Juventus vs Brugge 1-0
Mood:  happy
Topic: Champions League
Champions League - 22 Nov 2005 - 10:45 PM

Juventus beat Brugge by 1-0 at the Delle Alpi and qualify for next Champions League round. After dominating the first half without a particularly oustanding performance, except for the post hit by Trezeguet, Capello’s side looks for the goal persistently in the second half and finds it on 35’ minutes with Del Piero, who thus equalled Boniperti’s record of 179 goals in the ranking of all-time Juventus goalscorers.

From the very beginning, Capello’s side builds up the game but Club Brugge are closed in defence and play in counter-attack when they can find some open space. Thus it’s not easy for the Bianconeri to approach to Butina’s goal. Nedved is the first to try, with a left-footed shot from the edge of area which ends high over the bar. On 14’ minutes, it’s Del Piero’s turn to attempt on goal, following Camoranesi’s free kick, with a header that ends out. On 29’ minutes, a fantastic action from the Bianconeri: a counter-attack launched by Zambrotta who serves Camoranesi, the latter passes to Nedved, a triangle pass between Trezeguet and Del Piero and the ball gets to Zambrotta, who’s unfortunately caught in offside. The best scoring occasion for Capello’s side arrives on 38’ minutes: Chiellini crosses to Trezeguet, who hits the post with a header, the ball bounces back and the goalkeeper can clear. Two initiatives on Brugge’s side worth mentioning: Spilar’s header, cleared by the Bianconeri defence (22’) and Leko’s left-footed shot that ends out (34’).

Juventus are far more aggressive in the second half, persistently looking for the goal from the very first minutes. After 3 minutes, Vieira’s fine shot ends narrowly out. One minute later, following Zambrotta’s pass, Del Piero tries a deflection but the ball ends out. The same happens to another shot from the Captain after a great pass with Vieira (7’). On 9’ minutes, after Camoranesi’s shot from the corner, Vieira’s finish misses the target and gets past the post. On 23’ minutes, the opponents get dangerous with Varheyen, whose header is deflected by Cannavaro over the bar. On 27’ minutes, Nedved attempts on goal with a fine right-footed shot from the edge of the box, deflected by a defender into the corner. On 33’ minutes, Del Piero controls the ball and gets into the penalty area, drives a left-footed shot but Butina saves. Two minutes later, there it comes the deserved advantage: Nedved crosses to the midfield for Del Piero who nods the ball in. It’s 35’ minutes and it’s the winning goal that guarantees the qualification. One minute before the end, Zalayeta gets near the second goal.

JUVENTUS vsBRUGGES 1-0
RETI: 35’sh Del Piero
JUVENTUS: Abbiati; Zambrotta, Thuram, Cannavaro, Chiellini; Camoranesi (36’sh Mutu), Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet (39’sh Zalayeta). Coach. Capello. Substitutes: Chimenti, Pessotto, Kovac, Blasi, Giannichedda, Mutu, Zalayeta.
BRUGGE: Butina; Maertens, Spilar, Clement (5’sh Englebert); Vanaudenaerde,Verheyen, Vermant, Leko, Gvozdenovic (39’sh Lange); Dufer (36’sh Serebrennikov), Portillo. Coach: Ceulemans. Substitutes: Stijnen; Balaban, Serebrennikov, Lange, Simoes De Oliveira, Roelandts.
REFEREE: Styles (ENG)
YELLOW CARDS: 14’fh Clement, 39’fh Zambrotta
ATTENDANCE: 9.623
PROCEEDS: 179.235,33