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Buffon backs 'special' Juve

Juventus FC's Gianluigi Buffon will provide the perfect antidote to the threat of a Real Madrid CF counterattack.

By Paolo Menicucci

As Juventus FC go in search of goals at the Stadio Delle Alpi tonight, they will do so in the knowledge that, in goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, they have the perfect antidote to the threat of a Real Madrid CF counterattack.

Away goal fear
Juventus must score if they are to remain in the competition, having lost 1-0 at Madrid a fortnight ago in the first instalment of their Round of 16 tie. However, they also have to guard against conceding an away goal to the Spanish side. This is where the Italian international comes into play.

'Could have been easier'
"I believe we have every chance of reversing the first-leg result and progressing in the competition, even though our match is far from easy," Buffon told uefa.com. "I am disappointed because I did not want to lose at the [Santiago] Bernabéu, any type of defeat hurts. I did not like the fact we did not score a goal, I would have preferred to have lost 2-1 or 3-2, which would have made the second leg easier."

'Never give up'
None the less, according to the custodian, Juve have the necessary spirit and experience to overturn both a 1-0 deficit and many people's favourites for the trophy. "This Juventus side is special because even when we don't get the rub of the green, we are always at the top of our game," he said. "We never give up and always give a good account of ourselves against any opponent, which in my opinion, is the hallmark of a great team."

Precedent for victory
Two seasons ago, in the Champions League semi-finals, the Bianconeri beat Madrid 4-3 on aggregate after losing 2-1 away in the first leg. David Trezeguet, Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved scored in the decider in Turin, with Zinedine Zidane's goal not enough for the visitors because Buffon saved a Luís Figo penalty earlier in the game.

Lucky competition
"I have been fortunate in that I always seem to play well in the Champions League and because of this, I am always happy when I am involved in this competition," said the 27-year-old.

Favourite saves
Having ousted Madrid, Juventus lost against AC Milan on penalties in the final at Old Trafford. Now the aim is to go one better. "If we had won the Champions League, I think I would remember the penalty that I saved from [Clarence] Seedorf or the stop I made from [Filippo] Inzaghi's header," Buffon said. "It was a big disappointment not to have won the Champions League but I am sure that if we manage to win it this time, the disappointment will go away very quickly."