My football

Friday, October 26, 2007

DEL PIERO LOOKS FOR PERFECT END

There will be no guessing as to whom Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero will dedicate a goal should he score on Saturday at Napoli.
Del Piero became a father on Sunday evening when his wife gave birth to a baby boy, Tobias - capping an unforgettable week for Juve's all-time goalscorer.
Del Piero signed a two-year contract extension with the Turin giants before scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Genoa last Sunday, keeping Claudio Ranieri's side in touch with Serie A leaders Internazionale.
The only setback of the encounter was that the former Chelsea manager was sent off for the first time in his career after protesting too strongly to the referee.
"It's the first time for me but in any case the important thing was the victory," said Ranieri, who will have to watch this weekend's encounter from the San Paolo stands as he serves a touchline ban.
"We also won without conceding a goal."
Juve are second in the standings after eight games - three points behind Inter, who take on Palermo at La Favorita - and Ranieri fears that a defeat on Saturday would rule them out of the title race.
"We are trying to make sure that Inter don't escape," said Ranieri. "If they do, we will never be able to catch them and the season would lose its appeal, hence, be must try to stop this from happening."
Napoli will be out to show the same character which frustrated Roma in the 4-4 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.
After back-to-back slips against Inter and Genoa, coach Edoardo Reja was delighted to see his side fight back from behind three times before eventually claiming a point.
"Every single time Roma struck we hit back," admitted Reja. "We showed a lot of character."
The result lifted Napoli to eighth in the standings, six points behind Saturday's opponents, and ex-Juventus midfielder Manuele Blasi has warned his former employers to expect a battle.
Blasi, who joined from Fiorentina this summer, said: "We are not a weak nor a strong side. We are simply a team that can play against anyone."
Blasi is looking forward to the encounter against his ex-club and claims to have no animosity towards the Turin giants.
"I have not bitterness but rather good memories," he said of his two seasons at Juve. "But now, in my mind there's only Napoli. Our fans are exceptional."
Reja will choose from a fully fit squad, while Juve travel south without suspended midfielder Pavel Nedved.
The good news for Ranieri is that striker Vincenzo Iaquinta has recovered from a chest infection and will be available for selection.

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