Deportivo have Luque on their side to beat Juventus (Agencies) Updated: 2004-02-26 10:27
Juventus once again found Deportivo La Coruna's Riazor stadium an
inhospitable venue as last season's beaten finalists went down 1-0 to an Albert
Luque goal.
Juventus have now visited the Riazor for the last four consecutive seasons
but they have yet to register a victory.
The Spanish international striker got the only goal of a mediocre first leg
of the Champions League second round after 38 minutes, in which both sides found
themselves bogged down by Deportivo's waterlogged pitch.
"We had two or three occasions to add to the score, but in the end I am
satisfied with the result," said Deportivo coach Javier Irureta.
"On merit, we deserved to win. It wasn't a pretty game at times but we will
be going to Turin feeling optimistic. We stopped Juventus scoring here and if we
can score there then it could make all the difference.
"Turin is a difficult place to get a result and they are a very good team.
However, the tie is open for us, just as it is open for them," added Irureta.
Deportivo were the dominant force during the first half with Juan Carlos
Valeron and Victor Sanchez providing excellent service for Luque and an
out-of-sorts Diego Tristan.
However poor finishing denied the game of any goals until Luque struck.
Deportivo wing back Lionel Scaloni darted down the right flank before sending
a long pass into the box.
Juve defender Liliam Thuram managed to get his head to the ball, but his
mis-timed clearance fell to the feet of Luque, who hit a bobbling half-volley
past the Italians' keeper Gianluigi Buffon
Deportivo nearly went further ahead barely a minute after the break when a
swift counter-attack left Victor clear in front of goal with only Buffon to
beat, but the winger sent the ball wide.
Victor's miss was a fair reflection of the way the second half went, with
both sides unable to find the target and usually unable to get near it as the
game threatened to become a dour midfield battle.
Both Luque and Tristan were substituted in the second half as Irureta tried
to find a combination that was firing on all cylinders up front, but the
introduction of Walter Pandiani and Fran Gonzalez late in the game failed to add
further goals.
Having kept Deportivo down to a one-goal lead, Juventus will fancy their
chances of turning the tie around and beating the Spaniards on aggregate when
the two teams meet again in the Delle Alpi stadium on March 9.
However, Wednesday's game ended on two negative notes for Juventus.
David Trezeguet had recovered from the slight thigh injury which saw the
French international miss last Sunday's 1-0 league win at Bologna but he injured
his shoulder during the first half and was replaced at the break by Fabrizio
Miccoli.
"It's a dislocation or partial dislocation, I am not exactly sure, but he
will be out for two or three weeks," said Lippi after the game.
The injury almost certainly rules Trezeguet out of the return leg and one man
definitely missing will be midfielder Antonio Conte.
Conte was booked for a senseless challenge on Valeron a minute into injury
time, and will be serve a one match suspension.
French referee Gilles Veissiere had been remarkably lenient and only
Deportivo defender Nourredine Naybet had gone in his book up until that point
but he clearly had had enough of Conte's endless niggling fouls.
