TNT Sports
Juve too quick for Rapid
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Published 27/09/2005 at 22:43 GMT+1
David Trezeguet found the net again as Juventus swept past Rapid Vienna 3-0 in Tuesday's Champions League encounter. Adrian Mutu and Zlatan Ibrahimovic added Juve's two other goals in the final ten minutes. Elsewhere, a rare Martin Demichelis goal gave Ba
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The scoreline at a habitually half-empty Delle Alpi was a touch harsh on a hard-working Rapid side, but a heavy-legged Juventus never seemed to be in danger of not winning the game.
With Fabio Capello naming his first-choice line-up after the luxury of being able to rest some of his over-played stars, the Italian champions could have been ahead inside ten minutes if Emerson had not slipped when shooting.
But what the combative Brazilian lacks in finishing prowess, Trezeguet has by the spade load.
The Frenchman has been in inspired form since the start of the season and grabbed his fifth goal of this campaign - his second in two Champions League matches - as he rounded off a sleek move involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluca Zambrotta after 26 minutes.
LIVING DANGEROUSLY
But with some selfish play from the wilful Ibrahimovic - greedily choosing to go it alone with team-mates better placed just before the interval - Juventus were living dangerously.
Keeper Christian Abbiati was even called into action, diving full length to his right to push away an Andreas Ivanschitz drive midway through the second half as Rapid began to feel they could ambush the bianconeri.
But Adrian Mutu - on as a second-half sub - extinguished their hopes eight minutes from time as he wrong-footed György Korsos to fire a low shot which found Helge Payer's bottom left-hand corner.
Ibrahimovic then added a fortuitous scoreline-padding third two minutes later as his miscued volley from Pavel Nedved's pass rebounded off the turf and over Payer.
"I think it was a fully deserved victory. However we created a lot of chances but we didn't take them and that meant we had to wait until the 82nd minute to seal the result after our keeper made two important saves," said Capello.
BAYERN SEAL HISTORIC WIN
Bayern Munich marked the beginning of a new chapter in their European history with a 1-0 win over Club Bruges on Tuesday.
The German champions, playing their first European home game since moving from the Olympic Stadium to a spectacular new ground, went ahead with a scrambled Martin Demichelis goal in the 32nd minute.
There were no further goals but Bayern remained in control throughout the match in front of a 66,000 capacity crowd at the three-tiered Allianz Arena.
Michael Ballack wafted a free kick just wide, Mehmet Scholl hit the post and Roy Makaay inexplicably failed to make contact after a Ze Roberto cross presented an easy chance.
Still, the goal gave them a second straight win to match the pace of Juventus, their next opponents, who remain top of the group after cruising to a 3-0 win over visiting Rapid Vienna.
A decent number of home fans were clad in traditional lederhosen, apparently en route from beer-guzzling at the Oktoberfest.
BUTINA'S GIFT
Tomislav Butina, back in goal for Bruges after missing the defeat by Juventus, seemed intent on giving the German fans cause for more celebration.
Michael Ballack left Butina wrong-footed with a free kick that floated just wide in the 12th minute and shortly afterwards Bixente Lizarazu's deflected shot trickled past the post with the keeper stranded.
Butina then gifted Bayern their goal as he came out to meet Ze Roberto's corner only to miss the ball altogether.
Valerien Ismael managed to force it back towards goal and Demichelis reached out a leg to prod into the roof of the net.
Lizarazu came close again a minute before the break, chipping the ball onto the roof of the net as Bayern maintained control.
The chances continued to come thick and fast in the second half, with Scholl making an immediate impact after coming on in the 53rd minute.
The German playmaker struck the post with a whistling free kick in the 58th minute and then forced a fine save out of Butina from the edge of the box.
Demichelis missed a simple header from another corner as Bayern upped the pressure before Makaay's failure to connect with Ze Roberto's fine cross cost them what seemed a certain second goal.
Bayern's failure to make the game safe, coupled with an injury that forced Ballack off in the 83rd minute, led to a few nervous moments at the end as Bruges finally started to come forward, albeit with little finesse.
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