Bayern beat Juve to book semi-final spot

TURIN, Italy: Second half goals from Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro sealed Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final place
with a classy 2-0 win over Juventus on Wednesday.

Juve were sorely exposed by the newly-crowned German champions in a 2-0
defeat in last week's first leg of their quarter-final clash.

However, Antonio Conte's side put up a better performance on Wednesday
before hope faded when Mandzukic headed past Gianluigi Buffon in the 64th minute after the 'keeper had saved from Javier Martinez.

Pizarro then capitalised on some sloppy defending to beat Buffon two
minutes into injury-time to leave the Italian giants with a 4-0 aggregate defeat.

Juve, unbeaten at home in the competition since a 4-1 rout by Bayern in 2009, pressed hard for an early goal but the Serie A champions ultimately came up short where it mattered.

Striker Mirko Vucinic, absent from the first leg, started alongside Fabio Quagliarella due to Sebastian Giovinco's recent knee injury and spurned a chance after just two minutes when his shot from the edge of the area lacked power.

Claudio Marchisio then shot over from Andrea Pirlo's delicate chip, while at the other end Mandzukic caused a scare when he connected with Franck Ribery's low cross as centre-back Leonardo Bonucci rallied to clear the danger.

Juve's best chance of the half came inside 20 minutes when Marchisio was fouled on the edge of the area. Pirlo's free kick was on target but Manuel Neuer pulled off a great two-handed save.

Juve were enjoying possession and momentum but just before the half hour there were no takers as Paul Pogba sent a tempting offering across the Bayern goalmouth.(AFP)