Take Aston Villa's defeat against Juventus in the 1983 European Cup quarter final first leg. Thousands of home fans would have left Villa Park on that March evening disappointed to have their club's grip on the European Cup loosened. Yet there was no disgrace in losing to that Juventus team, their calibre clear for all to see in the sublime winning goal that combined grace and power.
When the draw for the last eight was made in December 1982, many journalists felt that Villa had been handed the hardest possible test that continental Europe could provide. Liverpool, drawn against Polish team Widzew Lodz, were installed as 13/8 favourites to regain the trophy, with Juventus priced at 11/4. Villa's odds of 13/2 highlighted the task ahead of them.
It was easy to see why the bookies had set these odds. Juventus, managed by Giovanni Trapattoni, were stuffed full of stars. Six players - Dino Zoff, Antonio Cabrini, Claudio Gentile, Gaetano Scirea, Marco Tardelli and Paolo Rossi - had featured in Italy's World Cup winning team. Only injury prevented Roberto Bettega from joining that particular party.
Added into this mix were the imported talents of Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek. Both had starred at the World Cup as France and Poland reached the last four in Spain, and their signings were expected to propel Juventus to the next level. Justifiably the Express' John Wragg described Juventus as "a World Cup XI thinly disguised as a club side."
Initially the pair struggled to adapt to Italian football. The Guardian's David Lacey detailed how both had rowed with Trappatoni about their best positions, adding that disgruntled fans had vandalised the cars of Platini and Boniek after a poor performance. Boniek had been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, with Platini rumoured to be interested in joining the North American Soccer League.
Had Villa played Juventus at the turn of the new year then maybe their chances would have been improved. Yet gradually Boniek and Platini integrated themselves into the team and the Italian game. Winning Serie A was no longer possible, but as the two clubs prepared to meet in March, the upturn in form made Juventus strong candidates for the European Cup.
Taking a win to Turin was vital for Tony Barton and his Villa side. But crucially the team would be without the services of centre back Allan Evans, suspended after being sent off in the feisty Super Cup win over Barcelona. It would take just 40 seconds for Juventus to take advantage.
Bettega and Cabrini combined down the left, the latter whipping in a cross that saw Rossi steal a march on Des Bremner. Sending a thumping header past Nigel Spink at the Holte End of the stadium, Rossi had demonstrated just why Juventus were feared so highly. Ten minutes later, full back Colin Gibson headed against his own crossbar, as Villa struggled to keep the visitors at arm's length.
In fairness, Ken McNaught was unfortunate when he had a goal disallowed for a push from a Gordon Cowans corner in the 15th minute. But with Gentile sticking to Gary Shaw like glue - a huge compliment to the young Villa forward - Juventus denied Villa any clear cut opportunities in the first half.
However, a brief ray of light appeared for Villa eight minutes into the second half. Cowans, who had earned his first England cap against Wales a week before, equalised with a fantastic diving header from Gibson's pass. But it proved to be a brief respite. "I felt that Juventus suddenly smelt that they were capable of exposing us and getting a winner," Spink admitted, as Juventus clicked through the gears.
As the match entered the last ten minutes, Villa were vulnerable. Spink superbly denied Rossi in the 80th minute, turning the Italian's effort on to the post, after Platini's beautifully weighted through ball. But the French magician would take centre stage once again three minutes later, with a moment of brilliance that put the ooh into ooh la la.
There seemed little danger as Bettega received a pass from Cabrini, yet as soon as the ball was rolled inside to Platini the situation escalated quickly for Villa. Instantly flicking the ball with the outside of his right foot through to the onrushing Boniek, Platini had carved open the Villa defence in an instant. From Bettega's pass to Boniek's finish, it took just five seconds for the decisive goal.
Boniek did not have to break his stride or do anything to get the ball under his control, such was the quality of Platini's pass. With the ball sitting up invitingly, Boniek lashed an unstoppable drive past Spink from just inside Villa's box. A killer blow that effectively ended Villa's reign as European champions. But even the staunchest Villa fan could not argue with the result or the beauty of the winning goal.
Boniek's goal was further proof of his ability to produce his best form for Juventus in big European matches, earning him the nickname of Bello di notte - Beauty at night - given to him by club President Gianni Agnelli. A year later he would score the winning goal in the European Cup Winners' Cup final.
As ever, Barry Davies said it best when describing the winning moment. "That's a lovely ball by Platini, and Boniek! Oh what a marvellous goal," Davies declared excitedly. "It was quite superbly played through first time with the outside of the right boot, and finished with a rasping shot that gave Spink no earthly chance."
Lacey described Platini's pass as "outrageously nonchalant", with the Mail's Jeff Powell using "exquisite" to paint the picture. Powell was understandably gushing in his praise towards the pair that combined for the winner, calling Platini "the French artist" and Boniek "the Polish hammer." An ideal cocktail that left Villa staggering.
It was a bad few hours for English football. Earlier in the day, Liverpool had lost 2-0 in Poland, and with Boniek's goal seeing off Villa, the Express headline of "Pole-axed" was fitting. When both Villa and Liverpool exited two weeks later, it would be the first time since 1976 that the European Cup would not be won by an English club.
For Juventus the hunt for a first European Cup would go on. After beating Liverpool's conquerors in the semi-final, the Italians surprisingly lost the final to Hamburg in Athens. Two years later, Boniek and Platini were involved in the goal that finally saw Juventus lift the trophy, although what should have been a glorious occasion was lost on a night of tragedy.
In their time together at Juventus, Platini and Boniek claimed an Italian Cup, the European Cup Winners' Cup, Super Cup, Serie A and European Cup. Quite an impressive haul. They may have struggled early on during their time in Turin, but quality will eventually tell. Just ask anyone who was privileged enough to be at Villa Park in March 1983.
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