Juventus got off to the perfect start in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Barcelona as the Italian champions beat the Blaugrana 3-0 at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on Tuesday evening.
Barcelona, who had overcome PSG 6-1 after trailing 4-0 in the first leg have a similar mountain to climb at home in a week’s time as they were over-run in the first quarter of the game.
The Spanish champions were pegged back by Dybala as early as the seventh minute as Gonzalo Higuian released Juan Cuadrado down the right and he pulled it back to the Argentine striker who curled it beyond Marc Andre-Ter Stegen to give his side the lead.
He doubled it a quarter of an hour later when Mario Mandzukic running toward the left channel cut it back for Dybala who unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the box, to which the German keeper got a hand but was unable to keep it out.
The home team went into the break, leading by two goals until Giorgio Chiellini made it three from a header. Miralem Pjanic’s corner was met by the Italian defender, who easily brushed off Javier Mascherano to direct his header onto the post and into the goal.
Luis Suarez had a golden chance to pull one back later on as Lionel Messi played the ball to the Uruguayan striker who missed with only Gianluigi Buffon to beat.
The game ended 3-0 to Juventus who will be looking to seal the tie next week at the Camp Nou.