Juventus: Alvaro Morata says winner at Real Madrid 'bittersweet'
- Published
Alvaro Morata scored 10 league goals for Real Madrid before joining Juventus last summer.
Juventus striker Alvaro Morata called the goal which knocked former club Real Madrid out of the Champions League "bittersweet".
Morata, who left Real last summer, scored in both legs of the semi-final as Juventus reached the final with a 1-1 draw - and 3-2 aggregate win.
"I didn't celebrate the goal. I was never going to," the 22-year-old said.
"It was a bittersweet and strange sensation for me. I wish I had scored against another team."
In Wednesday's semi-final second leg, Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half penalty put Real ahead on away goals before Morata scored the decisive goal when Iker Casillas failed to keep out his left-footed strike from close range.
The Old Lady's run to the final |
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Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is the fifth Italian to manage a team to the Champions League final. |
He joins Fabio Capello (AC Milan 1994), Marcello Lippi (Juventus 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003), Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan 2003, 2005, 2007, Real Madrid 2014) and Roberto Di Matteo (Chelsea 2012). |
Four of Juventus's last six goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League have been scored by Spanish players (Fernando Llorente x2, Alvaro Morata x2). |
Juventus will face Barcelona in the final in Berlin on 6 June.
Madrid-born Morata scored 10 league goals for Real after coming through the youth ranks, but failed to hold down a first-team place before joining Juve for £15.8m at the end of last season.
He is the top-scoring Spaniard in this season's Champions League with four goals and has netted seven times in Juve's Serie A-winning campaign.
He said: "These two games against Real have been difficult for me. I want to thank the Madrid fans.
"My former team-mates want us to win and they wished me the best. Just like in Turin, it was hard for me at times but I had to focus my head quickly."
Alvaro Morata scored the decisive goal in the tie when Iker Casillas failed to hold his left-footed strike
Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri, who took took charge last summer after being sacked by AC Milan, is on course to win a league, cup and Champions League treble in his first season.
Juventus face Lazio in the Coppa Italia final, which is scheduled to be played on 7 June - 24 hours after the Champions League final - but will now be rescheduled.
Allegri, 47, said: "I'm starting to realise just what a tremendous season we're having - perhaps beyond what anyone ever expected.
"Morata is becoming a very important player; he has grown physically.
"He is a young lad who grew up at Madrid with many champions by his side."
Alvaro Morata was jeered by large sections of the Bernabeu when he was replaced in the 84th minute
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