Dybala shines as juve ease pass barça in champions league quarter finals first leg

Giorgio Chiellini also found the net for the Old Lady as Barca suffered another first-leg humiliation

Paulo Dybala's brilliant brace helped Juventus thrash Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, with Giorgio Chiellini adding a third.

The Argentine forward hit two early goals to rock the Catalans and bring memories of their 4-0 defeat by PSG in the last 16 flooding back.

Juventus started as they meant to go on and Gonzalo Higuain saw a header kept out by Marc-Andre ter Stegen beforeDybala opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

Juan Cuadrado crossed to him from the right and he spun masterfully in the box before bending the ball home.

The forward was at it again in the 22nd minute, curling home from the edge of the box to stun the visitors.

At the other end Lionel Messi had a goal ruled out correctly due to Luis Suarez being offside in the build up and Iniesta forced a stunning save from Gianluigi Buffon when played in by Messi.

Juventus extended their lead to three goals in the 55th minute when Chiellini outjumped Javier Mascherano to power home a header.

   Here are five things we learned from the game.

1. Dybala announces himself on world stage

Getty

Paulo Dybala of Juventus FC scores his second goal

Within Italy there has been a lot of buzz about Paulo Dybala, who has been making waves with Juventus.

Anyone who has bothered to check in on the Serie A star will have seen a world class player in the making. This was the night he stepped up to show he’s now, undoubtedly, at that level.

His two strikes in the first 22 minutes took him to four goals in seven Champions League matches.

The first saw him turn on a sixpence and whip the ball beyond Ter Stegen, taking the German by surprise.

AFP
      The second was just as neat a finish, a snap-shot from the left of the box catching out his adversary at his near post.

If they didn’t before, now the world knows about the 23-year-old hitman.

When compared to Argentine compatriot Messi, he said: “I am Dybala and I only want to be Dybala.” Here he showed why.

2. Busquets' importance highlighted

REUTERS
     Although this has not been Sergio Busquets’ best season, his huge important to the Barcelona team was highlighted here.

The defensive midfielder was suspended for the game and Javier Mascherano filled in for him as the pivote.

However, even though it’s the Argentine’s natural position, he can’t play it in the style of Busquets, with Barcelona lacking control in the game—Mascherano can’t build play like the man he replaced does so masterfully.

Barcelona found it hard to build and missed Busquets’ positioning, particularly when it came to closing Juventus down.

3. Holes in 3-4-3 exposed

AFP

Juventus' Paulo Dybala celebrates

Since the 4-0 defeat by PSG, Barcelona have largely used a 3-4-3 formation.

It has worked largely in La Liga, where the team’s superior quality has helped them overload opponents, often outscoring them like in the 4-2 win against Valencia.

However on this occasion, up against the strongest team they have faced this season, it was exposed.

REUTERS

Juventus' Paulo Dybala celebrates scoring their first goal

Both of Juventus’s first half goals came from the flanks, exploiting the lack of full-backs, with Mathieu and Pique flat-footed in the middle.

Neymar started tracking back more but one of Barcelona’s best attacking players being made to do that was counter-productive for Luis Enrique’s side.

     

4. Echoes of Pep continue

AFP

Barcelona's coach Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique's final season as Barcelona manager continues to have echoes of Pep Guardiola's last campaign with the club in 2012.

The current Man City coach left the club because he was exhausted and that is the same reason the Asturian cites for leaving, but the comparisons don't end there.

AFP

Luis Suarez reacts

Pep was only able to lead the team to the Copa del Rey that year and it looks increasingly like that will be the same haul that Luis Enrique's team will make this year

They are on the verge of Champions League elimination while defeat by Malaga has virtually thrown their chances of winning the Spanish league title down the drain. They are in the Copa del Rey final against Alaves, though...

5. The Old Lady will not be for turning

REUTERS

Juventus' Paulo Dybala celebrates scoring their first goal

In the previous round Barcelona recorded the biggest Champions League comeback in history, turning around their 4-0 first leg defeat to progress 6-5 on aggregate against PSG.

So the obvious thing to say would be that this isn't over. But Juventus are a better team than PSG. And they can defend brilliantly. It is hard to see even players as talented as the MSN taking Massimiliano Allegri's defence apart at Camp Nou.

Juventus can also learn from PSG's mistakes, with Unai Emery's side abandoning their usual gameplan and paying a high price. The Old Lady will surely not follow the same tack.

REUTERS