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Del Piero returns as Juve faces big week

Fri 20th, November 2009

Turin, Italy (Sports Network) - Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero is fit again after battling back and thigh injuries that have limited him to just 10 minutes of action so far this season.

The Italy international is anxious to get back into the mix after his prolonged absence, and he is returning at a crucial time for Juve, which plays host to Udinese on Sunday before facing Bordeaux in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Juve enters the weekend five points back of leaders Inter Milan, and they will be hoping to keep pressure on the Nerazzurri with another win.

Manager Ciro Ferrara's team has won three of its last four games in Serie A play, and they will be expected to grab three more points against an Udinese side that sits in 14th place in the table and has won just once in six games.

Making things even more difficult on Udinese is the fact that they will be without Serie A's leading scorer, Antonio Di Natale, who is out through suspension.

Del Piero may be fit but he may not have a place in Ferrara's starting 11 with the manager changing his formation to include only one striker.

The emergence of Brazilian playmaker Diego is one of the main reasons for the switch, and with David Trezeguet and Amauri already entrenched in the lineup, minutes may be tough to come by for the veteran Del Piero.

However, it is possible that Ferrara will be looking ahead to Wednesday's showdown in France with Bordeaux, as a win would clinch Juve a spot in the knockout round, possibly opening up some time for his bench players.

Leaders Inter Milan will try to return to the win column against Bologna after being held to a 1-1 draw by Roma last time out, while third-placed AC Milan plays host to Cagliari.

Fiorentina has won its last two games after a four-game winless skid, and they will face Parma, Roma looks to build on its positive result against Inter with a win over Bari, Genoa invades Livorno, Catania travels to Palermo, Sampdoria entertains Chievo, last-placed Siena meets Atalanta and Lazio, which is in the midst of a 10-game winless streak, visits Napoli.