Juventus - 2 Newcastle - 0Bobby Robson has bad memories of this stadium and city stretching back to England's elimination in the 1990 World Cup semi-final. Sadly for Robson and Newcastle United, he now has some more, although not as many as he should have given the way Newcastle were outclassed by Juventus last night.
Had Juve scored five as they did last week against Dynamo Kiev, then Newcastle could not really have complained. The Italian champions missed a series of chances and hit the crossbar, but eventually broke through in the 66th minute via the exquisite talent of Alessandro Del Piero.
His ninth goal in seven games this season was a trademark free-kick and his 10th came along soon after. It meant a third defeat in three matches for Newcastle in the group and they have still to score a goal. Only Kieron Dyer distinguished himself and Newcastle are all but out, though Arsenal qualified last season with nine points.
But it was an occasion marred by the accidental injury to the Juventus striker Marco Di Vaio, who was concussed in the 14th minute in a collision with Andy O'Brien. Di Vaio swallowed his tongue as he lay unconscious for three minutes and was taken to Turin hospital where he was diagnosed as stable.
Missing the suspended Craig Bellamy, Robson, as expected, opted not to go for a direct striking replacement. Such a daunting task persuaded him against the relatively inexperienced Lomana Lua Lua and the other likely alternative, Shola Ameobi.
Instead, Dyer was given a progressive role ahead of a four-man midfield that included 19-year-old Jermaine Jenas. Alongside Gary Speed the central pairing's immediate responsibility was to protect a surprise three-man backline. Andy Griffin was ahead of it and was told to cancel the threat of Pavel Nedved.
That was a tactical gamble by Robson, but then his defence had been exposed early in both previous games in the group.
Ahead of Nedved, Juventus boasted a strike partnership so strong neither Marcelo Salas nor David Trezeguet could get in. When Di Vaio ghosted onto Nedved's third-minute cross and skidded a header past Shay Given's right-hand post, things looked ominous for both Griffin and Newcastle. Distressingly, Di Vaio's evening was not to last for long.
Trezeguet was Di Vaio's replacement and he almost scored with each of his first two touches after 20 minutes.
Newcastle were being torn apart. Two minutes later Del Piero collected the ball 25 yards out and with a lazy slug of his left foot pinged the ball off the crossbar. There was to be more Del Piero-inspired danger before half-time and yet - astonishingly - Newcastle should have gone ahead.
Seconds before the interval, Dyer charged down the right and centred low for Shearer. He miss-hit his effort, but the ball ran kindly to Laurent Robert, who, from 10 yards, volleyed straight at Gianluigi Buffon, who parried the shot. Newcastle had to tighten up if they were to maintain such an unlikely scoreline. That said, another break by Dyer brought a corner.
But the inevitable could not be postponed. When Nikos Dabizas pulled back Del Piero on the edge of the area, the Italians appealed for a penalty.
They got as good as - a Del Piero free-kick on the 18-yard line. Not surprisingly, Del Piero beat the wall and Given with a fantastic example of his art.
Del Piero grabbed his second with a shot from 12 yards which appeared to be deflected off O'Brien.
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Montero, Thuram, Tudor (Birindelli 84), Iuliano, Moretti, Nedved, Davids, Baiocco (Fresi 86), Di Vaio (Trezeguet 17), Del Piero. Subs Not Used: Chimenti, Ferrara, Salas, Camoranesi. Booked: Iuliano. Goals: Del Piero 66, 81.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Griffin (Ameobi 79), Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Jenas (LuaLua 79), Dyer, Solano (Viana 70), Robert, Speed, Shearer. Subs Not Used: Harper, Elliott, Bramble, Bernard. Booked: Dabizas.
Referee: Rene Temmink (Holland).
