Real Madrid - 2 Juventus - 1:UEFA Champions League semi-finals, first legs: Real Madrid will not be able simply to charm their way to glory. They won the first leg of this semi-final thanks to Roberto Carlos's disputed clincher, but Juventus definitely brought them back to earth.
Sometimes the visitors did so quite literally, collecting five yellow cards by leaving players strewn on the turf. The return match will be interesting, if not necessarily entertaining. It will not be at all like facing Manchester United for the holders.
After the capering and entertainment from both sides in Real's quarter-final an outbreak of solemnity was always likely here. There is no trace of whimsy in Juventus's character and the holders of this competition, who are usually so loose-limbed, seemed to let their muscles clench in anticipation of a gruelling challenge.
The interval was in sight before Zinedine Zidane indulged in one of his flamboyant drag-back turns to leave Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero trailing in midfield. Shortly afterwards, Zidane, tricking and manoeuvering for position, tried to find his old team's net and only got his angles fractionally wrong.
Any late arrivals could have guessed the state of affairs. Real were expressive because they had the lead then, but it was one they could not hold. A 5-1 trouncing by Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Saturday had burnt away a little of the mystique surrounding Vicente del Bosque's team.
Not only are they vulnerable, Real also struggle at times to make good their deficiencies with flair. The Juventus equaliser was a little lucky, but the defence, characteristically, had left an avenue for Del Piero to cut in and strike the drive that deflected from Michel Salgado for David Trezeguet to jab the ball into the net.
Alex Ferguson had declared himself fascinated by the prospect of a clash between these teams. Tacitly, the Manchester United manager was acknowledging that his friend Marcello Lippi might have a more pertinent plan for dealing with Real. It was not an especially edifying one, with Alessandro Birindelli, Gianluca Zambrotta and Mark Iuliano all booked by half-time. The latter will be suspended for the return leg.
Juventus are used to coping with such eventualities. Last night Juventus were without the banned Edgar Davids, Alessio Tacchinardi and Paolo Montero.
But Lippi's group are hardy and are part of a contingent that has claimed three of the semi-final places for Serie A.
Raul, after the appendix operation, was still unavailable and his goalmouth guile is a grave loss to Del Bosque. A gliding Zidane free-kick commanded a good parry from Gianluigi Buffon after quarter-of-an-hour, but the breakthrough nine minutes later came as a surprise.
Ciro Ferrara's crashing tackle from behind on Morientes could not prevent the ball being turned on to Ronaldo and his drilled shot beat Buffon smoothly at the near post. When the two Real forwards switched roles in the 44th minute, Morientes, leaning back, could only put a shot high. It was an error over which Real must have brooded.
As if it were not enough to be hauled back to level terms, they were soon in a deficit of sorts. Ronaldo, suffering a muscle strain, had to abandon his effort to continue after 51 minutes. This was the sort of state of affairs about which rivals have unworthy, unsporting dreams: Raul and Ronaldo plucked from the Real line-up.
Juventus, in fairness, were not just waiting for circumstances to come to their aid. Wisely, they sought to get at a ramshackle back four whenever the occasion to do so arose. Del Piero menaced and Ivan Helguera had to jut out a leg to ease the forward's shot over the bar.
Real prefer to apply their budget to buying creators rather than able destroyers. The stubborn policy paid off when one of their adventurers Robert Carlos put a raking drive into the net from the corner of the penalty area after 73 minutes. The linesman raised his flag because three Real player were in offside positions, but the referee Terje Hauge, to Juventus's rage, ruled they had not influenced the outcome. The Italians had lost a goal and found a grudge for the second leg.
Guardian Service
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Carlos, Makelele, Guti, Zidane, Figo, Morientes (Solari 80), Ronaldo (Portillo 50). Subs Not Used: Cesar, McManaman, Flavio, Cambiasso, Pavon. Goals: Ronaldo 23, Carlos 73.
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Ferrara, Iuliano (Pessotto 46), Thuram, Birindelli, Tudor, Conte, Zambrotta, Nedved (Di Vaio 82), Del Piero, Trezeguet. Subs Not Used: Chimenti, Fresi, Camoranesi, Olivera, Zalayeta. Booked: Birindelli, Iuliano, Zambrotta, Conte, Ferrara. Goal: Trezeguet 45.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
