Mijatovic strikes to end famine for Real. Italian job is right on the night for Spaniards

THEY are back where so many football lovers throughout the world believe they should be, at the very top of the tree, and no-one can say that Real Madrid do not again deserve their place in the sun.

The men in those familiar white shirts may not be in the same league as the class of 1960, but they are fine players in their own right and they overcame what is arguably the finest team of the current era to end their 32-year wait for this Champions' Cup success.

In the beginning you would not have believed it could happen as the clever Italians danced around the Spanish side during an opening period, when they could easily have gone one or two ahead.

Instead, Madrid soaked up the punishment, dusted themselves off, and decided they could show Juve a few tricks. The result was a cup final worthy of its place in the memorable contests of European football. Skill, class, courage, and invention were in most departments in both teams, and the tactical struggle was fascinating.

In the end it was the goal sense of a player who hails from Montenegro, Predrag Mijatovic, which prevailed in the end. His deft touch followed by accurate shot midway through the second half settled a superb contest. The Spanish fans, starved of this pinnacle for so long, were entitled to their fireworks, their singing, and their dancing, all of which went on into the early hours in Amsterdam.

Real were the real thing, none more so than the Italian in their team, Christian Panucci, who has perfected the art of attacking from the back. He was tremendous.

It would only be fair to say that Boyzone played a real blinder, too. The Irish group came on to the park before the start and did a mini-gig, if that is the trendy way to put it, and enjoyed the benefits of the sensational sound system which bounces the music off the sliding roof and back into the wonderful stadium. Sounded pretty good, too, although the old fogeys in the mast ranks of the supporters at both end were muted in their appreciation.

Not that they would qualify for that title, of course, but there were major figures from Scotland in the VIP box. Ernie Walker, minus his think-tank, Andy Roxburgh, who arrived in a shiny official limousine, and the man from the SFA, Jim Farry, also was in town. The chief executive was on business, though, as he had been chosen to be the official UEFA delegate for this final, quite an honour for him and his country.

The Real supporters would, I am certain, have asked the arbiter in the stand if his report would question the German referee, Helmutt Krug's judgment when he ignored a penalty claim of their team when Mark Iuliano brought down Mijatovic as a cross from Christian Panucci came over from the right.

That had signaled a recovery from an early mauling which the Spanish side had taken from the Italians who, in that period, were slicker, smarter, and surer.

Zidane was in classic form, his long stride taking him deep into enemy territory and his accurate passing opening holes in the Madrid defence.

However, while Real had scarcely been seen in aggressive formation, Juventus still hadn't done the damage that their play warranted. Zidane did go close when a freekick by Del Piero came back off the ''wall,'' and when he was given the ball, the Frenchman tried a fine left-foot shot but it went into the side net.

It was soon after this that Madrid, having been denied that penalty, went into forward gear, and suddenly we had a game on our hands. Fernando Hierro, who was to be booked a little later for a foul on Del Piero, smashed a freekick that Angelo Peruzzi could only help over the bar. However, the best chance of all fell to the man reckoned Real's finest player, Raul, who knocked the ball wide from a few yards after a well weighted low cross into his path from Mijatovic.

Roberto Carlos, one of the Brazilians who will be testing Scotland's mettle next month in the World Cup, tried one of his startling, bending free kicks, and it was not far away from swerving inside the far post.

The Brazil defender was not at all pleased soon afterwards when he had his name taken for a foul on Di Livio, but the two were soon the best of pals again.

Edgar Davids was fortunate to stay on the field after he fouled Christian Karembeu, having already been shown a yellow card.

Di Livio was kept inside at half-time and replaced by Alessio Tacchinardi, and the change seemed to inject new life into Juventus, but once again when they went on top they failed to show the killer touch for which they are renowned.

Inzaghi had been anonymous in the first half, but suddenly he was involved in everything. The way he tamed one cross from Davids, turned, and forced the keeper into a fine save was in the highest class, but he ought to have scored after a free kick taken by Zidane broke through the defensive wall and left him with only the keeper to beat.

The Italian was to regret that miss badly as Real took the lead not long afterwards, in 67 minutes. The man from Montenegro, Mijatovic, did the trick when he seized the ball after a Roberto Carlos shot had been deflected, swerved outside the keeper, and sent it with his left foot into the gaping net.

If the Spanish crowd went wild they should have seen the Hispanic commentator in the press box. The man stood up, screamed some indecipherable word or words for two or three minutes without taking a breath, and very nearly drowned out the din of 15,000 fans in full voice.

Juventus then put on Daniel Fonseca for Pessotto and went up a gear to try to get into the game. They should have done it, too, when Davids manoeuvred inside two defenders and found himself with only Illgner in his path, but he shot too near the keeper and the chance was gone.

Real coach Jupp Heynckes refused to be drawn on speculation surrounding his future, preferring to concentrate on his side's big success. ''Talk about my future can wait,'' said the German. ''Right now I am delighted for my team and the institution that is Real Madrid.''

Juventus - Peruzzi, Torricelli, Montero, Di Livio, Inzaghi, Del Piero, Iuliano, Deschamps, Zidane, Pessotto, Davids. Substitutes - Rampulla, Dimas, Conte, Birindelli, Amoruso, Fonseca, Tacchinardi.

Real Madrid - Illgner, R Carlos, Hierro, Zanchis, Redondo, Raul, Mijatovic, Seedorf, Morientes, Panucci, Karembeu. Substitutes - Canizares, Suker, Amavisca, Jaime, Victor, Sanz, Savio.

Referee - H Krug (Germany).