text: When Andriy Shevchenko netted the winning penalty to condemn Juventus to defeat in the 2003 Champions League final, they surely would not have envisaged it would take them this long to get back to Europe's top table. That penalty shootout followed a 0-0 draw which saw AC Milan crowned European champions in the first all-Italian final. Now, after a long journey, Juve are back among the continent's elite. Another goalless draw, this time against Monaco on Wednesday night, was more successful for Turin's Old Lady as they reached the Champions League semi-finals with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona on the horizon. Gianluigi Buffon was celebrated reaching the Champions League semi-finals, 12 years after final heartbreak . Juventus' players salute their supporters after the final whistle in Monaco having made it to the last four . Juve have endured a tough few years but they are now back were they belong among the elite of Europe . The 12-year gap between now and that night at Old Trafford has been one of twists and turns: relegations, promotions, league titles, stripped league titles and European failure at the hands of relative minnows like Fulham and Bordeaux. Captain Gianluigi Buffon said on Wednesday: 'I thought I'd have to wait less when I was at this stage 12 years ago, but seeing the journey was very difficult, we can enjoy this result even more. 'We knew it was a great opportunity and after 12 years we wanted to honour the history of Juve.' Even this season, Bianconeri supporters thought they were as good as out of this tournament as early as late October. A shock defeat by Olympiacos in Athens had them on the brink of exit before they scrambled to a runner-up spot in Group A behind Atletico Madrid. Then Borussia Dortmund gave them a mighty scare in the last-16 before the narrow win over Monaco. Andriy Shevchenko sent Buffon the wrong way with the winning penalty in the Old Trafford final on 2003 . The Juventus players, including Alessandro Del Piero (centre) reflect on their defeat in the showpiece final . Back in 2010, Juventus were downed by Fulham in the Europa League, a side now in the Championship . Pajtim Kasami celebrates after leaving Juve on the brink of exit back in October, but they made it through . Looking back, their group-stage progression is not too dissimilar to the club's fortunes over the last decade. After finishing third in Serie A the season after the 2003 final, Juventus came back to win the league twice in a row - only to be stripped of them both amid Italy's match-fixing scandal that sent them into the second division. On promotion, they took four further years to reach the summit of Italy's top tier once again but piece-by-piece, the nation's most successful side has rebuilt. That hasn't come easy, particularly with their domestic division being overtaken by England's Barclays Premier League, Spain's La Liga and the German Bundesliga. Talent is hard to tempt to Italy - as shown by the failings of AC Milan, Inter Milan, Lazio and Roma. And when the talent does come, it is usually picked off by the big boys from abroad. The Italian champions were relegated to Serie B amid Italy's matchfixing scandal but soon rose back up . Juventus celebrate their second consecutive Serie A title last season, and they are on track for a fourth now . But not at Juventus. The side celebrating on the Stade Louis II pitch on Wednesday night included household names such as Buffon, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal, while Paul Pogba - the most sought-after talent in Europe - is on his way back from injury. He could even be ready for the semi-finals, something any opponent would dread. They haven't conceded in their last three Champions League games - a hallmark of any great Italian side - and their comfortable domestic lead gives them all the time in the world to prepare for their final two or three matches in the competition. Buffon and Carlos Tevez hug on the pitch of the Stade Louis II, and they both have a point to prove . Arturo Vidal is one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe but he has stuck with Juve until now . Paul Pogba could be back in time for their semi-final next month and will likely be a key player in any clash . Barca, Real and Bayern should beware: the oldest team left in it have a point to prove, and for some this could be their last shot at European glory. Tevez has been linked with a return to South America after nine years in Europe. Andrea Pirlo, Patrice Evra and Buffon are not far from the end of their careers, either. Combine that with the midfield prowess of Pogba and Claudio Marchisio, and the solid defence provided by Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci and they just might do it. Juve will be the team that everyone wants to draw but nobody will enjoy playing against. Roberto Pereyra, Andrea Pirlo, Tevez and  Fernando Llorente celebrate reaching Europe's final four . Pirlo, aged 35, might be facing his best chance of one last European title with the Bianconeri this season . Vidal had it about right after Wednesday's game when he said: 'I am not afraid of anyone. 'I think all four teams in the semi-finals have their qualities and on Friday we'll see who we face, but right now I think we're on a par with all of them. We play with our heads now and are a mature team, I'd say.' The European giants wearing the famous black and white stripes might finally have awoken.
target: Juventus reached semi-finals of the Champions League by beating Monaco .
  They could face Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Real Madrid next month .
  But the Italian giants will not fear anyone and could cause an upset .
  Juve have endured 12 years of struggles since reaching final in 2003 .
  But they now boast stars such as Paul Pogba and Carlos Tevez .
  Gianluigi Buffon and Arturo Vidal both say they can go on in competition .