5 November 2008

Royal encounter...Royal victory!!!!

As opposed to the starting line-ups announced prior to the game, Drenthe is on the field from the first minute instead of Robben who injured himself during the warm-up. The match immediately picks up the rythm and the first few minutes see Real Madrid taking the initiative. Real Madrid’s last defeat at home dates back to March 2008.

Manninger is kept busy, and in the 9th minute its the Austrian goalkeeper who saves after a powerful shoy by Sneijder, avoiding an up-hill start to the match. The Juve defence is put under pressure by the on-coming Real attacks but shows its class by a series of great interventions by all of its components.

Like in the best of thrillers a twist is round the corner. The author is none other but Juventus captain Alex Del Piero who shifted the equilibrium of the match by scoring a beauty of a goal from just outside the penalty area following a ball won by Marchionni in the 17th minute.

The match begins to heat up with Juventus, energy-injected by the goal beginning to insist. A good attacking initiative sees the ball lost betwen Nedved and Del Piero in the 20th minute and one minute later the ball crosses the whole Real area after a great through-pass by Molinaro but nobody is there to kick it in.

Antagonism has the upper hand for some time and the Dutch referee is seen handing out 4 yellow cards in 6 minutes, 2 for each side with Sissoko, Drenthe, Guti and Legrottaglie on the receiving side.

In the 36th minute Van Nistelrooy sends shivers down Juve spines as a great shot goes high. Real seem to be taking the initiative in their hands once again in the last 10 minutes with Juve slightly on the defensive, however two minutes later a great move by Del Piero unmarks Nedved but Cannavaro puts ball into corner. An  error in midfield sees Real dangerously on the attack with Molinaro intervening with class.

The match is alive and the ball shifts from one side to another. Its the 40th minute, Amauri escapes dangerously but does not see Del Piero who is in a favourable position and passes to Tiago who follows through but the pass is unprecise. Three minutes later dangerous escape by Drenthe on the left but Mellberg intervenes divinely, injuring himself. However the Swedish defender is back on the field after being medicated. Two more attacks by Real and as many great intervention by the defence of the team in gold brings the first half to an end.

The second half starts at a very high tempo with both teams trying to have their way. On the 50th minute its Van Nistelrooy  who is shown the yellow card .The equilibrium of the match shifts continuously with initiatives from both sides but the best is yet to come. Its the 65th minute when Sissoko is fouled at around 25 metres from the area defended by Casillas. Del Piero takes the freekick...and what a frekick. Just like 4 days ago against Roma the Juventus ever-young captain sends the ball into the back of the net with Casillas helpless. It’s 2-0 and the Real supporters at the Bernabeu are dead silent.

Real Madrid try to react and three minutes after the Del Piero double, a very active Drenthe on a dangerous incursion who passes to Higuain who is late on the ball. Real Madrid substitute Van Nistlerooy with Van der Vaart and Saviola for Heinze in the 81st minute and three minutes later Iaquinta comes on for Amauri who worked hard throughout the match.

Del Piero is in top form and this is even more evident when he is close to making his hat-trick in the 86th minute following great game-play. Real try desperately to reduce the damages with Manninger saving on Diarra in the first minute of injury time. Standing ovation for Del Piero by all those present at the Bernabeu as he is substituted in the second of three minutes of injury time by De Ceglie. The match ends. It was 1962 when Juventus beat Real Madrid last at the important stadium thanks to a goal by Sivori and 46 years later Del Piero is the hero.

Champions League 2008/09 – Group Stage
Group H – 4th day
Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Wednesday 5th November

REAL MADRID – JUVENTUS 0-2

Scorers : Del Piero 17th, 66th

REAL MADRID: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Cannavaro, Heinze (81st Saviola); Diarra, Robben, Sneijder (63rd Higuain), Guti, Raul; Van Nistelrooy (81st Van der Vaart) . Reserves: Dudek, Michel Salgado, Gago, Drenthe, Van der Vaart, Higuain, Saviola. Coach : Schuster.

JUVENTUS: Manninger; Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molianro; Marchionni, Sissoko, Tiago, Nedved; Del Piero (91st De Ceglie), Amauri (83rd Iaquinta). Reserves: Chimenti, Ariaudo, De Ceglie, Rossi, Camoranesi, Giovinco; Iaquinta Coach : Ranieri.

REFEREE : Vink (Netherlands)

Yellow Cards : Sissoko (27th), Drenthe (30th), Guti (35th), Legrottaglie (33rd), Van Nistelrooy (50th), Mellberg (77th)