4 reasons why Juventus eliminated Atletico Madrid | Champions League 2018-19

#3 Allegri's tactical masterpiece

Allegri outwitted Simeone

Atletico Madrid have earned a reputation of being one of the grittiest teams in all of Europe, sticking to their guns and maintaining their shape, while also being incredibly difficult to break down.

It is hard enough to play Atletico Madrid on any other day, much less one where they have a 2-0 lead to protect, hence getting them to give anything in this clash was always going to be a tall order.

However, Max Allegri deserves immense praise for drawing up a tactical plan to outwit Diego Simeone, while his players also deserve credit for sticking to it.

Despite Juve's need for goals, Allegri controversially left Paulo Dybala on the bench, sacrificing the Argentine's creativity for the industry of Emre Can, with his midfield trio of Pjanic, Matuidi and Can working tirelessly in the middle of the park to stifle the channel linking midfield with attack.

This meant that the Atleti forwards were largely deprived of services, thereby reducing them to speculative shots from distance (which Sczenzny had covered all through the night).

Upfront, the constant running of Mandzukic and Bernadeschi kept the Atletico Madrid defense on their toes all through, limiting their forays forward and giving Ronaldo the opportunity to put them to the sword.

The 51-year-old's decision to also give youth a chance proved effective, as the debuting Spinnazola proved a constant thorn in Santiago Arias's flesh, with his opposite partner Joao Cancelo doing the same; while marauding Federico Bernardeshi was full of running throughout and it was off him that the match winning penalty was won as well as creating the assist for the opening goal.