Juventus beat Real to reach Peace Cup final

Juventus beat Real Madrid 2-1 Friday to reach the final of the Peace Cup as the big-spending Spanish club failed to shine in its first major pre-season test.

The Italians will meet Aston Villa on Sunday after the English Premier League side beat Porto of Portugal by the same score in Malaga.

Juventus got off to a flying start in the match in Seville when Fabio Cannavaro connected with a free kick from Alessandro del Piero to head the ball past Jerzy Dudek in the third minute.

Real leveled the score when the world’s most expensive footballer Cristiano Ronaldo scored his second goal — and second penalty — in a Real shirt.

The 23-year-old Portuguese star – who cost Real around 94 million euros when he joined from Manchester United — slotted the ball past Gianluigi Buffon in the 41st minute after Giorgio Chiellini brought down Raul.

Bosnian midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic restored the advantage for the Italians in the 49th minute with a glancing header from a corner by Alessandro Del Piero.

The match was Real’s first real pre-season test after matches against Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers, Saudi side Al Ittihad and Ecuador’s La Liga de Quito.

But three of the club’s big new signings — Kaka, Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa — and Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos were not selected,

All had been allowed to extend their holidays after taking part in the Confederations Cup in South Africa in June.

But Real coach Manuel Pellegrini was able to count on French signing Karim Benzema, who had recovered from a knock picked up in the match against La Liga de Quito.

The former Lyon striker, who joined Real for 35 million euros (50 million dollars) earlier this month, was substituted in the 72nd minute by Argentine Gonzalo Higuain.

Twelve clubs took part in the prestigious pre-season Peace Cup tournament.

The tournament began life in 2003 and FIFA recognised it as an international event in 2007.

This year is the first time it has been held outside of South Korea.