Sport

Juventus stumble over first hurdle of Real test

A SOLITARY goal from Real Madrid teenager Raul Gonzalez was enough to give the Spanish champions a 1-0 victory over Italy's Juventus…

Thu Mar 07 1996 - 00:00

A SOLITARY goal from Real Madrid teenager Raul Gonzalez was enough to give the Spanish champions a 1-0 victory over Italy's Juventus in an exciting European Cup quarter final first leg game in Madrid last night.

Both sides took time to settle down, and Real went ahead with only their second shot on goal in the 21st minute when former Juventus man Michael Laudrup broke down the left and found Gonzalez, who made no mistake.

Laudrup combined well with substitute Quique Sanchez down the wings as the Spaniards took control of the game after the break, but the Italians fought back after Arsenio Iglesias surprisingly substituted the Danish international for Michel Gonzalez in the 65th minute.

That move changed the nature of the game because Real, so much in control in attack before then, lost their way after Laudrup went off with Raul not involved in the play as he had been.

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Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano for Real and Juventus' Fabrizio Ravanelli each wasted easy chances during a second half of end to end play.

Newcomer Jose Garcia Calvo held together the Real defence with some tough tackling, but Ravanelli found himself unmarked in good positions on several occasions, and could easily have scored if Frenchman Didier Deschamps and youngster Alessandro Del Piero had been quicker to pass.

Angelo Peruzzi put in a fine performance in the Juventus goal, saving a powerful drive from Real defender Rafael Alkorta midway through the first half and blocking a shot from Ivan Zamorano when the Chilean was put through by Luis Enrique Martinez in the 60th minute.

"Real played a super first half, but we relaxed a bit in the second, but I that we deserved another goal," said Real coach, Arsenio Iglesias, after the game.

Although the result seems to leave Juventus as favourites tow move through to the semi final, suspensions may prove a vital factor in the second leg in Turin in two weeks time. Juventus will be without Ravanelli - who wash booked for a foul on Raul - and Massimo Carrera, who was lucky not to be sent off after just 15 minutes when he hacked down Zamorano as the Real striker bore down on goal.