CL Semi Final Report: Carlos Strike Gives Real Slim Advantage

A controversial second-half strike from Roberto Carlos has given Real Madrid a 2-1 win over Juventus in this Champions League semi-final first-leg at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo had given the Merengues the lead on 22 minutes, only for David Trezeguet to level just before half-time.

Juventus began in resilient fashion and Trezeguet dragged a fine chance wide on seven minutes.

Then at the other end Gianluigi Buffon superbly clawed out Zinedine Zidane's free-kick.

On 22 minutes Real were ahead when Ronaldo expertly combined with Fernando Morientes on the edge of the area before wrong-footing Buffon with a clever finish into the bottom right-hand corner.

Then, a rash of yellow card which saw Alessandro Birindelli, Mark Iuliano and Gianluca Zambrotta all go into the referee's note book.

Pavel Nedved, who didn't have a particularly effective night, cut in from the left on 35 minutes before shooting somewhat disappointingly straight at Buffon.

Zidane had Juve on the back foot on 40 minutes when some majestic play inside the box resulted in him just crossing wide of the far post.

After the ineffectual Morientes had stretched to shoot over following great work from Ronaldo, Juve got an undeserved equaliser when Alessandro Del Piero's shot deflected off the legs of Michel Salgado into Trezeguet's path. The Frenchman reacted quickly to stab home in front of goal.

On 50 minutes Ronaldo was substituted with what has emerged as a cartilage problem in his left knee. Young Javier Portillo came on but was unable to impose himself on the game.

Not long after Luis Figo shot over, but Juve now had a foothold in the game, and if anything, it looked as though they may escape from Spain with more than a draw.

After 57 minutes Del Piero's shot was deflected over by Ivan Helguera, before Zambrotta, who had put in a terrific saving tackle seconds earlier, headed a corner just over the bar. It was an impressive second-half from the former Bari man.

Del Piero was the next to threaten when he climbed well to head just wide.

After Buffon had made rather a hash of dealing with a long-range Claude Makelele strike, Portillo narrowly failed to connect with Roberto Carlos' powerful cross from inside the goal mouth.

Then, arrived one of the Brazilian's most valuable career goals. The little left-back took aim from the edge of the box and drilled low into Buffon's bottom right corner. At first it appeared as though the goal would be disallowed as there were three Real players standing in offside positions. However, after the referee had consulted his linesman, the goal was allowed to stand much to the indignation of the Bianconeri players.

On 80 minutes Buffon dealt with another Roberto Carlos long-ranger, before a dangerous cross from substitute Santi Solari was cleared away.

In injury time Real came so desperately close to adding a third. Luis Figo's sublime skill on the right saw him fool two Juve defenders only to see his low left-foot shot superbly saved by Buffon. Then Ivan Helguera threatened twice from close-range.