Real Madrid make the boastful claim that the Champions League is
their competition, but their ownership may be given up if they
produce a performance similar to the one that saw them dismantled
by Mallorca last Saturday.
The club are still top of the Spanish league and remain favourites
to lift the European Cup again this season, but the 5-1 crushing
will surely have left a few scars. Coach Vicente Del Bosque tried
to brush off the team's most miserable performance in recent years,
but this was no ordinary blow while one eye remained on the main
prize in midweek.
"During this season we have done more things of merit than we have
committed errors," Del Bosque explained. "We are very confident
about our game and, as many have said, we have already played a
final against Manchester United and won and now we play another
huge game against Juventus and must do the same."
There were signs of nerves from Zidane though, as he explained that
Real are pleased that their opponents will be missing three key
players in Paolo Montero, Edgar Davids and Alessio Tacchinardi.
"Juve will definitely miss them, there is not doubt about that,"
the Frenchman explained. "It certainly makes life a little easier
for us."
The club's supporters certainly let their feelings be known as they
jeered and whistled captain Fernando Hierro throughout the match
and booed the team off at the end of the game. Despite all this
though, Madrid have splashed out millions of euros on players that
can perform at the highest level and when it matters most. The
likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo will called upon to
justify the massive outlay and their huge wages.
Juventus have gone about their business in typically efficient
style in recent weeks, and following the 0-0 draw with Lazio on
Saturday, they all but wrapped up another Scudetto. They would have
to lose their remaining three games, and Inter would have to win
theirs, in order for the title to leave Turin. And lets face it,
there is more chance of a pig flying over the Delle Alpi than Juve
surrendering such a handsome lead.
A draw on Saturday was a fine result in one of Serie A's tougher
road tests. But it was hardly a performance that inspired, and with
the exception of a couple of periods in the first-half, Lazio were
the better team by some distance. The Bianconeri lacked a creative
spark –surprising given that Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero
both featured- and often rode their luck at the back. Were it not
for Stefano Fiore's miserable penalty, they would have lost.
Del Piero has always been considered Juve's 'symbol', and while he
remains so, much of the attention will now be placed on Nedved who
has enjoyed a supreme season. He was bought to replace Zidane, and
while no one can be compared to the mercurial Frenchman, the former
Lazio man is only a level or two below. When he plays well, so,
invariably, do Juve.
So how can Juve go about getting a positive result at the Bernabeu?
AS Roma coach Fabio Capello, whose team have won their 1-0 this
season, thinks he knows how.
"If you go at their defence with pace they are vulnerable," he told
La Gazzetta dello Sport. "But above all you can't give their big
stars space to play in. You have to close them down in every area
of the field without ever stopping from playing yourself, because
at the Bernabeu if you just close up shop you are finished."
Lippi will no doubt have done his homework, and will know that
Hierro and Helguera are not the quickest things on two legs.
And Lippi himself says: "Real will certainly try to play attacking
football at the Bernabeu as that is their main weapon. But we have
weapons of our own that have been very effective so far."
A chilling threat indeed.
FORM GUIDE
Real Madrid: Last Six Matches - WLDLWL
Despite losing the second leg of the quarter finals to Manchester
United at Old Trafford, it was evident that had the aggregate score
ever been in doubt Madrid were capable of raising their game and
producing what was needed to win. What is of greater concern is the
fact that Del Bosque's side have lost three of their last six
outings.
Juventus: Last Six Matches - DDWWWD
The 2-1 win at Barcelona was achieved in fortuitous style, but Juve
had no other option than to play on the counterattack once Davids
had received his marching orders. It was a majestic break up field
that culminated in Alessandro Birindelli superbly crossing for
Marcelo Zalayeta to convert for the winning goal. Since then, a 2-1
defeat of Brescia and a 0-0 draw at Lazio have put the Bianconeri
to within a point of the Scudetto.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid: Vicente Del Bosque's only dilemma is whether to start
Flavio Conceicao or Steve McManaman in the midfield. The Brazilian
is likly to get the nod over the Englishman with that being the
only change from the team that were so unconvincing against
Mallorca. Raul is still recovering from his appendicitis operation,
but is set to play in the second leg next week with Del Bosque
describing his return as the element that will surprise Juve in
Turin.
Juventus: The Bianconeri are missing three key players through
suspension. Montero and Tacchinardi picked up their third bookings
of the competition against Barcelona, while Davids was stupidly
sent-off in that game. The latter two have enjoyed excellent
seasons, while Montero is such a reliable individual at the back.
Three potentially fatal blows. Arguably your most reliable
centre-back, and the heart of your midfield engine room ripped out.
Mark Iuliano will come in for Montero, while Igor Tudor and Antonio
Conte could replace Tacchinardi and Davids. Either Alessandro
Birindelli or Gianluca Pessotto may get the nod, however, with
Lippi wanting to pay close attention to Zidane.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Roberto
Carlos; Figo, Conceicao, Makelele, Zidane; Guti, Ronaldo
Juventus: Buffon; Thuram, Ferrara, Iuliano, Zambrotta; Camoranesi,
Tudor, Conte, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
WHO'S HOT
Ronaldo (Real Madrid): After enduring a hard season of adjustment
at Madrid, Ronaldo appears to have won over the club's fans. His
impressive hat-trick against Manchester United in the last round
proved that he still has what it takes to perform on the biggest
stages and Juve will do well to stop him adding to his Champions
League tally.
Pavel Nedved (Juventus): The Czech international will float about
behind Trezeguet and Del Piero causing his usual havoc. In Zidane,
he may actually be coming up against the only other playmaker in
the world who is better than him. He'll be out to impress.
WHO'S NOT
Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid): The team captain was given a torrid
time by the supporters during the Mallorca match, but accepted that
as leader of the side they had every right to pick him out. But if
Real do not perform against Juve, he could be in for another 90
minutes of abuse from the stands.
David Trezeguet (Juventus): the Frenchman had a very quiet game
against Lazio. It remains to be seen if he is back to peak
condition following his shoulder injury. If he gets the support,
however, he will punish the Merengues.