Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has a dream problem to ponder ahead of today’s Champions League Group H clash against Zenit St Petersburg in Turin: which potent strike-pair to field.
Veterans Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet finished as Serie A’s top two goalscorers last season but Ranieri preferred a combination of Brazilian-born Amauri, a summer signing from Palermo, and Italy forward Vincenzo Iaquinta for Sunday’s 1-0 home success over Udinese.
Lethal pair: David Trezeguet (left) and Alessandro Del Piero are the two proven strikers in the Juventus team but coach Claudio Ranieri may want to pair Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta (bottom, left) up front against Zenit in a Champions League match today.Iaquinta lost his place in the starting line-up and the national team squad to Del Piero last season but has come back with a bang in this campaign and seems to be in the forethoughts of both club and international coaches, Ranieri and Marcelo Lippi.
With four top class strikers to choose from, Ranieri is a contented man but his preference seems to be leaning towards Amauri and Iaquinta.
“I was very pleased with the pair in attack, they worked very hard,” he said before singling out Amauri for praise.
“I was telling them (the players) that we brought Amauri in because he can play with all our strikers.
“(Sunday) he proved himself, as did the whole team.”
Amauri was the match-winner against the northerners from Udine but Ranieri had words of encouragement for those who were confined to the bench last time out.
“Those who started on the bench know that I took that decision because we have many objectives.
“I have two great pairs of attackers and for me it gives me a great opportunity to switch things around.”
Juventus are back in the Champions League following a two year absence due to their involvement in a match-fixing scandal that saw them demoted to Serie B.
They are keen to make up for lost time but have been drawn in one of the hardest groups with Real Madrid and UEFA Cup holders Zenit alongside minnows BATE Borisov, the first Champions League representatives from Belarus.
Zenit’s Dutch coach Dick Advocaat admits that the Spanish and Italians are the favourites in Group H but they have already proved they can compete at the highest level.
Zenit beat Champions League holders Manchester United 2-1 in the European Super Cup and have been in good form on their travels recently, winning their last two away league matches by three goals.
“I think what we showed last season, coming so far and even winning the UEFA Cup, was an incredible achievement but I think we still must be considered as an outsider for the tournament,” Advocaat told UEFA.com.
“Even in our group, Real Madrid and Juventus will be seen as the teams to beat while we and BATE will be viewed by everyone as fighting for third or fourth place.
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