ROME - Arturo Vidal’s second half spot kick was enough to ensure that Juventus travel to Monaco in a week’s time with a slim 1-0 lead. Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim was unhappy with the penalty, claiming it was an “injustice.”

 Despite predictions before the game, which suggested that Juventus would enjoy the lion’s share of possession, it was in fact their opponents who got off to a faster start. Monaco’s mercurial Belgian, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco spurned a fabulous chance to open the scoring within the opening 10 minutes, after being slipped through by Antoine Martial.

 However, as the first half wore on, much to the satisfaction of the home supporters, Juventus began to grow into the tie. Andrea Pirlo, back in the side after a seven-week injury layoff, provided a calming influence in central midfield and very nearly slipped Alvaro Morata through, but the Spaniard was adjudged to be offside.

 It would be a very similar passage of play which led to the breakthrough on 57 minutes as Pirlo play a lofted through ball to Morata, who was brought down by the former Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho. Replays of the incident suggested that the initial contact was just outside the box but as the last man, Carvalho was fortunate to receive only a yellow card from the referee.

 Arturo Vidal, who is reportedly a target for Manchester United amongst others, stepped up to fire home the resulting penalty and his first goal in three months has left Juventus dreaming of a first quarter-final since 2003.  Nevertheless, Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri acknowledged that the return leg in Monaco would be far from easy.

 It’s a good result, said Allegri to Sky Sport Italia. “We now have a small advantage but the return leg will not be easy. It was a good game, and a well deserved result. Monaco have the best defence in the Champions League and the French championship, so it is difficult to score against them.

 In stark contrast to the Juventus manager, Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim was left annoyed by the result, in particular the referee’s decision to award a penalty.

 “The result is a great injustice and the penalty should not have been given,” he said during a post-match interview. "It's going to be completely different in Monaco - we will give a different impression in our home game.”