Miccoli

[kharbana]

Miccoli targets Ancona goal Thursday 16 October, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabrizio Miccoli is looking to score his first League goal for Juventus against Ancona on Saturday.

The pint-sized striker is expected to partner Marco Di Vaio at the Del Conero after fully recovering from surgery.

The summer signing from Perugia was rushed to hospital after the Week 1 game against Empoli to have his appendix removed.

But Miccoli maintains that he is now fit enough to make an impact with the Italian champions again.

"It’s not easy to be left out on the sidelines but I’m getting back my best form," said the former Ternana man.

"I’ve been working well in training recently and I hope to be the player that was on show in pre-season.

"It is my intention to score my first official goal for Juventus on Saturday but I would even be content with giving an assist to Di Vaio.

"After all, the most important thing is not who scores so long as Juventus win. The result is all that counts."

[kharbana]

Serie A pace-setters and reigning champions Juventus are warning their fans not to expect a ritual slaughter of bottom club Ancona at the Del Conero stadium on Saturday night.

"We know that against Ancona it will not be an easy match," said Juve striker Fabrizio Miccoli, who will return to the starting lineup after injury.

"Ancona will be determined to break out of a difficult situation" - a notable understatement given that they have picked up only one point from five games and have conceded 12 goals while scoring just twice.

Juve's Scudetto rivals AC Milan, who share top spot with the Bianconeri, face a much tougher hurdle when they take on Roberto Mancini's Lazio at the San Siro stadium.

And the brothers Inzaghi - Filippo and Simone - who both have had an outstanding start to the season, will face-off in Sunday's battle.

"Filippo is a very dangerous forward, we will have to watch him closely," said Simone, who will be in Lazio's attacking line.

Meanwhile, Brescia midfielder Luigi Di Biagio has said he will not celebrate if he scores against his former team Inter Milan on Saturday - he only switched clubs this summer.

Nerazzurro coach Hector Cuper cannot afford an away defeat following their disappointing derby against AC Milan two weeks ago which has left Inter five points adrift of the leaders.

Wednesday's qualification for the second round of the UEFA Cup will be a consolation for Parma who are still trying to come to terms with midfielder Manuele Blasi having reportedly tested positive for nandrolone.

Cesare Prandelli's team travel to the Olympic stadium to take on a revitalised Roma, who comfortably took out Vardar Skopje this week to extend their European adventure.

Both teams yet to be defeated this season.

Serse Cosmi's Perugia followed in Parma's footsteps in the next round of the UEFA Cup by disposing of Dundee earlier this week.

However, the Umbria side face a tough challenge on Sunday, as they attempt to clinch their first win of the season at Bologna.

A win for Sampdoria on Sunday at Verona could see them overtake rivals Chievo in the league table.

Udinese will have to forget Wednesday's UEFA Cup first round exit at the hands of Salzburg when they try to protect their ninth place in Serie A against Empoli, who are next to bottom in the table.

Sunday's away clash with Modena could be the ideal opportunity for Delio Rossi's Lecce to clinch their first three points of the competition and Reggina will try to climb up the Serie A danger zone when they host Siena on Sunday

[kharbana]

He did his first official goal with Juventus...

[Zizou]

And his second as well.

[ash]

He's either an amazing talent or hugely arrogant.

Or both.

Rather he was with us than against us, though.

[Zizou]

Arrogant? Why?

"After all, the most important thing is not who scores so long as Juventus win. The result is all that counts."

doesn't sound arrogant

[ash]

I meant the way he announced he was going to get his first goals for Juve against Ancona.

Perhaps arrogant was the wrong word, supremely confident might fit better.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the guy, I think he'll become a great player for us.

[Zizou]

He said he hoped he would get the goals, but if he ended up just assisting DV for a goal and juve would win the match than he would have been happy as well. So he's a good boy ;) He even dedicated the goals to two close friends of his, one died recently the other is in coma or something.

[cunchayrong]

I hope Liccoli will become a most famous player in a near day