Independent, The (London): Football: Trezeguet's strike gives Juventus hope

DAVID BECKHAM - assuming the denials are all to be believed - may not be the only iconic trophy Real Madrid fail to collect from Manchester this summer. Their chances of retaining the European Cup at Old Trafford on 28 May also receded last night as Juventus largely frustrated the holders in the rain-soaked Spanish capital.

Real did penetrate the Italian champions twice, through their Brazilians Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, but sandwiched in-between was an away goal from David Trezeguet which left this semi-final tie finely balanced. Real will be encouraged by the knowledge that Juventus must venture forward more regularly in the second leg in Turin next week, but their capacity to take advantage could be undermined by a calf injury to Ronaldo.

The match had been billed as a clash between good and bad and Real's team selection seemed determined to underline their status as the beautiful game's premier evangelists. In a development not even the Madrid sports papers predicted, the Real coach Vicente del Bosque recalled Fernando Morientes. The striker, who scored a hat-trick for Spain last week, had been deposed at the start of the season by Ronaldo's arrival and has barely had a kick since.

With Steve McManaman making way, Real fielded an XI which was unbalanced even by their own standards. As Roberto Carlos is only nominally a defender, they had six attacking outfielders.

Initially, Juventus were not prepared to fulfil their own stereotyped role. Aware of the value of an away goal, and Real's defensive vulnerability, they did not sit back, with Lilian Thuram and Alessandro Birindelli pushing on from full-back.

The latter laid on the first clear chance after six minutes when he picked out Trezeguet at the far post. The Frenchman wasted the opportunity. He would not prove so profligate later.

Gradually Real worked themselves out and Juventus pulled back. The tackles began to bite but, after 23 minutes, the Norwegian referee Terje Hauge played two good advantages as Ronaldo rode a foul to find Morientes then, as Mark Iuliano brought his partner down, took the return and rolled it past Gianluigi Buffon.

Hauge booked three Italians in quick succession as Real started to glide. Zinedine Zidane, with his "roulette" pirouette, left Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved in his wake. Not a bad pair to delude. A goal seemed imminent but Ronaldo's disguised pass was so sublime that Morientes was too dumbfounded to score. It was beautiful to watch but the home fans' pleasure was abruptly cut short a minute before the break as Juventus levelled.

Inevitably it was a scrappy goal. Roberto Carlos stood off a bouncing ball, allowing Igor Tudor to find Del Piero. The ball was imperfect but Michel Salgado's slip enabled Del Piero to gather. His shot was deflected off the right-back to Trezeguet, who stabbed the ball home. Nil marks for artistic impression but a goal just the same.

The odds appeared to tilt further towards Juventus when Ronaldo, feeling the effects of Iuliano's brutal challenge, limped off soon after the restart. His departure, and Trezeguet's goal, seemed to have discombobulated Real and they were unable to rediscover their elan until the hour mark.

When they did, precise tackles by Gianluca Pessotto on Luis Figo, and Gianluca Zambrotta on Guti, showed the admirable aspect of the Italian game's defensive preoccupation.

Encouraged, Juventus briefly went forward and both Zambrotta and Del Piero went close with headers. Real penned them back again and, finally, Zidane's corner drifted over to Roberto Carlos and his famed left peg drilled the ball back inside the far post.

With the Bernabeu working itself into a frenzy Real threw men forward but, with Buffon denying Figo and Ivan Helguera shooting over, the tie remained much less certain than, we are told, Beckham's future.

Real Madrid (4-2-2-2): Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Ivan Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Guti; Figo, Zidane; Ronaldo (Portillo, 50), Morientes (Solari, 79). Substitutes not used: Cesar (gk), Flavio Conceicao, Cambiasso, McManaman, Pavon.

Juventus (4-4-1-1): Buffon; Thuram, Ferrara, Iuliano (Pessotto, h- t), Birindelli; Nedved (Di Vaio, 82), Tudor (Camoranesi, 80), Conte, Zambrotta; Del Piero; Trezeguet. Substitutes not used: Chimenti (gk), Fresi, Olivera, Zalayeta.

Referee: T Hauge (Norway).

Milan's derby promise, page 24