Real Madrid 1 - Juventus 0

Madrid: Casillas; Salgado (Raúl Bravo 09'), Iván Helguera, Samuel, Roberto Carlos; Beckham, Gravesen, Figo, Zidane; Ronaldo (Owen 76'), Raúl. 4-4-2.
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Camoranesi, Emerson, Blasi (Tacchinardi 69'), Nedved (Olivera 36'); Del Piero (Zalayeta 81'), Ibrahimovic. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 31. Helguera. Climbed above defence to head Beckham free kick past Buffon.

Real Madrid took a small but important step towards a place in the quarter finals after beating Juventus 1-0 in their first leg match. Luxemburgo could count on a full strength line up, although he lost Michel Salgado to a knee injury in the ninth minute after a tackle from Nedved (who himself left the field on a stretcher later in the first half after clashing heads with Samuel).

The early minutes were for Madrid, Ronaldo coming close on a couple of occasions and Samuel having a penalty claim turned down after a possible foul by Emerson. Raúl came closest to scoring though when he got on the end of a Roberto Carlos cross only to fire a shot onto the bar and over, but the Italians also created a couple of chances, Casillas catching an early shot from Nedved and tipping an effort from Emerson over the bar.

With just over half an hour on the clock Madrid took the lead, Iván Helguera getting on the end of Beckham's free kick to "head" the ball wide of Buffon (the ball actually coming off his shoulder and a defender's arm before entering the net). And the Spaniards kept up the pressure after the break, Beckham seeing his free kick headed over by Emerson, Ronaldo testing Buffon with a long shot and the keeper also saving from Zidane, Raúl being ruled offside on the follow up. Juventus got back in the game after that though, Casillas blocking a fierce shot from Olivera and then saving another header from Emerson.

The home side had another penalty appeal turned down by referee Lubos Michel when Zedina pulled Raúl back by his shirt, and Samuel could well have added a second goal when he headed a corner against the upright. But in the closing minutes Casillas had to be at his best to keep out an effort from Ibrahimovic. Soon afterwards the final whistle went, leaving the tie fairly evenly balanced going in to the second leg in a fortnight's time. Having prevented their opponents from scoring away from home though, Madrid must fancy their chances for a berth in the quarter finals.