Champions League Semi-Final Preview: Juventus v Real Madrid
Just one goal would do it. A 1-0 win for Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi would see the Italian side move a step away from a Serie A and Champions League double, while for Real Madrid the prospect of a trophy-less season would loom ever larger.
Just one goal would do it. A 1-0 win for Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi would see the Italian side move a step away from a Serie A and Champions League double, while for Real Madrid the prospect of a trophy-less season would loom ever larger.
Of course, the Merengues are still riding high in La Liga but they are now a point off the lead, and the situation is out of their hands. Anyhow, this is 'their' competition, and they will not go down without one hell of a fight.
Marcello Lippi has won every plaudit going since seeing his side to a second successive Scudetto title against Perugia on Saturday. It was by no means achieved in style, and for half the match, the Umbrians were the better side. But as is so often the case, Juve got the job done.
The Bianconeri were criticised for some of their rough-arm tactics in the 2-1 first-leg defeat. Mark Iuliano, in particular, was accused in some quarters of 'kicking' Ronaldo out of the game, while several other challenges were cynical at best. It wasn't quite beauty and the beast, but close.
As an attacking force, Juve showed little in the first-half, but after the break they grew stronger, and were actually on top at times. All of a sudden the suggestion that Lippi's men could actually win at the Bernabeu was not quite so preposterous. That was until Roberto Carlos fired home his controversial winner.
Lippi is looking for a street wise attitude from his side in this second-leg.
"We will need heart but also a lot of brains," he said. "It will be important to have our fans, all 67,000 of them, on our side but the most important thing of all is to take charge of the game in the best possible way."
Real Madrid have stated on more than one occasion in the build-up to this clash that they will not set out to defend their one-goal lead from the first encounter.
The whole ethos of the European champions is based on playing attacking football having spent millions buying the best offensive players in the world.
"We are not going to Turin just to defend this lead, my teams always try and score goals," Vicente Del Bosque confirmed.
If the Madrid boss was suddenly to introduce a system that sought to contain their opponents, then Madrid could come undone.
The only thing they can do is go to Turin and look to add the two goals that they scored in the opening leg.
Ronaldo joined in a full training session on Tuesday and Real are hopeful that the Brazilian will be fit to play.
Having forked out to reinforce their forward line, but critics have argued that they should have added to their rearguard.
In recent league outings, veteran Fernando Hierro has looked slow against quick forwards, while Francisco Pavon is talented but not world class.
Madrid are touted as the best team in the world and now they have to prove it.
FORM GUIDE
Juventus: Last Six Matches (all competitions) - WWWDLD
Serie A wins over AS Roma and Brescia and then draws against Lazio and Perugia ensured that the Bianconeri could not be caught at the top of Serie A. Last week's 2-1 defeat to the Merengues was highly respectable and gives the Italian club more than a sporting chance of making it to Old Trafford.
Real Madrid: Last Six Matches (all competitions) - DLWLWD
While all eyes are focussed on the Champions League campaign, Madrid have allowed themselves to be overtaken on the domestic front. After being whalloped 5-1 by Mallorca in the Bernabeu two weeks ago, Real left out Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul and Luis Figo for teh trip to Recreativo. After a dull 0-0 draw that saw the hosts have the better chances, Depor and Real Sociedad leapfrogged them in the table. They must be careful not to put all their eggs into one basket.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Juventus: Alessio Tacchinardi, Edgar Davids and Paolo Montero return from suspension, but centre-backs Ciro Ferrara and Mark Iuliano are out after picking up bookings in the first-leg. Lilian Thuram or Igor Tudor will step in. Alex Del Piero and Pavel Nedved who were rested at the weekend, will return.
Real Madrid: Ronaldo is likely to start behind Raul in place Guti, who has filled in for the Brazilian in his absence. Raul missed the first leg, but has now fully recovered from an appendicits operation. But Claude Makelele is not in the squad after picking up a muscle injury and will replaced in the midfield by Flavio Conceicao.