15 September 2014
With Tuesday evening’s match against Malmo signalling the start of the Old Lady’s 2014/15 Champions League involvement, Juventus.com delved into the archives to bring you five of the best opening day victories in Europe’s elite competition from years gone by.
Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Juventus (1995/96)
Wednesday 13 September 1995
Dortmund – Westfalenstadion
In a season where the Bianconeri would establish themselves as the champions of Europe’s premier contest, Marcello Lippi’s side began their campaign in earnest with a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund at Westfalenstadion.
The hosts kicked things off in style thanks to ex-Juventus midfielder Andreas Moller‘s rasping drive after 60 seconds. However, a bullet header from Michele Padovano levelled proceedings on 12 minutes before Alessandro Del Piero’s perfectly placed curler meant that the Bianconeri went into the half-time interval in front.
Juventus captain Antonio Conte settled the encounter midway through the second-half when his diving header from Del Piero’s pinpoint cross found the bottom-left corner of the net.
Juventus 1-0 Manchester United (1996/97)
Wednesday 11 September 1996
Turin – Stadio Delle Alpi
Holders Juventus were handed a tough task as they faced Premier League champions Manchester United in Turin on Matchday 1.
The only goal of the game came from a Red Devils throw-in which saw the Bianconeri clear their lines and the ball ultimately arrive at the feet of Alen Boksic. The Croatian side-stepped Nicky Butt before lifting his shot over the onrushing Peter Schmeichel for an exquisite finish.
Juventus 5-1 Feyenoord (1997/98)
Wednesday 17 September 1997
Turin – Stadio Delle Alpi
Marcello Lippi’s beaten finalists expelled memories of the previous year’s loss against Borussia Dortmund with a 5-1 win over Dutch outfit Feyenoord.
Alessandro Del Piero’s scooped tap-in gave the Bianconeri the lead after 180 seconds. He added a second from the penalty spot 11 minutes later after Zinedine Zidane was felled in the opposition area. Filippo Inzaghi ensured that Lippi’s men went into the half-time break with a commanding lead when he turned in from close range.
Feyenoord were handed a lifeline when Angelo Di Livio was sent off after being adjudged to have handled on the line, with Jean-Paul Van Gastel dispatching the subsequent spot-kick emphatically on 57 minutes.
But it was to be the Bianconeri who would go further in front when Zidane got in on the act ten minutes later. Alessio Tacchinardi’s through-ball found the Frenchman who delicately dinked over Jerzy Dudek to make it 4-1.
Alessandro Birindelli completed the scoring nine minutes from time when his dipping free-kick bounced off Dudek’s gloves and into the net. The resolute performance was a sign of things to come as the Bianconeri once again finished runners-up in Europe’s elite competition.
Juventus 3-2 Celtic (2001/02)
Tuesday 18 September 2001
Turin – Stadio Delle Alpi
The Bianconeri began their 2001/02 Champions League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over Scottish side Celtic.
David Trezeguet’s brace either side of half-time saw Juventus gallop into a two-goal lead before a a strike from Stilian Petrov and a late penalty from Henrik Larsson looked to have sealed a point for the Glasgow-based club.
But Lippi’s side would emerge victorious as Nicola Amoruso was fouled in the area by Joos Valgaeren in stoppage time. The midfielder picked himself up to score the winning spot-kick and send the Stadio Delle Alpi crowd into delirium.
Ajax 0-1 Juventus (2004/05)
Wednesday 15 September 2004
Amsterdam – Amsterdam ArenA
A moment of magic from Pavel Nedved saw Juventus come away from Amsterdam with all three points on Matchday 1 of the 2004/05 Champions League campaign.
The Dutch side made inroads early on and hit Gigi Buffon’s upright within the first two minutes but the Bianconeri took their best chance of the first-half to edge ahead.
After Mauro Camoranesi saw his initial shot blocked, the Argentine fed the onrushing Nedved who chipped Maarten Stekelenburg after 42 minutes to settle a tense encounter.
