ROME – After Barcelona overcame Bayern Munich on aggregate at the Allianz Arena to reserve their place in the UEFA Champions League Final, there remains but one place left for the showpiece event this season. A 2-1 victory for Juventus over Real Madrid in Italy, leaves the Bianconeri in a strong position, however it will require another impressive performance for the Old Lady to dethrone the defending champions at fortress Santiago Bernabeu.

 Earlier in the campaign, Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp described the task of beating an Italian team who do not need to score as “the hardest in football.” This will be the problem facing Real Madrid’s galacticos on Wednesday evening following their defeat in Turin last week. Ronaldo, Bale and James will have to be at their level best to open up the Bianconeri defence.

 Juventus’ defensive due of Barzagli and Chiellini have been excellent in the Champions League this season and saw out a vital 0-0 draw in Monaco to secure their team a safe passage to the semi-finals. The Old Lady hasn’t reached a Champions League final since 2003 and Chiellini said this factor hasn’t been lost on the players.

 "We can't wait for Wednesday evening to come. This is the most prestigious and important game I'll be playing in since I joined the club," he said. "I've been here for 10 years and 12 have gone past since we last reached a semi-final. We've never been as close as we are now.”

 However it would be too simplistic to say that Juventus hopes are based solely on defence. The Italian side underlined their counter-attacking prowess in beating Dortmund 3-0 away from home and will likely employ this tactic against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening. The pace and power of Tevez and Morata will be key and in Andrea Pirlo, Juventus have a midfield magician who can pick a pass through the tightest of spaces.

 Despite these factors, the 80,000 strong Bernabeu faithful will be expecting rather than hoping that their team turn this tie around. After an untimely exit in the Copa del Rey and a comparatively poor league campaign, the Champions League realistically represents Madrid’s final chance of silverware and is the competition that is most coveted by players, fans and presidents alike.

 With perennial rivals Barcelona already in the final, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti’s team talk will need no writing, but his players have to step up their performance levels against a dogged Juventus team. Gareth Bale was perhaps unfairly lambasted in the press following an ineffective first-leg display, but tonight is incredibly important for the future of the world’s most expensive player.

 Equally in Paul Pogba, Juventus have a player who is under a similar pressure but for very different reasons. Pogba has repeatedly been linked to a big money move to Manchester United, City or even Real Madrid in the past few months. After his goal scoring return to action in Serie A at the weekend following an injury layoff, he is almost certain to start in Madrid.

 For Juventus and their fans, it has been a long and trying road back from the devastating 2006 match-fixing scandal. However the Old Lady now finds herself just 90 minutes away from re-assuming her position at the pinnacle of European football.