Rimini, on the Adriatic coast of northern Italy, is a beautiful place. Holidaymakers flock to the nine-mile long sandy beach, the clear blue seas and the ancient Roman Tiberius Bridge.

For Juventus though, their visit to Rimini 11 years ago was about as enjoyable as a holiday made up of incessant rain and non-stop family arguments. It was here on September 9 2006 that the recently relegated Juve travelled to face AC Rimini to begin their first and only season in Italy's second division.

Juve in Serie B could scarcely have been more incongruous. The grand "Old Lady" of Italian football being forced to trade the glamour of the Champions League for the dusty, ramshackle stadiums of teams like Frosinone, AlbinoLeffe and Mantova. It was like sending the Queen to an inner-city estate and telling her to have a kickabout with the local kids.

But now, after a long and arduous ascent back to the peak of European football, Juventus can laugh at their misfortune as they stand on the brink of greatness. On Wednesday night they are away at Monaco in the Champions League semi-final, favourites to come through the tie and the bookies' choice to win the entire competition until Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.