30 minutes of his first leg remaining, and Barcelona surely need to score if they are to stand a chance of turning things around in the second leg. The Spanish champions managed to complete a remarkable comeback against PSG, but Juventus would surely not pass it up from this position.
62 minPossession football from Barcelona as they pass and probe in the Juventus half of the field, but Buffon remains unmoved between the sticks as the Italian side's defence continues to clear their lines.
63 minBOOKING! Roberto (Barcelona) is booked for a rash challenge on Mandzukic.
64 minMandzukic remains on the deck after taking that heavy challenge from Roberto.
64 minBOOKING! Mandzukic (Juventus) is also booked following the clash.
66 minPique pulls Bonucci to the ground inside the Barcelona box, but the referee actually awards the Spanish side a free kick, much to the surprise of those inside the area. Let-off for the visitors.
68 minCHANCE! Massive chance for Barcelona as Luis Suarez breaks into the Juventus box after being released by Messi, but the striker's effort is deflected wide of the far post!
69 minBarcelona have a free kick just outside the Juventus box as Chiellini handles...
70 min... excuse me, nothing was given. It should have been, but it was not!
72 minThe pressure from Barcelona is increasing as the visitors continue to commit players in the final third of the field. The Scottish referee is also very busy at the moment as both sets of players continue to clash following late challenges. I sense more yellow cards in the final stages.
72 minGOAL DISALLOWED! Juventus have the ball in the back of the net once again through Cuadrado, but the offside flag is raised. It was the wrong decision though!
73 minJUVENTUS SUB! Lemina replaces Cuadrado for the home side.
74 minBOOKING! Khedira (Juventus) is booked for simulation.
76 minCHANCE! Luis Suarez fires his effort over the Juventus crossbar after being picked out by Roberto on the edge of the box. Another decent chance for the away side here.
78 minLittle over 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and Juventus still lead 3-0 on home soil. Barcelona are really probing, however, as they continue to move the ball in the final third of the field.
81 minIt is almost like an attack versus defence training exercise at the moment as Barcelona continue to force the issue while Juventus drop into a deep position and clear their lines when possible.
81 minCLOSE! Messi looks to find Umtiti with a brilliant cross from the left, but the centre-back just cannot grow enough to make contact. Let-off for Juventus there!
82 minJUVENTUS SUB! Dybala is replaced by Rincon for the home side.
84 minPressure from Juventus in the last couple of minutes as they force a couple of set pieces in quick succession, but Barcelona manage to clear their lines. Still 3-0 with 84 minutes on the clock here.
86 minWhistles from the home supporters as Barcelona pass and probe in the final third.
86 minBarcelona have a free kick in a dangerous area as Rincon brings Messi to the deck...
87 min... Messi fires his free kick straight into the wall.
89 minRakitic's cross is wide of the far post and more valuable seconds tick on here.
89 minJUVENTUS SUB! Barzagli replaces Pjanic for the home side.
90 min+1We are into the first of four additional minutes at the Juventus Stadium.
90 min+1BOOKINGS! Umtiti (Barcelona) and Lemina (Juventus) are booked following a clash.
90 min+2Alves has one blocked inside the Barcelona box as Juventus press for a fourth late on.
90 min+3More frustration for Neymar as the Brazilian is penalised for handball.
90 min+4Time is almost up at the Juventus Stadium, and Juventus are about to put one foot in the semi-finals of this competition. More problems for Barcelona on the road!
90 min+5FULL-TIME: Juventus 3-0 Barcelona
9.39pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Juventus recording a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Turin. What a night for the Italian champions! Barcelona, on the other hand, have much to ponder ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou next week. Thanks for joining Sports Mole's live coverage once again. Until next time!
