Black & White Stories | The home factor

The celebrations at the final whistle of the match against Manchester United in 1984 remains one of the most striking images of what it means to complete a job half done. It was the Cup Winners' Cup semi-final, when Paolo Rossi’s late goal secured a 2-1 victory in the return match after the 1-1 result from the first-leg in England. With Villarreal in this season’s Champions League, Juventus are called upon to achieve a similar feat. Let's look back at other memorable return leg victories in Turin after a 1-1 draw in the opening match.

PABLITO MUNDIAL

1982-83 European Cup

Juve were held 1-1 in Belgium by Standard Liege in the away leg of the Round of 16. In Turin, a first-half brace from Paolo Rossi resolved the tie, securing the Bianconeri a 3-1 aggregate victory. Two extraordinary goals, which enchanted Europe a few months after Pablito had risen to international fame with six goals in the World Cup, decisive for Italy’s success in Spain’s Mundial ‘82.

NORWEGIAN WOULD Pt.1

1993-94 UEFA Cup

The 1-1 draw in Oslo with Kongsvinger was brought to a satisfying conclusion at the Delle Alpi thanks to a goal in each half. In the opening 45 minutes, Andreas Möller’s long-range effort left Erik Holtan helpless in the Norwegian goal. The goalkeeper, however, was far from blameless for Juve’s second goal. He mistimed a cross which left Fabrizio Ravanelli the simple task of placing a header into the unguarded net.

NORWEGIAN WOULD Pt.2

1996-97 Champions League

Another Norwegian challenge, but a different context. Three years later Juve were competing in the Champions League, this time against Rosenborg. The opponents may have changed but not the result from the away leg. In Turin, a first half strike from Zinedine Zidane edged the Bianconeri in front. After the break, a 90th minute penalty converted by Nicola Amoruso ensured qualification to the semi-final.

12-MINUTE TRIPLE

1994-95 UEFA Cup

Stepping back two years to 1995, Juventus faced German competition both in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals. First was the last-eight tie against Eintracht Frankfurt, who held Juve to a 1-1 draw on German soil. Back in Turin, Marcello Lippi, in his first spell as Juve coach, knew how to make the most of his team’s potential. Eintracht were left reeling from three goals in 12 minutes: Antonio Conte grabbed the first, Fabrizio Ravanelli the second, before a 20-year-old champion-in-the-making Alessandro Del Piero closed the contest.

PENALTY DECIDER

1997-98 European Cup

One of the most exciting matches after a 1-1 first leg was Juventus-Ajax in 1978. And just as would unfold in the Champions League final in Rome 18 years later, the outcome was decided on penalties. The 1-1 first-leg draw in Amsterdam was repeated in Turin after Tschen La Ling had cancelled out Marco Tardelli’s opener with only 15 minutes to play.

The penalty shoot-out was a nervy affair with Dino Zoff saving two of Ajax’s three missed spot kicks, allowing Franco Causio to step into the hero’s role that would be Vladimir Jugovic's in the Champions League final, with the deciding goal.