Llorente revels in treble heaven

Villarreal striker Joseba Llorente hailed the spirit among his club's squad after his hat-trick helped seal a thrilling 6-3 Champions League win at home to AaB Aalborg.

The 28-year-old former Real Sociedad and Valladolid frontman netted three times in the second half at El Madrigal, as the Yellow Submarine fought to see off the strong challenge of their Danish visitors.

Llorente told Uefa.com: "My favourite goal of the three was definitely the one that people would least understand me choosing.

"It was the second because Robert Pires gave me a great assist for the simplest goal you could wish to score.

"He was one-on-one with the keeper and I know he would have scored if he tried, but he chose to serve it up to me because I was in a slightly better position.

"That indicates the footballing spirit here, all for one and one for all.

"This was probably the best 45 minutes of my career. I've had terrific games before, but for the importance of it being in the Champions League and given the fightback, this performance stands out."

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster was left to reflect on a disappointing evening for his team, after they were beaten 2-1 in Turin by Juventus.

The Spanish champions fell a goal behind after only five minutes in the Stadio Olimpico and were unable to mount a recovery as the home side made it 2-0 soon after half-time.

Schuster said after the loss: "The defeat does not surprise me, but the way we started the game did.

"In our last few games, we have always started the match well and we had the same idea again here, but Juventus started very aggressively, while we were very poor.

"We will have to settle things at home. It is necessary to win at the Bernabeu and if we can do that, we will come first in the group."

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre has played down reports that his job could be on the line after three successive league defeats.

He told Marca: "It is normal to work under pressure in any team, especially after three consecutive defeats.

"There has been news everywhere about my dismissal, but a coach must learn to grow accustomed to these rumours."