Zalayeta sends Real crashing out after extra-time

Real Madrid were sensationally dumped out of the Champions League by Juventus after losing 2-0 to the Italians in extra-time in Turin.

With the scores tied at 1-1 on aggregate and penalties just four minutes away, Marcelo Zalayeta's superb low drive found the bottom corner for the all-important second goal that took the Italian side through to the quarter-finals at the expense of the nine-time European champions.

Juve substitute David Trezeguet scored the only goal of regulation time, his 75th minute hooked shot restoring equality in the second round tie after Madrid's victory by the same 1-0 scoreline a fortnight ago.

Real's Brazilian striker Ronaldo and Juve midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi marred an otherwise sporting contest by being sent off in the second period of extra-time for an ugly exchange off the ball.

With Real eight points adrift of Barcelona in the Spanish league, the expensively-assembled 'Galacticos' could now end the season without a single piece of silverware.

Juve coach Fabio Capello, who guided Real to the Spanish league title in the 1996/97 season, made no excuses for his wild celebrations after the final whistle, his normally cool exterior giving way to a man possessed as he danced down the tunnel.

"Beating Real is never easy and it provoked a different emotion in me," he said. "I think it's the first time that I have celebrated in such a manner, but now I'd like to do it all over again."

Capello praised his players for a monumental effort that ensured there were no Spanish teams left in the competition following Barcelona's exit at the hands of Chelsea on Tuesday.

"We were very concentrated and attentive and that was just as well as Real conceded very little," added the 58-year-old. "It was a huge task after the defeat in Madrid and we knew that it was going to be tough, but we played with heart, determination and a lot of quality."

Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo failed to hide his disappointment at failing to reach the last eight. "It was a tight game, but one that was there to be won," said the Brazilian. 

Real's French midfielder Zinedine Zidane started against his former club having recovered from a muscle strain, while Raul returned to captain the Spanish side after a bout of flu to make his 95th Champions League appearance.

Trezeguet, who has only recently returned to action after being struck down by a virus, had to be content with a place on the bench, while Pavel Nedved was ruled out altogether. The dynamic Czech midfielder was knocked unconscious in the first leg in Madrid and has not played since. 

Juventus spurned a golden opportunity in the fifth minute. Zalayeta's delicately chipped pass found Zlatan Ibrahimovic unmarked, but the lanky Swede shot straight at Iker Casillas from eight yards.

Mauro Camoranesi's angled drive sailed wide as the home side kept up the early pressure, before Casillas fumbled a tame shot by Alessandro Del Piero which almost left the Madrid keeper red-faced.

Alarm bells rang in the Juve defence in the 25th minute when Zidane, scorer of the winning goal for Real in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen, showed Jonathan Zebina a clean pair of heels, but having made the opening the Frenchman fired over the bar from the edge of the 18-yard box.

The majority of the 60,000 crowd at the Delle Alpi stadium breathed a collective sigh of relief five minutes before half-time when Ronaldo, who played in Italy with Juve's fierce rivals Inter Milan and was whistled every time he touched the ball, curled a low shot narrowly wide of the post after gliding past two defenders.

The speedy South American went even closer six minutes after the restart, accelerating past Fabio Cannavaro in a blur of movement and unleashing an explosive drive that Gianluigi Buffon was grateful to see come back off the post after the ball had slipped through his normally reliable fingers.

Trezeguet came on for the tiring Del Piero to spice up Juve's attack before Ibrahimovic sent a rising half-volley into the stands.

The deadlock was finally broken 15 minutes from time when Camoranesi's cross from the right was headed back from the byline by Ibrahimovic and Trezeguet acrobatically hooked the ball past a helpless Casillas.

Real celebrated what they thought was a perfectly good equaliser six minutes from time, but Ronaldo's goal was ruled out for offside.

After Ronaldo and Tacchinardi went for an early bath, Zalayeta settled the contest with a goal fit to win a final.