Del Piero sinks Newcastle

Del Piero (left) was in blistering form for Juventus

Juventus 2-0 Newcastle

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Newcastle's hopes of reaching the second round of the Champions League were effectively ended by two Alessandro del Piero goals.

The Italian striker opened the scoring with a sumptuous free-kick and took the match beyond the Magpies with another excellent right-foot finish.

Newcastle created numerous half-chances but Juventus - unbeaten in their previous seven home games in the Champions League - always seemed capable of scoring.

  Key moments

22 mins: Del Piero hits the crossbar

65 mins: Del Piero scores

80 mins: Del Piero scores again

Sir Bobby Robson's team have now lost their three opening Group E fixtures while failing to score - and realistically can hope for no more than a third placed finish and a Uefa Cup spot.

But with Feyenoord drawing 0-0 with Dynamo Kiev, Newcastle still have an outside chance of snatching second place in the group if they win their final three games.

Shearer almost got Newcastle off to a sensational start, but his first-minute shot was superbly blocked by Lilian Thuram.

Marco Di Vaio then headed wide for Juve as both teams went in search of an early goal.

Laurent Robert had Gianluigi Buffon scrambling towards his goal-line with an audacious lob that drifted narrowly over and Shearer scuffed a volley after a superb deep cross from Kieron Dyer.

Robson remains defiant

But the match was subjected to a lengthy stoppage after Di Vaio sustained a serious after just 13 minutes.

The Juve striker collided with Andy Griffin while challenging for an aerial ball and crashed to the pitch.

Di Vaio had lengthy medical treatment and received oxygen as he was stretchered from the field, but quickly recovered conciousness.

Trezeguet replaced Di Vaio and was soon in the thick of the action.

Photo gallery: All the action from Turin

He forced a brilliant save from Shay Given and from the subsequent corner struck the ball inches over the crossbar.

Not to be outdone, Del Piero crashed a thundering shot against the crossbar with Given beaten.

The home team continued to dominate, closing quickly in midfield and forcing Newcastle backwards.

But Newcastle held firm and almost scored on the stroke of half time.

Robson watches anxiously from the bench

Shearer mis-kicked Dyer's superb cut-back but the ball broke to Robert, who was only denied by a superb save from Buffon.

Trezeguet was inches from giving his team the lead shortly after the break and the French striker had a header saved before Juve opened the scoring.

Nikos Dabizas fouled Del Piero on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area and the Italian international converted the free kick in style.

Shearer put the ball in the Juve net within minutes but the goal was ruled out for off-side.

And Del Piero put the game beyond doubt with another superb right-foot shot after a neat cut-back from Edgar Davids.

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Juventus: Buffon, Montero, Thuram, Tudor (Birindelli 84), Iuliano, Moretti, Nedved, Davids, Baiocco (Fresi 86), Di Vaio (Trezeguet 17), Del Piero.
Subs Not Used: Chimenti, Ferrara, Salas, Camoranesi.

Booked: Iuliano.

Newcastle: Given, Griffin (Ameobi 79), Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Jenas (LuaLua 79), Dyer, Solano (Viana 70), Robert, Speed, Shearer.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Elliott, Bramble, Bernard.

Booked: Dabizas.

Attendance: 41,424

Referee: Rene Temmink (Holland).