Del Piero double leads Juventus to victory

Italian veteran Alessandro del Piero played a captain’s role on Sunday as his double inspired out-of-form Serie A giants Juventus to a welcome 3-2 victory over Genoa and give coach Alberto Zaccheroni his first win in the three matches he has been in charge.

The 35-year-old Del Piero’s brace and a goal from Brazilian striker Amauri saw the ‘Old Lady of Turin’ come from behind to record only their fourth win in 15 matches in all competitions.

Genoa took an early lead in Turin through club captain Marco Rossi which got the Juventus fans into an early bout of whistling and jeering.

Rossi turned a defender and his low shot beat the keeper inside the post.

Juventus went on the attack desperately seeking an equaliser before the break and finally got it in the 42nd minute as Italy World Cup winning winger Mauro Camoranesi twisted and then turned the Genoa left back inside out.

The Argentinian-born wideman managed to get to the by-line where he put in a splendid cross which was met by Amauri and his header gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Juventus took the lead just after the hour mark as Diego and Del Piero conjured up an excellent move.

The Italian veteran played the ball to the Brazilian playmaker, whose delicate backheel split the Genoa defence and Del Piero seized on the ball after carrying on his run into the box and slotted it into the net for his 271st goal for the club.

However, they had barely stopped celebrating before the game was level again as Rossi struck for a second time.

Juventus, though, showed the steel that has been lacking in their recent form and won a penalty with 12 minutes remaining which del Piero converted to make it 3-2.

Lazio got an immediate bounce out of having a new coach former Napoli boss Edy Reja replaced Davide Ballardini earlier in the week after the Rome-based club dropped into the relegation zone.

Goals by defender Gugliemo Stendardo and young Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate saw Lazio – champions 10 years ago and Cup winners last season – to a 2-0 win away at Parma.

AS Roma and coach Claudio Ranieri will be hoping that Napoli can defeat leaders Inter Milan in the late match which would see Roma only trailing Jose Mourinho’s side by six points and with momentum definitely on their side.

Roma had done their job on Saturday with a 4-1 demolition of Palermo to extend their unbeaten run to 20 matches.