Champions League Round Up
Ten-man Juventus held their nerve to beat Barcelona 2-1 in extra time in the European Champions League quarter-final second leg tonight to register their first win on Spanish soil in 33 years.
Juventus go through 3-2 on aggregate and the Italians, who arealso leading the Serie A, will face either Manchester United or RealMadrid in the semi-finals next month.
Juventus' Uruguyan striker Marcelo Zalayeta grabbed the winneron a counter-attack six minutes before the end of extra time tosecure the win Marcello Lippi's men.
However, the plaudits should really go to Juventus' Italianinternational goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who stopped the 'OldLady' - as Juventus are affectionately known - from stumbling onnumerous occasions.
As well as a myriad of saves during the first 90 minutes, Buffonbrought off two spectacular reflex stops during the second half ofinjury time to secure the win.
Ironically, Juve's last victory in Spain was also a 2-1 win overBarcelona, in the old Fairs Cup in 1970.However the odds were stacked against Juventus succeeding, andnot just because of their sorry historic record.
Juventus had to play the last 11 minutes and extra time withjust 10 men after combative Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids got hissecond yellow card and his marching orders.
Barcelona had the best of the chances during regulation time butwere on their back foot after Pavel Nedved opened the scoring forJuventus eight minutes after the break.
Barca kept their composure though and 15 minutes later theirpatience paid off when midfielder Xavi Hernandez equalised.
One negative note for Juventus coach Lippi on a night ofcelebration is that his Italian international defender Paolo Monterowill be missing for the semifinal first leg on May 6th.
Montero picked a yellow card and will serve a one matchsuspension.
In tonight's other quarter-final, Inter Milan became the first team to confirm their place in the Champions League semi-finals with an away-goals win over Valencia despite a 2-1 defeat tonight.
Christian Vieri - who netted the only goal of the first leg - was quickly on the mark for Inter at the Mestalla with a goal in the fourth minute after a mistake by Argentinian defender Roberto Ayala.
Ayala's compatriot Pablo Aimar equalised two minutes later for the home side to make the aggregate score 2-1 to Inter and Ruben Baraja struck again for the Spanish side, but Vieri's early strike on the night proved decisive on the away goals rule.
Inter will face either city rivals AC Milan or Ajax Amsterdam in the semi-finals, with that tie locked at 0-0 after the first leg with the second to be played tomorrow night.
PA