Gonzalo Higuain double puts Juventus in control against Monaco

Gonzalo Higuain’s double handed Juventus the advantage in their Champions League semi-final first leg with Monaco.

Hoping to become the second Italian club to win the treble of domestic league, cup and European cup after Inter in 2009/10, the visitors were superb right from the off, and took a deserved lead 29 minutes in.

The build-up play was sublime in the extreme, with Dani Alves impressively backheeling to set up Higuain to open the scoring. That was the Argentina international’s first Champions League knockout round goal since April 2013.

Then, just before the hour mark the same pair combined to devastating effect to make it 2-0, with Higuain sliding the ball home after Alves had picked him out. Having never scored an away goal in the Champions League knockout stages before this first leg, Higuain now has two to his name.

Monaco have scored 146 goals in all competitions this season, but even they couldn’t find a way through this impenetrable Juventus side, who have not conceded a goal in Europe’s premier competition in more than 600 minutes. The tie is not over yet, but it will take an Herculean effort from the Principality club to secure a first Champions League final appearance since 2004.

Experience triumphs over youth. This Monaco side have won plenty of plaudits this season for their exhilarating football, but even goal machine Kylian Mbappe couldn’t find a way past the evergreen Gianluigi Buffon in the Juventus goal. The Old Lady’s back three had seen it all before, and marshalled the young hitman brilliantly. Even Cristiano Ronaldo might not be able to breach this most resolute rearguard.

Dani Alves. There were plenty of candidates for Juventus, but two wonderful assists from Alves earns him the award. The backheel for the first was sumptuous, while his cross from Higuain’s second was inch-perfect. Why on earth did Barcelona let him go?

Monaco: Subasic 6, Dirar 6, Glik 6, Jemerson 5, Sidibe 4, Fabinho 5, Bakayoko 5, Silva 5, Lemar 5, Falcao 4, Mbappe 6. Subs: Moutinho 6, Germain 6, Toure N/A.

Juventus: Buffon 8; Barzagli 7, Bonucci 8, Chiellini 7, Alex Sandro 7; Pjanic 8, Marchisio 7; Dani Alves 9, Dybala 8, Mandzukic 8; Higuain 8. Subs: Lemina N/A, Rincon 6, Cuadrado 6.

10’ - CHANCE! A sublime pass from Miralem Pjanic picks out Alves down the right, he volleys a cross in Gonzalo Higuain's direction, but the Juve hitman cannot quite connect with the header.

12’ – CHANCE! Chance of the game for the in-form Mbappe. Nabil Dirar picks up the clearance, finds Mbappe behind the last man, but he heads into Buffon's hands totally unmarked!

17’ - SAVE! He may be 40 in January, but he is still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Superb stop from Gianluigi Buffon to keep out Mbappe's goalbound effort. Great cross from Dirar again, Mbappe darted between defenders, flicked for goal, but Buffon was equal to it.

26’ - CHANCE! From a corner, Giorgio Chiellini flicks the ball on, Higuain watches it on to his right foot, but gets the volley all wrong, slicing back across the face of goal and it is cleared.

30’ - GOAL! Monaco 0-1 Juventus. Higuain with the finish, but the football was sublime from beginning to end. One of the best team goals you will see. Marchisio plays it into Dybala, who delightfully flicks the ball into path of Alves, who carries it into the box. The move looked set to break down as Alves couldn't get the ball out of his feet, but the Brazilian superbly backheeled the ball into Higuain, who drilled into the bottom corner for his fourth Champions League goal of the season.

47’ - CHANCE! Incredible start to the second half. Falcao really has to do better after being fed by Silva, but the Colombian's effort is tame, and Buffon is down smartly to save. A yard either side of the veteran stopper and surely we would be level here.

55’ - SAVE! Super stop from Subasic keeps this tie alive. Marchisio capitalised on a mistake from Sidibe before drilling an effort towards the bottom corner, but Subasic stuck out a leg to block. Fine reflex stop

59’ - GOAL! Monaco 0-2 Juventus. After having never scored a goal away from home in a Champions League knockout tie, Higuain now has two. Game over? Same combination team up to make it two. Dybala stole the ball off the sleeping Bakayoko before feeding Alves. The Brazilian full-back had plenty to do, but floated a perfect cross over the Monaco defence right into the path of Higuain, who slid the ball home first time

90' - SAVE! Buffon shows great reactions to tip Germain's header over the top. Great delivery from Moutinho again. Three minutes of added time here.

Juventus, alongside Real Madrid, are the only unbeaten teams in this season’s Champions League (W8 D3).

Juventus have kept six consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League for the first time.

Monaco have conceded 18 goals in the Champions League this season; more than any other team among the remaining semi-finalists.