Here we will take a look at the top goals of Alessandro Del Piero. Historically, Italy is a defensive unit with much attention being given to the organization of the team and very little attention is given to the attack. In the midst of all this came one man who brought in goals, assists, technique and an off-the-camera charisma with him - Alessandro Del Piero. He possesses an exquisite vision of the game and is drastically creative in setting up chances for his teammates. Therefore, he plays in the space between the midfielders and the strikers, enabling himself to set up numerous chances for his opponents while executing his own finishing capability at other times. Here are his best goals.
#10 vs Atlanta (Home) 2011/2012
Delle Alpi was packed to the core. Every fan was expecting just one thing – a goal from Del Piero. But was it THAT important? Yes, the match was the last that Del Piero will ever play before his home fans before he leaves Juventus F.C. Thus, the fans and the players wanted him to leave the club on a high. This he did, by placing an amazing finish outside the box beyond the keeper to make the score 2-0 for Juventus. The nonchalance with which he fooled his defender and made himself available for the squared pass was commendable. The finish was placed but not powered – absolutely top class. The jubilation from everybody was a sight to see. An immensely exhilarating goal for the club and for the fans alike. Even for Del Piero, it was a moment to savour for his life.
#9 vs AC Milan (Away), 2010/2011
The prolificacy of Del Piero was cemented with this goal as it marked the 179th goal of his Serie A career, taking him past the record held by club legend Giampiero Boniperti as the highest goalscorer in the history of Juventus. This goal also took Juve to within three points of the leaders Inter Milan and well into the title race. The joy of the players was for everyone to see. In this goal, Sisokko received a long ball after a mistake by the defender marking him. After he stumbled on the ball, he regained his balance somewhat to fend off 2 defenders with his strenght and pass the ball back to Del Piero who neatly finished it past the hapless keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.
#8 vs River Plate (Home) 1996 Intercontinental Cup
When this cup used to have stark importance for both South America and Europe, Juventus and River Plate met to decide the winner between the best team of Europe and the best team of South America. Shaping up to be a cracker of a match, Turin was in tension as Juve were tied with River Plate. Just when the clock started ticking down to the final nine minutes did Juve give a shocker to River – a goal from Del Piero. Getting the ball on the near post from a corner kick, Del Piero swiveled on his position and crashed the ball into the roof of the net with an unstoppable shot, making the fans go wild. Juventus had won their first Intercontinental Cup in 11 years. An absolutely remarkable landmark for the club.
#7 vs Florentina (Away)1994/1995
Del Piero was already coming to his own at a very young age and he showed it in this match. Juve were trailing 2-0 to Florentina with 17 minutes remaining. After a quickfire double from Vialli, the match moved to its penultimate stages when Del Piero came up with this moment of magic. After a long ball was sprayed up to him, Del Piero hit the ball first time with the side of his foot into the top corner of the net. A truly briiliant goal by the Italian which gave Juventus the belief to win the title that year. It was their first title since 9 years. A miraculaous achievement made possible in a way by Alessandro Del Piero.
#6 vs Dynamo Kiyv (Home) 1997 2
Juventus were pressurizing the Ukrainians with technique of the highest class and the Ukrainians were falling prey to their dazzle and couldnt answer them with the vigour required to turn the tide on the Italian giants. But it was not to be when Del Piero surged through to the goal, before firing an unstoppable left-footed volley past the hapless keeper and into the net, confirming the dominance of Juventus in the game.
#5 vs Real Madrid (Away) 2008/2009
Real Madrid remains one of those famous stalwarts against whom Del Piero always gave some really amazing performances. Here, he shod off the reputation of Real in the Champions League that season to score two goals, from 3 shots, to give his team the coveted European title. An amazing statistic for the Italian. But it’s just a number for him. In this goal, he received a short pass from his teammate, who went on a darting run expecting a return pass. But Del Piero fooled his defenders by ignoring that run, cut inside and fired a well placed shot into the bottom left corner of Casillas’ goal. It was the first goal of Juventus in the match. Let’s have a look at that goal and the amazing performance of the legend in that match.
#4 vs Mexico, World Cup 2002
In the qualifying stages, Italy were deeply in trouble and were in an embarassing position of being knocked out. Mexico were leading 1-0. 39 minutes were up in the second quarter when in came the man with the plan, Alessandro Del Piero. He took advantage of some poor marking by the Mexico defence and met a cross with a diving header, planting it into the right corner of the net. It sent the Italy fans and the players into raptures as they realized they can breathe a sigh of relief – they have scraped through the group stages. A feat only made possible by the diminuitive Italian.
#3 vs Real Madrid (Home) 2002/2003
The Galacticos, with their star-studded lineup of Zidane, Ronaldo and Raul, were leading 2-1 from the first leg of their encounter with Juventus in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League in 2003. Travelling to Delle Alpi, they had their worst fears confirmed when they lost 3-1 to Juventus on the night with Del Piero running riot on the pitch, giving a stupendous performance. Here, he makes Fernando Hierro look like a dummy before cooly finishing past the space between Hierro and his Madrid teammate into the Galacticos’ net. A truly inspirational goal from Del Piero at that time because football was played purely on technique and not on trickery. Del Piero did just that and had Hierro bamboozled.
#2 vs Sporting Lisbon (Away) 2011/2012
Juventus and Sporting Lisbon met in Canada for a match in the Herbalife World Challenge tournament. In this goal, Del Piero’s off the ball movement was fantastic and, collecting a through ball, he could then surge forward. Seeing the goalkeeper out of his line, he chipped the ball beyond the keeper into the net....from outside the penalty box. An amazing feat for any world-class striker.
#1 vs Borussia Dortmund (Away), 1994/95
It was the 1995 UEFA Champions League Final. Juventus were drawn 0-0 with Borussia before the Del Piero magic came to fore. A cross from his teammate was met with a delicate running backheel which crept into the near post of the Borussia keeper which gave Juventus the lead in this match. The sheer quality of the goal and the situation in which it came just made the whole moment just more memorable for any Juventus fan. A definite numero uno in this list.
