Vidal penalty lifts Juve; Atletico and Real draw blank

Juventus’ midfielder from Chile Arturo Vidal (left) celebrates after scoring a penalty during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against AS Monaco.

DPA/Berlin Juventus edged Monaco 1-0 thanks to an Arturo Vidal penalty while Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid finished goalless Tuesday in the first two Champions League quarter-final first-leg matches. Champions League holders Real drew a blank at Vicente Calderon stadium in a hard-fought meeting of the two sides who met in last season’s final won 4-1 by Real in extra-time. Real created the clear chances in a strong first half but Atletico fought their way back in an increasingly ill-tempered affair after the break. Diego Simeone’s side are now seven games unbeaten against Real this season, with the tie evenly balanced going into the second leg next Wednesday at Santiago Bernabeu stadium. “It is not so good a result,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We played really well first half and should score but we are happy for the performance. We have to try and repeat our first-half performance in our stadium.” In Turin, Vidal broke the deadlock when he scored from the spot in the 57th minute after a disputed penalty. Monaco central defender Ricardo Carvalho clipped Alvaro Morato’s heels when the two went for a lofted pass from Andrea Pirlo, and Vidal put the ball into the top right-hand corner from the spot. The Madrid derby saw Real make all the running in the first half when Atletico could thank Slovenian keeper Jan Oblak for keeping his side goalless going into the break. Oblak thwarted Gareth Bale as early as the third minute when the Wales striker was through. He again saved a dipping shot from Bale and twice parried efforts from James Rodriguez while Modric poked a shot over the bar. It took Atletico 37 minutes for a first chance when following a poor clearance by Sergio Ramos, Antoine Griezmann’s shot on the turn from the edge of the area was easily saved by Iker Casillas in goal. Arda Turan headed Juanfran’s cross from the right wide as the home side signalled their intent after the break. Tempers began to boil over and Atletico striker Mario Mandzukic flirted with dismissal after needing treatment on a bloodied face following an aerial duel with Ramos. Mandzukic complained he had been elbowed and was no sooner back on the pitch than he was shown a yellow card for raising an arm on Raphael Varane. He then tussled with Dani Carvajal, who appeared to throw a punch at the Croatia striker in the penalty area, unseen by the referee or officials behind the line, and in another challenge Mandjukic caught Carvajal in the face with his arm, to the anger of Real players. Atletico finished strongly, with Casillas keeping out an effort from Mario Suarez and Mandzukic seeing a shot blocked by Alvaro Arbeloa amid appeals for handball. “It is not the result that we want but last year we went to Stamford Bridge after the same result and won,” Suarez said. “We will go to Real and try to win. We know each other very well, defensively we were very good but offensively we needed more. Both sides had chances to win. Jan Oblak had an amazing game.” In Turin, Monaco started confidently against Juventus and Gianluigi Buffon in the Serie A champions’ goal twice had to get down to shots from Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco. Carlos Tevez side-footed straight at keeper Danijel Subasic from a good position and Vidal fired well over the bar with the goal beckoning as Juve began to create opportunities. Vidal however broke the deadlock when he scored from the spot after a disputed penalty when Monaco central defender Ricardo Carvalho clipped Alvaro Morato’s heels when the two went for a lofted pass from Andrea Pirlo. The contact may have accidental and also just outside the area, however Morato was undeniably denied a chance and Carvalho was shown a yellow card before Vidal struck the ball into the top corner from the spot. All to play for in the second leg then.