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| | Week 7 Spotlight: D-Day for Bianconeri duo | Monday 17 October, 2005 |
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 Player of the Week: Di Michele (Udinese)
"I will soon be back to my best and at 100 per cent again," David Di Michele said eight days ago. He wasn’t wrong either. After being hampered by an injury he picked up in pre-season, the Udinese striker reminded everyone of his undoubted ability with a stunning hat-trick against Siena on Saturday.
The former Reggina man was unquestionably the Man of the Match, and subsequently of the weekend, with a performance that will live long in his memory. He single-handedly destroyed the Tuscan rearguard with his non-stop movement and his clinical finishing. His third goal was particularly pleasing to the eye.
"I’m now feeling in good shape again and that obviously helped," Di Michele, who suffered an ankle injury in a friendly at Everton in August, commented following his heroics. "I did state that it was only a matter of time and I am delighted with the goals. I could have even got a fourth in the second half but I didn’t connect with the ball properly."
Udinese fans are now well used to Di Michele’s talent. The pacey forward netted a surprising 15 goals in 37 League appearances last season, finally living up to the potential which many who know him have been raving about for the last three or four years.
The recovery of Di Michele, who made his Azzurri debut last term, will be a massive boost for the Friuli Bianconeri. Italian international Vincenzo Iaquinta is widely recognised as their main goal threat, but Di Michele now offers them a few more dimensions in attack, something that will boost their chances of getting through the Champions League group phases.
"I’m at the disposal of the Coach for Tuesday’s match against Werder Bremen," he added. "I’ll now continue to work hard and prepare in the best way possible, as I have always done. I hope that my misfortune has now passed for this season."
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 Goal of the Week: Del Piero (Juventus)
Juventus surprisingly needed something special to beat Messina and Alessandro Del Piero happily obliged. Already on a massive high after silencing his critics with a stunning display for Italy in midweek, the captain underlined his magic moment of form by striking a splendid winner on Saturday night.
Del Piero had already gone close to scoring after his rasping shot from the left rippled the side netting. His aim improved a little later though with an individual goal that rekindled memories of the ‘old’ Alex, a player who was once an untouchable in the Juventus side. He robbed Marco Zoro of the ball in midfield before embarking on the Messina penalty area. He cut inside a Giallorossi defender to then calmly slot the ball into the far corner with a trademark curler with the inside of his right boot.
That goal ensured that Juventus collected their seventh win out of seven in Serie A. They have remarkably now won 12 of their last 13 League ties, when you take into account the last six games of 2004-05. The other clash was a draw.
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 Number of the Week: 133
Enrico Chiesa’s goal in the 3-2 defeat to Udinese has allowed him to become the most prolific Serie A scorer still in circulation. The Siena player, who will turn 35 in December, has joined Vincenzo Montella of Roma at the top of the chart after their 133 strikes so far. The former Italian international has netted six times this term, four in his last three games. Chiesa – who made his First Division debut in April 1989 – has scored goals for Sampdoria, Cremonese, Parma and Fiorentina. |
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| Words: Antonio Labbate |
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