Alex at the San Siro

April 14, 2000
Juventus Official Site

Speculation about when Alessandro Del Piero might score his first goal from open play will have been fuelled no end by the Juventus number 10's performance in training on Friday. There was applause from the stands at the Comunale as Alex received a pass from Ancelotti, who was also taking part in the training match, and tried to get past Van der Sar. Del Piero retained possession and sent the ball straight into the back of the net with a nifty back heel.

And if talk about an ETA for his first goal of the season from open play hots up, Del Piero has only got himself to blame. Few might have been at the Bianconero training ground to witness his masterstroke, but rest assured that the atmosphere will be very different at the San Siro on Sunday night. And let's not forget that it was at the Milanese stadium that Del Piero scored in the Berlusconi Trophy, the curtain-raiser to the Serie A season.

Certainly, Juve fans around Italy will be united in the hope that he can repeat that feat again on Sunday. The endless flow of messages of support to our official site (we receive over 100 messages a day for him), are testimony to how well loved Del Piero is - not just in Italy but further afield too.

The advice - on how to score that elusive goal - has been equally liberal. One fan from Naples, for instance, recommended the recital of a nursery rhyme when entering the pitch.

We haven't yet managed to ascertain whether or not Alex has ever tested out this theory, but now TV celebrity Luciana Littizzetto has put forward another possibility. In an interview with Radio Veronica One during the club's Hurrà Juventus programme, she expounded this novel suggestion: "When Alex is about to score, all the fans should look the other way as he is afraid of people and worried about missing the goal. We should make out that we aren't taking any notice of him - as we do with kids when they swear for effect. So, when you're in the stadium, whatever you do don't stare at Del Piero when he is lining up a shot!" remember - you heard it here first.
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