TNT Sports
Real feel disappointed
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Published 23/02/2005 at 11:28 GMT
Real Madrid feel that Juventus were lucky to escape from the Bernabeu with just a 1-0 defeat in Tuesday's Champions League tie. The goal came when Real centre-back Ivan Helguera flicked a glancing header into the far corner on a David Beckham free kick from the left.
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Raul, Ronaldo and defender Walter Samuel all had opportunities to extend Real's lead, but ultimately the Spaniards had to settle for a slender one-goal advantage ahead of the return leg of the first knockout round in Turin.
"We are a little bit disappointed because we felt that the result didn't do us justice," said Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo. "The good thing, though, was that we didn't let in a goal and that makes us optimistic about our chances when we go there."
For Juventus, who rarely managed to threaten the Real goal, it was a first defeat in this season's Champions League and only the second time they had conceded a goal.
It has been a bad month for Fabio Capello's side, who have frittered away an eight-point advantage at the top of the Serie A and no longer possess the aura of invincibility that allowed them to qualify for the knockout stages with such ease.
Real, in contrast, have been in fine form since Brazilian coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo took charge at the end of last year, putting together a seven-match winning streak in the league before going down 2-0 to Athletic Bilbao last weekend.
SOLID DEFENCE
Part of the reason for the improvement has been their new-found confidence in defence says keeper Iker Casillas.
"The most positive aspect was our performance at the back," he said. "Once more we were very solid at the back and dealt comfortably with the few chances they had. Not conceding any goals at home was very good news.
"We are a little disappointed we didn't score any more ourselves and we didn't make the most of our chances we had, but this is a good result. If we get a goal in Turin they are going to have to score three to get through."
Former Juventus player Zinedine Zidane, who turned in one of his best performances of the season, was also upbeat about his side's chances of making the quarter-finals.
"We played really well and deserved a second goal," he said. "Apart from our defeat in the league at the weekend, the team is playing a lot better. We have started 2005 in good shape and this is the way we have to continue."
The only negative note for Real was a suspected knee ligament injury to right back Michel Salgado, who was forced to leave the field early on after colliding with Pavel Nedved.
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