Del Piero in line for Deportivo clash

March 5, 2003
Daily Soccer

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero has returned to training and could play in next week's crunch Champions League clash against Deportivo La Coruna.

According to Wednesday's Gazzetta dello Sport, the 28-year-old Juventus captain will start on the bench against Deportivo at the Delle Alpi stadium.

Del Piero has been out since February 2 after tearing a muscle in his left thigh in a Serie A match at Atalanta.

The Italy international has missed several important fixtures, including the home and away defeat to group D leaders Manchester United.

United have already qualified for the last eight of the Champions League, but Juventus still have plenty of work to do.

The Italian champions are second in the group, level on four points with Spaniards Deportivo, who have an inferior goal difference. Swiss side Basel are bottom with three points.

Despite missing three league games, Del Piero is still second highest scorer in Serie A with 12 goals, nine less than Inter Milan's Christian Vieri.
.