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In shutting out the Ligue 1 leaders at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday, Juve made it five European clean sheets in a row

GONZALO HIGUAIN scored twice against Monaco on Wednesday night as Juventus put one foot in the Champions League final.

Away from home, the Argentinian netted two goals at the Stade Louis II to almost certainly set-up a heavyweight showdown with Real Madrid in Cardiff.

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However, in shutting out Monaco, Juventus became only the fourth team in Champions League history to keep five consecutive, knockout stage clean sheets in a season.

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The 2004-05 AC Milan team who were stunned by Liverpool in the final that year in what became known as the Miracle of Istanbul managed the feat.

Their back four that season boasted one of the greatest of all time, with Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alesssandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini in the starting XI with Dida in goal.

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The only other team prior to Juve to accomplish the feat was the Arsenal side of 2005-06 - who reached the final, only to be beaten 2-1 by Barcelona.

The Gunners' back four that season was often the fearsome quartet of Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, with Jens Lehmann between the sticks.

In fact, that Arsenal XI managed to go SIX knockout games without conceding - with Juventus hoping to equal that feat in the second leg at home to Monaco.

May 3 - Monaco (A) - 2-0 Apr 19 - Barcelona (A) - 0-0 Apr 11 - Barcelona (H) - 3-0 Mar 14 - Porto (H) - 1-0 Feb 22 - Porto (A) - 2-0

AP:Associated Press

The only other team to go five games were Manchester United in 2007-08 - when they beat Chelsea in the final on penalties.

The talented back-line that season saw Edwin van der Sar in goal, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic joined by Patrice Evra and Wes Brown.

All in all, the Turin outfit have kept six clean sheets in a row in the tournament, if you include their final group stage game against Dinamo Zagreb - winning that one 2-0.

AC Milan - 2004-05 Arsenal - 2005-06 Man United - 2007-08 Juventus - 2016-17

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In fact, the last time Juventus conceded in the competition was all the way back on November 22, 2016 - when they beat Sevilla 3-1 away.

Incredibly, Massimiliano Allegri's men have shipped just TWO goals all tournament.

The defensive line consists ofDani Alves, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli Giorgio Chiellini and Alex Sandro - with the ever-brilliant Gianluigi Buffon in goal.

The only question remaining now is, can Juventus match Arsenal's incredible record... or even beat it?

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Juventus just one Champions League knockout game away from equalling a record set by Arsenal after 2-0 win over ... - The Sun