Evra delighted with ´ugly´ Juve win

Patrice Evra praised Juventus for an "ugly" display as they ground out a 0-0 draw with Monaco to seal their place in the final four of the UEFA Champions League.

Arturo Vidal's first-leg penalty was enough to take the Serie A champions into the semi-finals, although they suffered a few scares at the Stade Louis II.

Massimiliano Allegri's defence remained resolute to keep a clean sheet and progress, with Evra making no apologies for the style of their performance against his former club.

"We must give a nod to Monaco, who deserved more tonight. But from our point of view, we never really doubted ourselves," he told beIN Sports.

"We played 'Italian' - it's solid, it's ugly, but it happens.

"I am happy and at the same time a little sad for Monaco. It was strange to return to Louis II, where I spent many happy years."

Gianluigi Buffon was required most urgently to save from Geoffrey Kondogbia, and also mopped up a loose ball with Dimitar Berbatov set to break on goal.

With Juve back in the competition's semi-finals for the first time since 2003, the veteran goalkeeper told Sport Mediaset: "I thought I'd have to wait less when I was at this stage 12 years ago.

"Of course, we know that we haven't achieved anything yet. We wanted to get through to the next round at all costs.

"We knew it was a great opportunity and after 12 years we wanted to honour the history of Juve."

Monaco 0-0 Juventus: Goalless draw sends Italian giant into semi-finals for first time since 2003

Juventus turned in a resolute display in Monaco to seal the result they needed and reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 12 seasons.

The Bianconeri travelled to Stade Louis II with a 1-0 lead in their back pocket, knowing that a goalless draw would hand them a last four spot - and that is exactly the result they emerged with.

Monaco put the Serie A champions under serious pressure but Massimiliano Allegri's side refused to crumble as they became the first Italian club in five seasons to reach the competition's semi-finals.

Arsenal's tormentor in chief Geoffrey Kondogbia looked the most likely player to unlock Juventus' defence throughout but it was Bernardo Silva who crafted the best opportunity of the first-half.

Andrea Barzagli almost turned into his own net when Monaco midfielder Silva steamed down the right and fired a cross at the Italian's leg.

Juve legend Gianluigi Buffon could only look on as the ball sailed inches wide of his near post.

Just minutes later Frenchman Kondogbia had a good appeal for a penalty when he was clattered into in the box by a combination of Arturo Vidal and Giorgio Chiellini.

There was undoubtedly contact between the trio and, on another day, the referee might well have awarded a penalty to Leonardo Jardim's side.

After withstanding Monaco's intense first-half pressure Juventus upped their game as the match entered the closing stages and saw the game out comfortably.

Real Madrid joined Juventus in booking their last four spot after Javier Hernandez netted a late winner at the Bernabeu to eliminate Atletico Madrid 1-0 on aggregate.

The draw for the semi-finals will take place in Nyon, Switzerland on 24 April.

Vidal fit for Monaco clash - Allegri

Juventus' first-leg match-winner Arturo Vidal has been passed fit for his side's return UEFA Champions League last-eight fixture at Monaco on Wednesday.

The Chile midfielder, who netted from the penalty spot to give Juve a 1-0 win in Turin last week, had been a doubt for their trip to France due to a bout of tonsillitis that forced him to miss training on Monday.

However, coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed in his pre-match media briefing that Vidal is available for selection.

"Arturo is better - he trained with the team [on Tuesday]," said Allegri.

The former Milan boss went on to say that he expects another tight, tense encounter at Stade Louis II following an evenly matched affair last week.

"Monaco are a team that defend well and are physically very strong, so it will be a difficult game, just like the first leg," Allegri added.

"It could come down to the finer details. We are in the quarter-finals, we have a chance of going through, and whether we do or not depends on ourselves.

"We are not that far into the competition yet - we can go even further. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

"My team has great quality, good character. We have the ability to progress and we will need to be brave and focused."

Fiorentina deserved to win - Allegri

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said his team deserved to lose as Mohamed Salah's double handed Fiorentina the advantage in the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Thursday.

Salah - on loan from Premier League outfit Chelsea - scored twice to help Fiorentina to a 2-1 victory over Juventus in the opening leg of their tie at Juventus Stadium.

The Egypt international produced another scintillating performance on the road as he took his tally to five goals in four games, having opened the scoring in the 11th minute via a stunning solo effort that saw him collect the ball in his own half and shake off three defenders before firing into the roof of the net.

Fernando Llorente equalised 13 minutes later, only for Salah to restore Fiorentina's lead 11 minutes into the second half.

Allegri conceded the better team won on Thursday but the Italian boss has not given up hope of upstaging Fiorentina in the return leg on April 7.

"Both teams played well in the first half, even though we conceded by allowing a guy to run 70 metres with the ball," Allegri told reporters.

"We should have been more alert. After the difficult 10 minutes we endured at the start of the second half, we started playing again, but Fiorentina were smarter than us and deserved to win.

"We've got the return leg and we'll give it a good go to reach the final, knowing it won't be an easy task. Fiorentina are a fine team in a rich vein of form."

Allegri added: "This result needs to make us sit up and take notice ahead of our next games in Serie A, which still isn't over.

"Now we'll prepare for an important and difficult encounter on Monday against Sassuolo."