This time the wait is finally over for real. After two years, Juventus are back in the Champions League, the proper one, the one that counts. Juve went through the qualifiers with authority against Artmedia Bratislava, beating them over the two matches.
After the 4-0 win in Turin that had almost guaranteed going through, the return in the Slovakian capital ended 1-1 and gave Amauri the joy of his first official goal at Juventus. After tomorrow's games (among them the one involving Fiorentina, Sunday's opponents in the League), it'll already be time for the draw. On Thursday, in Monte Carlo, the Bianconeri will get to know the names of their first three rivals in the group stage.
Ranieri changed things around from the first game tonight. Having lost Chiellini, the Manager was able to employ Nedved and the Olympians and he did, playing the Czech player and Marchisio from the start. Sissoko, Del Piero and Trezeguet rested. The two men up front tonight were Amauri and Iaquinta.
Juventus, playing in their golden shirts like they did in the first leg, pushed forward from the start, without thinking about the result of the other match. There were two Camoranesi runs in the first few minutes but then the home team scored first thanks to a wonderful Fodrek scissor kick.
The goal shook the Bianconeri who increased the pressure even more. Amauri became the star of the match, first hitting a post with a header and a few minutes later (on 25 minutes) scoring with another header, fed by a perfect cross from Nedved on the left wing. It was now 1-1, and nothing else important happened before the break.
No player changes were made at the start of the second half. Juventus continued piling forward, trying to score and getting corner kick after corner kick. The first clear chance was after 60 minutes, but Nedved's right footer wasn't on target.
Artmedia replied a minute later with Velicky, but with much the same outcome. In the 70th minute, Ranieri replaced Camoranesi and Nedved with Sissoko and Giovinco, and then in the 82nd, Legrottaglie with Ariaudo.
Near the end Artmedia went close to scoring but Buffon put his mark on the night with a great save on Salata. It was the final chance, the match ended 1-1 and Juve officially qualified. They're now back in the Champions League and will need to wait until Thursday to know their opponents' names.
Champions League – qualifiers 3rd round second leg
Bratislava, Tehelné Pole
Tuesday August 26th 2008
GOALS: Fodrek 13 mins, Amauri 25 mins.
ARTMEDIA BRATISLAVA: Kamenar; Cisovsky, Salata, Farkas, Burak; Pedro (Halenar 84 mins), Velicky; Obzera (Piroska 65 mins), Kozak, Fodrek; Pospech (Glever 80 mins). Subs not used: Hyll, Oravec, Mraz, Hasek. Manager: Weiss.
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie (Ariaudo 82 mins), Chiellini, Molinaro; Camoranesi (Sissoko 70 mins), Marchisio, Poulsen, Nedved (Giovinco 70 mins); Amauri, Iaquinta. Subs not used: Manninger, Salihamidzic, Del Piero, Trezeguet. Manager: Ranieri.
REFEREE: Medina Cantalejo (Spain).
YELLOW CARDS: Camoranesi 43 mins, Marchisio 49 mins, Salata 51 mins.
Juventus.com
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