Juventus' Del Piero bows out on a high
Source: Agencies |
May 15, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Alessandro Del Piero, almost certainly playing his last home game for Juventus at the age of 37, celebrated with a goal as the Serie A champion beat Atalanta 3-1 on Sunday to finish its campaign unbeaten.
Udinese clinched a place in the playoff round of next season's Champions League qualifying tournament by winning 2-0 at Catania to finish third, leaving Lazio, Napoli and Inter Milan to contemplate the Europa League.
Antonio Di Natale, included in Italy's provisional squad for Euro 2012, opened the scoring for Udinese with his 23rd league goal of the season. The 38-year-old Filippo Inzaghi, playing his last league game for runner-up AC Milan after 11 seasons, scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over relegated Novara.
Juventus became only the second team to win Serie A without losing a game after Fabio Capello's AC Milan in 1991-92 and the first to achieve the feat in a 38-match season.
Del Piero curled the ball in from the edge of the penalty area in the 28th minute after Luca Marrone had fired the opener for Juventus which clinched the title last week.
An own goal by Stephan Lichtsteiner put a slight dampener on Juve's celebrations in the 83rd minute before defender Andrea Barzagli converted a stoppage-time penalty.
Barzagli had come on just one minute earlier and became the 20th Juventus player to score a league goal this season.
Club president Andrea Agnelli said last year that Del Piero's contract would not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season and seems unlikely to backtrack.
Del Piero could still feature in one more match for Juventus when it plays Napoli in the Italian Cup final on May 20.
Udinese clinched a place in the playoff round of next season's Champions League qualifying tournament by winning 2-0 at Catania to finish third, leaving Lazio, Napoli and Inter Milan to contemplate the Europa League.
Antonio Di Natale, included in Italy's provisional squad for Euro 2012, opened the scoring for Udinese with his 23rd league goal of the season. The 38-year-old Filippo Inzaghi, playing his last league game for runner-up AC Milan after 11 seasons, scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over relegated Novara.
Juventus became only the second team to win Serie A without losing a game after Fabio Capello's AC Milan in 1991-92 and the first to achieve the feat in a 38-match season.
Del Piero curled the ball in from the edge of the penalty area in the 28th minute after Luca Marrone had fired the opener for Juventus which clinched the title last week.
An own goal by Stephan Lichtsteiner put a slight dampener on Juve's celebrations in the 83rd minute before defender Andrea Barzagli converted a stoppage-time penalty.
Barzagli had come on just one minute earlier and became the 20th Juventus player to score a league goal this season.
Club president Andrea Agnelli said last year that Del Piero's contract would not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season and seems unlikely to backtrack.
Del Piero could still feature in one more match for Juventus when it plays Napoli in the Italian Cup final on May 20.
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