Saturday, December 21, 2013

Memorable European Confrontations, Part 14-1983 Juventus vs. Aston Villa

Juventus and Aston Villa were paired in the Quarterfinals of the 1982/83 Champions Cup.
The Italians, managed by Giovanni Trappatoni, boasted a squad that contained six recent World Cup Champions; Zoff, Gentile, Scirea, Cabrini, Tardelli and Rossi.
In addition they had the French and Polish superstars Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek.
In the previous two rounds they had eliminated Denmark’s Hvidovre and Belgium’s Standard Liege.
They were lagging behind in the League to AS Roma due to their poor start with Platini taking time to adapt, but by the spring time they had regained their form with Platini in superb form.
Aston Villa were the defending Champions of this competition. They were off the pace in the League but had weeks before defeated Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup.
The team was captained by Dennis Mortimer was led upfront by Peter White and supported by Gordon Cowans, Gary Shaw and Tony Morley among others.
In the previous two rounds they had eliminated Turkey’s Besiktas and Romania’s Dinamo Bucharest.

The first leg, on March 2nd, was played in Birmingham’s Villa Park with Juventus in confident mood despite playing away from home.
Aston Villa were missing Scottish defender Allan Evans, who was suspended after the violent clash with Barcelona in the Super Cup.

Photo From: L'Annee du Football 1983
(Massimo Bonini and Tony Morley)

Des Bremner took his place in defense.
Much was expected of Gordon Cowans who had just celebrated first cap, a week before.
After 38 seconds, Bettega sent Cabrini clear on the left side clear, who then crossed for Paolo Rossi to head home.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1926, March 8, 1983
(Michel Platini surrounded by Aston Villa players)

Juventus had assigned Gentile to guard Gary Shaw.
In the 13th minute, McNaught scored from a corner from Cowans, however, his attempt was ruled out after a foul on Scirea.

Photo From: Mondial, April 1983
(Roberto Bettega and Dennis Mortimer)

Before halftime, Aston Villa defender Gary Williams was subbed off and replaced by Deacy due to injury.

Photo From: Mondial, April 1983
(Clausio Gentile and Gary Shaw)

Early in the scond half, Tony Morley passed to Gibson who sent in a cross from the lft for Cowans to head home.
This did not deter Juventus and just before the end Platini sent Boniek clear with a through ball for the winner.

Photo From: Mondial, April 1983
(Gary Shaw and Gaetano Scirea)


March 2, 1983
Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham (England) 1- Juventus Football Club-Torino (Italy) 2
Champions Cup- Quarterfinals, First Leg
Venue: Birmingham-Villa Park
Attendance: 45,531
Referee: Walter Eschweiler (West Germany)
Goalscorers: (Aston Villa): Gordon Cowans 53
 (Juventus): Paolo Rossi 1-Zbigniew Boniek 83
Lineups:
Aston Villa:
1-Nigel Spink, 2-Gary Williams (14-Eamon Deacy (Republic of Ireland) 41st), 4-Des Bremner (Scotland), 5-Ken McNaught (Scotland), 3-Colin Gibson, 6-Dennis Mortimer, 8-Gary Shaw, 10-Gordon Cowans, 7-Andy Blair, 9-Peter White, 11-Tony Morley

Coach: Tony Barton
Booked: Eamon Deacy 54

Team Captain: Dennis Mortimer
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Le Coq Sportif
Shirt Sponsor: None
Uniform Colors: Claret with Sky Blue sleeves Shirts, Claret Shorts, Sky Blue Socks

Juventus:
1-Dino Zoff, 2-Claudio Gentile, 3-Antonio Cabrini, 5-Sergio Brio, 6-Gaetano Scirea, 8-Marco Tardelli, 4-Massimo Bonini, 10-Michel Platini (France), 11-Zbigniew Boniek (Poland), 9-Paolo Rossi, 7-Roberto Bettega

Coach: Giovanni Trappatoni

Team Captain: Dino Zoff
Official Kit Supplier/Designer:  Kappa
Shirt Sponsor:  None
Uniform Colors: Black White Vertical Striped Shirts, White Shorts , White Socks


The second leg, on March 16th,  was played at Turin’s Stadio Communale.
At this point Juventus were odds and favorites and with Platini in super form were favorites to win the trophy.
Platini was in such a fine form that the Italian Sports Journal had declared that Platini plays like an extra-terrestrial.

Photo From: Onze, April 1983
(The teams taking the field)

Juventus fielded an unchanged side. Aston Villa had Allan Evans back in defense, with Bremener back in midfield.
Morley and Andy Blair were missing, with Mark Walters starting.

Photo From: Onze, April 1983
(Paolo Rossi, Gordon Cowans and Des Bremner)

Juventus came out attacking from the start and Platini scored in the 13th minute from a long rane shot from outside of the box that Nigel Spink could not hold on to and slipped through.
In the 26th minute,  Tardelli scored the second off of a header from a cross by Paolo Rossi on the right.


Photo From: France Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(Spink unable to stop Tardelli’s header with Platini looking on)



Photo From: Onze, April 1983
(Dennis Mortimer and Michel Platini)

Juventus scored their third goal in the 68th minute, Boniek surged from the right, his pass across was intercepted by McNaught, but he was unaware that Platini was right behind him and stole it from him and took a low shot past Spink.


Photo From: Onze, April 1983
(Dennis Mortimer and Michel Platini)

Juventus were in complete control and the result was justified.
Ten minutes before the end, Aston Villa got a consolation goal when Gibson sent in a long cross from the left for Peter White to head home.



Photo From: France Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(Paolo Rossi and Des Bremner)


Photo From: L'Annee du Football 1983
(Platini’s second goal)


Juventus advanced to the semifinals and eliminated Boniek’s former club, Poland’s Widzew Lodz. In the Final , they lost to West Germany’s SV Hamburg.

They had to wait another two years to win this coveted trophy, sadly that would turn out to be the Heysel disaster.


Photo From: France Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(Zbigniew Boniek and Des Bremner)



March 16, 1983
Juventus Football Club-Torino (Italy) 3-Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham (England) 1
Champions Cup- Second Round, Second Leg
Venue: Turin-Stadio Communale
Attendance: 66,000
Referee: Jan Keizer (Holland)
Goalscorers: (Juventus): Michel Platini 13, 68, Marco Tardelli 26
  (Aston Villa):  Peter White 80

Lineups:
Juventus:
1-Dino Zoff, 2-Claudio Gentile, 3-Antonio Cabrini, 5-Sergio Brio (15-Giuseppe Furino 73rd), 6-Gaetano Scirea, 8-Marco Tardelli, 4-Massimo Bonini, 10-Michel Platini (France), 11-Zbigniew Boniek (Poland), 9-Paolo Rossi, 7-Roberto Bettega

Coach: Giovanni Trappatoni

Team Captain: Dino Zoff
Official Kit Supplier/Designer:  Kappa
Shirt Sponsor:  Ariston
Uniform Colors: White/Black Vertical Striped Shirts, White Shorts , White Socks

Aston Villa:
1-Nigel Spink, 2-Gary Williams, 4-Allan Evans (Scotland), 5-Ken McNaught (Scotland), 3-Colin Gibson, 7-Des Bremner (Scotland), 6-Dennis Mortimer, 8-Gary Shaw, 10-Gordon Cowans, 9-Peter White, 11-Mark Walters

Coach: Tony Barton

Team Captain: Dennis Mortimer
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Le Coq Sportif
Shirt Sponsor: None
Uniform Colors: Claret with Sky Blue sleeves Shirts, White Shorts, Sky Blue Socks

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