Del Piero And Trezeguet Impress In Juve Rout
Wednesday 25th July 2001
Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet have shown why they are likely to be Juve's first-choice strike partnership this season by scoring a goal apiece in a 5-0 friendly win over Val D'Aosta.
Uruguay star Fabian O'Neill excelled in midfield, where he is likely to replace the banned Edgar Davids when the Serie A season kicks off.
Juventus coach Marcello Lippi said: �I was pleased with the personality, work and dedication I saw in my players, but it would be pointless to read too much into individual performances.
"We are in our first week of pre-season training. It's too early to make any decisions yet."
Lippi picked an experimental first-half line-up and the amateur side almost took advantage, hitting the bar following a mistake by Paolo Montero.
Darko Kovacevic and Nicola Amoruso carried the attack for the Turin giants, scoring on 16 and 44 minutes respectively, but there was little to show they are capable of challenging Del Piero and Trezeguet.
Pavel Nedved nonetheless looked sharp in the opening period at Perruca in Saint-Vincent, although another new signing, Lilian Thuram, looked ill at ease alongside Montero.
I am not too worried," said the Frenchman. "The team is full of the best quality. Juventus have always had a great defence. I hope that, with me, things will go from strength to strength.
"I speak to Zinedine Zidane quite often and he told me I have joined the most serious club in Europe," he added.
After the break, Gianluca Zambrotta, Del Piero and Trezeguet linked up promisingly and extended the advantage to five goals.
Juventus (first half): Buffon, Paramatti, Montero, Thuram, Athirson, Zenoni, Tacchinardi, Maresca, Nedved, Kovacevic, Amoruso
Juventus (second half): Carini, Tudor, Ferrara, Iuliano, Pessotto, Zenoni (Pericard), Maresca, O'Neill, Zambrotta, Del Piero, Trezeguet
