08 December 2014
When the Champions League draw pitted Juventus and Atletico Madrid in the same group back in August 2014, it would be the first time the two have come to blows in Europe’s elite competition.
But over the years, the Bianconeri have faced Spanish opposition on many an occasion with Real Madrid the most frequent adversary.
Ahead of Tuesday evening’s gargantuan match-up in Turin, Juventus.com profiles six of the most memorable victories against those La Liga teams on Italian soil.
Juventus 2-0 Real Madrid, 20 March 1996
En route to the Bianconeri’s Champions League triumph back in 1996, they were drawn against a Real Madrid outfit managed by Arsenio Iglesias who were struggling in La Liga.
Los Blancos had initially won the quarter final first leg 1-0 two weeks earlier thanks to Raul’s first-half goal.
But Juventus – who were battling Milan for the Serie A title – cancelled out Real Madrid’s advantage after 17 minutes through Alessandro Del Piero’s sweetly-struck free-kick that gave Santiago Canizares no chance.
And nine minutes after the restart, the Old Lady went ahead on aggregate when Michele Padovano slotted home after being put clean through.
Juventus hung on for an historic win that ensured a semi-final match-up against Ligue 1 side Nantes before going on to book their place in the final with Ajax.
Juventus 4-2 Real Socieded, 21 October 2003
A rampant first-half display from the Serie A reigning champions saw Juventus run out 4-2 winners over Real Sociedad on a mild October evening in Turin.
The Old Lady immediately went ahead through David Trezeguet who beat the offside trap before rounding Sander Westerveld after only 360 seconds had elapsed.
Scorer then turned provider as the Frenchman curled a sublime pass to strike partner Marco Di Vaio, who turned inside his marker before lashing a shot into the far corner on seven minutes.
Di Vaio then bagged his second and Juventus’ third in first-half injury time when he rose highest to meet Gianluca Zambrotta’s cross to nod home.
The Bianconeri added a fourth when Pavel Nedved threaded a through ball that found Trezeguet who took one touch before slotting his effort under Westerveld.
Igor Tudor’s unfortunate own goal midway through the second half reduced the arrears before Javier De Pedro’s venomous free-kick ten minutes from time made it 4-2.
Juventus 3-2 Deportivo La Coruna, 12 March 2003
In what is known as a Champions League classic between football fans all over Europe, the Bianconeri edged 3-2 Deportivo La Coruna during a scintillating evening of action in Turin.
Twelve minutes had gone when Mauro Camoranesi swung in an inviting corner that was met by Ciro Ferrara whose bullet header flew into the top corner.
Moments later, a carbon copy from the duo almost presented Juventus with a 2-0 lead but Ferrara could only head the ball wide.
But the Spanish side equalised through Diego Tristan who finished off a flowing move when he tapped home Roy Makaay’s cross 11 minutes before the break.
The Dutchman then put Depor ahead when he turned away from three defenders before spectacularly curling past a motionless Gigi Buffon seven minutes after the restart.
Faced with a mountain to climb, the Bianconeri rallied almost immediately.
Edgar Davids drove forward before seeing his effort deflect somewhat fortuitously into the path of Trezeguet who took one touch before slotting the ball home.
And there was to be more joy from an unlikely hero in the dying embers of the game.
After Lilian Thuram’s cross had been headed into the air by the Deportivo rearguard, Igor Tudor watched the ball all the way before smashing a pinpoint volley into the bottom corner that left the goalkeeper with no chance.
Juventus 3-1 Real Madrid, 14 May 2003
During the semi-finals of the 2002/03 Champions League campaign, Juventus went into the second leg 2-1 down after Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos’ strikes either side of Trezeguet’s effort saw them defeated in Madrid eight days earlier.
And it was the Frenchman who struck first in Turin as Juventus began all guns blazing, turning home at the near post to bring the hosts level in the tie after 12 minutes.
Captain Alessandro Del Piero then sneaked an effort in past Iker Casillas that sent the Bianconeri players and faithful into delirium 120 seconds before the interval.
Real Madrid won a penalty midway through the second half, but Luis Figo’s weak spot-kick was pushed away by Buffon and then cleared before Los Blancos could turn the rebound home.
And it was three soon after when Pavel Nedved raced through before half volleying the ball past Casillas as Juventus put one foot in the final.
Former Bianconeri fan favourite Zinedine Zidane pulled one back at the death but it was a case of too little, too late as the Old Lady marched into the final 4-3 on aggregate where they were ultimately beaten on penalties by Milan.
Juventus 2-0 Real Madrid, 9 March 2005
Fabio Capello’s troops went into their last 16 second leg tie 1-0 down after Ivan Helguera’s solitary strike had snatched victory for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In a closely-contested encounter at the Stadio delle Alpi, a pivotal stop from Buffon to keep Ronaldo out allowed the Bianconeri to stay in the fixture.
After Zlatan Ibrahimovic had beavered away to keep the ball alive from a Camoranesi cross, substitute Trezeguet’s overhead kick 15 minutes from time cancelled out Los Blancos’ advantage.
But the action didn’t stop there: Buffon had to have a strong wrist to prevent a trademark Roberto Carlos free-kick from going in as the game went into extra-time.
Marcelo Zalayeta then went close but his scorching effort ended millimetres wide of the upright before both sides were reduced to 10 men when Alessio Tacchinardi and Ronaldo were given their marching orders.
But the Bianconeri faithful would be able to go out and paint the town black and white when Zalayeta nabbed the winner by firing past Casillas from the edge of the area with four minutes of extra-time remaining
Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid, 21 October 2008
Back in Europe’s elite competition after a two-year hiatus, Juventus were drawn alongside nine-time winners Real Madrid for the eighth occasion.
And the Bianconeri shocked their Spanish counterparts when Del Piero curled an exquisite effort into the top corner that left Casillas rooted to the spot after only five minutes.
Chances came and went for either side before Amauri headed in Nedved’s cross via the aid of a deflection four minutes after the restart to double Juventus’ advantage.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s header made it 2-1 at the midway point of the second half but Claudio Ranieri’s men were able to see out a excellent victory on home soil that gave them the momentum required to go on and win the group.
