Juventus moved to the top of Champions League Group H with victory over Real Madrid on a sombre evening in Turin.

The game was overshadowed by a traffic accident earlier on Tuesday which claimed the lives of two supports and injured 20 more travelling from Switzerland to watch the game at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero put the hosts ahead in the fifth minute before Amauri doubled the lead shortly after the re-start.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy reduced the deficit in the 66th minute but despite the Spaniards' desperate attempts, the Italians held on for a vital victory.

The win lifted Juve to one point clear of Real Madrid, and eased the pressure on coach Claudio Ranieri, whose team had not won in five games in all competitions.

Following a minute's silence before kick-off, Juve started brightly and their efforts were rewarded early on.

Del Piero played a one-two with Amauri before firing a right-footed effort from outside the area which stunned Iker Casillas and nestled in the net.

Madrid, who were looking for their first win in Turin after four failed attempts, reacted and came close to equalising.

Rafael van der Vaart's long-distance effort went just over the crossbar.

Juventus goalkeeper Alex Manninger was then forced to stretch to save Van der Vaart's right-footed attempt.

And it was the Dutch midfielder who almost levelled the score midway through the first half, his powerful strike from outside the area going just wide of the far post.

Amauri should have extended his team's advantage before the half-hour mark but his header from Zdenek Grygera's cross went off target.

At the other end, Manninger was forced to come off his line with Sergio Ramos approaching the area.

Ranieri made his first substitution before half-time with Hasan Salihamidzic replacing injured Claudio Marchisio.

Juve's injury woes continued after the re-start, with Olaf Mellberg coming on for Nicola Legrottaglie, who sustained a muscle injury.

It did not hinder the hosts, however, who increased their lead in the 49th minute.

Amauri latched onto Pavel Nedved's cross and his header took a deflection off Gabriel Heinze's foot and went into the back of the net.

The Spaniards showed more determination and the tireless Van der Vaart almost reduced the deficit when his powerful header flew just wide of Manninger's far post.

On the hour mark, Wesley Sneijder's stinging drive beat Manninger but rebounded off the right post.

Real eventually made the pressure count. Heinze's cross from the left found an unmarked Van Nistelrooy inside the area and the Dutchman's header beat Manninger.

At the other end, Del Piero's free-kick proved an easy save for Casillas, while Nedved's effort was too central to trouble the Spain's number one.

Bernd Schuster's side continued to press in search of the equaliser, but it was not forthcoming as they suffered their first Champions League defeat of the season.