Barca in driving seat after stalemate

Juventus 1 Barcelona 1

Saviola’s deflected equaliser 12 minutes from time gave Barcelona a precious away goal after Paolo Montero had scored an early opener for the home side.

The result stretched Barcelona’s unbeaten run in the competition to 13 matches and makes the Spaniards favourites to advance to the semis, especially as Juve have won only once away from home in Europe this season.

Juventus had looked in control of the match after Montero struck, but a lapse in concentration allowed Saviola to peg the Italian champions back with a goal against the run of play.

Late substitute Marco Di Vaio almost restored Juventus’ lead in injury time, but the Italy international dragged his left foot shot wide of the post after outpacing the Barcelona defence.

The teams meet at the Nou Camp for the second leg on April 22. After a cagey start, the game sprang into life in the 16th minute when Juventus took the lead.

Nedved’s curling left-wing cross found Montero, who challenged for a header with Bareclona defender Michael Reiziger in the six yard box.

The ball fell for Del Piero whose acrobatic scissors-kick was beaten away by Barca goalkeeper Roberto Bonano but only as far as Montero, and the Uruguayan hardman found the top corner with a rising drive. The visitors struggled to keep possession for more than a few passes and their frustration resulted in yellow cards for Patrick Kluivert and Gabri.

However, late in the game Reiziger’s left-wing cross found Saviola whose toe-poke cannoned off Montero and squirmed over the line.

JUVENTUS: Buffon, Ferrara, Thuram, Montero, Tudor, Zambrotta, Camoranesi, Tacchinardi, Davids, Nedved, Del Piero.

BARCELONA: Bonano, Puyol, De Boer, Reiziger, Gabri, Overmars, Xavi, Motta, Riquelme, Kluivert, Saviola.