ADVERTORIAL
JUVE GOT TO BE IN IT,
TO BWIN IT!
bwin treated their affiliates to a Juventus special in early June as they
organised a fantastic event that saw around 30 lucky affiliates have the chance
to take part in a game of football at the home of Italy’s most successful club.
ARRIVING THE NIGHT BEFORE,
Juve’s official betting partner welcomed
all participants to a hotel in Turin where
they were briefed about the next day’s
schedule: setting off to the revamped and
much more atmospheric stadium in the
morning, how the game would be set up in
terms of substitutions and subsequent postmatch lunch and club museum visiting
arrangements.
Most of those (but not all!) present were
well-behaved and went to bed early to be
ready for the next day’s exertions in what
promised to be sweltering conditions.
The heat was there and kept creeping
towards the 30 degrees Celsius mark, but
while most of us worried about its effect
it was only as we approached and then
entered the stadium through the players’
entrance that we started to realise what a
great trip bwin had organised.
Walking to the dressing rooms through
corridors filled with pictures of Juve greats
such as Roberto Bettega, Gaetano Scirea or
Michel Platini, it was gradually dawning
on all those present that they were about to
play in a truly remarkable setting.
Juventus have won 33 Italian league titles
(or 31 depending on whether the 2005 and
2006 titles are included or not), 10 Italian
cup titles, two Champions Leagues and two
Intercontinental cups. A true great of the
European game.
Fair to say it is not often that you
get ready for a game in a changing
room where the kit is flocked with
your name on the back of the jersey
and everyone savoured every moment
of the experience.
As for the game itself, players’ levels
varied quite strongly with some showing
good skills and technique and others just
enjoying being in such a great sporting
venue. The score ended 7-3 to the Juventus
‘away’ team playing in blue, although
goals did range from the farcical, usually a
defensive mishap, to excellent build ups
and quality finishing.
With the first half dominated by the
‘away’ team as it led 3 -1 at the break,
the match became a lot tighter after the
break even if the home team did not
take enough of the chances it created.
With fitness levels also showing the
full range of players’ capabilities and
stamina, the game, as one would expect,
became more and more stretched as the
second half wore on, with legs becoming
heavier and the heat talking its toll.
Overall though iGB Affiliate and all the
affiliates lucky enough to be part of the trip
would like to thank bwin for a fantastic event
and one that no one will forget in a hurry.
And congratulations to Bulgarian
affiliate and huge Juventus fan Deyan
Petrov, who actually won the draw to
take the winners’ cup home. Good job
too, since no one wanted to take it in their
luggage!
The final note however has to go to the
affiliate who thought he had won a ticket
to the Champions League final which was
taking place a couple of days later in Berlin.
He took it in good humour though.
iGB AffiAffiliate JUNE/JULY 2015
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