A brace by Paulo Dybala inspired Juventus to a 3-0 victory over Barcelona in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The home side got off to a bright start and nearly took the lead three minutes in when Gonzalo Higuain was left unmarked in the centre of the box before latching on to the end of a free-kick, but the striker headed his effort straight at Ter Stegen.

However, the home side were ahead four minutes later when Juan Cuadrado dazzled his way into the area before laying the ball off to Dybala, who cleverly opened up before bending the ball into the far post to make it 1-0.

Barca came close to equalising in the 21st minute when Lionel Messi sent a stunning through-ball to Andres Iniesta, who timed his run to perfection, but goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon produced a brilliant save to keep his side at bay.

Juve immediately responded and doubled their lead a minute later when Mario Mandzukic pulled the ball back to Dybala, who hit a first-time effort into the bottom corner to double his side’s advantage.

The Bianconeri came close to extending their lead a minute before the half-time interval when Alex Sandro did well to pick out Gonzalo Higuain, who powered an effort at goal, but Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was on hand to parry the ball away.

Barca came out with more of an attacking intent in the second-half and almost pulled a goal back, but Lionel Messi’s his curling effort went inches wide of the post.

Juve should’ve extended their lead in the 54th minute when Higuain beat the off-side trap and found himself through on goal, but his first touch took the pace out of the move, with his eventual effort shot being stopped by Ter Stegen.

The Italian side did took the lead a minute later when Giorgio Chiellini rose highest to power his headed effort in off the far post following a Miralem Pjanic corner to make it 3-0.

The visitors almost pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when Luiz Suarez was played through on-goal for his first chance of the match, but Buffon got the slightest of touches on his effort to steer it beyond the far post.

Barcelona pressed forward in search of an away-goal in the closing stages of the match, but struggled to carve out any clear-cut opportunities in the final third.

Juventus maintained the three-goal lead to head into their all-important second leg at the Nou Camp, which will take place on April, 19th.

Image: Uefa website