By: Paolo Mangone
The two games against Real Madrid in the 2008/09 Champions League Group Stage were Juventus’ most important games in the early years of the post-Calciopoli era. They first faced each other on October 21st, 2008 at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino in what was their third game back in the Champions League since 2005/06. It only took five minutes for Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero to take an early lead with a curler from 25 meters out that found the top corner of the net. The Bianconeri doubled their lead four minutes into the second half after Amauri headed home an accurate cross from Pavel Nedved. A Real Madrid goal from Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 66th minute was not enough, as the game ended 2-1 in favor of Juventus. They met again two weeks later at the Stadio Bernabeu in Madrid on November 5th, 2008. In the 17th minute, Alessandro Del Piero once again beat Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas from outside the box with a low, curling effort aimed at the near post after picking up a 1-2 pass from Marco Marchionni. Del Piero scored his second of the night and his third goal in two games against Real Madrid (all from outside the box) with a free-kick from 25 meters out in the 67th minute. He was given a standing ovation from the Bernabeu crowd when he was substituted the final minutes of stoppage time, which is a rare accomplishment for an opposing player. Victories against a prestigious club like Real Madrid in their first season back in the Champions League since Calciopoli gave Juventus fans the belief that one day the Old Lady of Italian football would be back to win trophies. Since those two games were played, Juventus have won 6 Scudetti, 3 Coppa Italia and 3 Supercoppa Italiana. The only trophy that is missing is that elusive (or “obsessive”) Champions League. Juventus director Pavel Nedved (who played in both games against Real Madrid in 2008) stated after the Champions League Quarter-Final draw that “it is up to Dybala to make history.” It is possible that Nedved was referring to Del Piero’s legendary performances from 2008 and that it will take a similar performance over the two legs from Juventus’ Argentinean talisman to once again overcome a Real Madrid side that has won the last two editions of the Champions League.
