2 July 2008

Juve’s only precedent in preliminaries back in 2004

When there's talk of Champions League preliminary rounds, the Bianconeri fans immediately think back to four years ago. The year was 2004 and Juventus were forced to pre-qualify for the main event for the first time.

Indeed the side managed by Lippi had ended the 2003/04 League campaign in third place; then Juve, now managed by Capello, were drawn against Swedish champions Djurgardens for a clash that only looked easy on paper.

In fact the Scandinavian team were in top form in August, as their own League is in full swing in the summer. On the other hand, the Bianconeri were still missing some key players (as Cannavaro and Ibrahimovic would only be signed on the last day of the transfer market) and forced to work “in instalments”, with the internationals coming back later from Euro 2004 and without Nedved, injured at the time.

In the first leg, at the Delle Alpi, Djurgardens stunned everybody by going 2-0 up before Trezeguet and new signing Emerson managed to set the final score at 2-2. But in any case, in the return match Juventus, who were almost at full ranks by then and fitter, took no prisoners, winning 4-1 in Stockholm thanks to two Trezeguet goals and others by Del Piero and Nedved.

Here are the match details of the two games

2004/05 Champions League
Third preliminary round – first leg
Turin, Delle Alpi Stadium
Tuesday August 11th 2004

JUVENTUS-DJURGARDENS 2-2 (0-1)
GOALS: Johansson (pen) 45 mins, Hysen 49 mins,
Trezeguet 50 mins, Emerson 59 mins.
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Thuram (Birindelli 82 mins), Legrottaglie, Montero, Zambrotta; Blasi, Emerson, Tacchinardi (Olivera 52 mins); Del Piero (Zalayeta 79 mins); Miccoli, Trezeguet. Subs not used: Chimenti, Ferrara, Tudor, Pessotto. Manager: Capello.
DJURGARDENS: Tourray; Concha, Kuivasto, Karlsson, Storm; Barson (Dovicovic 68 mins), Arneng, Johanneson, Johanson, Stenman (Bapupa 82 mins); Hysen (Larsen 91 mins). Subs not used: Wahlstrom, Backman, Makondele, Amoah. Manager: Jonevret.
REFEREE: Fandel (Germany).
YELLOW CARDS: Blasi and Miccoli. 

2004/05 Champions League
Third preliminary round – second leg
Stockholm, Rasunda Stadium
Wednesday August 25th 2004

DJURGARDENS-JUVENTUS 1-4 (1-2)
GOALS: Del Piero 10 mins, Arneng 17 mins, Trezeguet 34, 86 mins, Nedved 54 mins.
DJURGARDENS: Tourray; Concha, Kuivasto, Storm, Karlsson; Arneng, Johansson, Johannesson (Dovicovic 62 mins); Bapupa (Barsom 46 mins); Hysen, Stenman (Makondele 77 mins). Subs not used: Wahlstrom, Ottesen, Backmann, Amoah. Manager: Jonevret.
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Birindelli, Thuram, Montero, Zambrotta; Olivera, Blasi, Emerson, Nedved (Kapo 87 mins); Trezeguet, Del Piero (Zalayeta 81 mins). Subs not used: Chimenti, Legrottaglie, Tudor, Tacchinardi, Miccoli. Manager: Capello.
REFEREE: Poll (England).
YELLOW CARDS: Karlsson, Birindelli and Thuram.