Striker Del Piero hits form in time

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero has pushed his case for a starting place in today's Champions League tie against Bayern Munich after scoring a superb solo goal against Messina at the weekend.

The champions' strike partnership of David Trezeguet and Zlatan Ibrahimovic dominated talk at the start of the season with Italy international Del Piero being written off as yesterday's man.

He struck back on Saturday, however, dribbling nearly half the length of the pitch before beating Messina's keeper to clinch a 1-0 win and extend Juventus's 100 per cent winning start to the season to nine matches - seven in Serie A and two in the Champions League.

Bayern fans will not welcome the sight of the 30-year-old, who scored the winner the last time the two sides met, a 1-0 win in Germany in the group stages of last year's competition.

Del Piero was also the liveliest player on the pitch when Italy closed out their successful World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory against Moldova last week.

"It's been a really great few days for me," he was quoted as saying in yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"First I played well against Moldova and this time (against Messina) I scored - the first goal I've really created all season. I'm happy and satisfied."

Del Piero's goal against Messina was his 177th for the club since he arrived at the start of the 1993-94 season and left him one goal short of equalling Juve's second most prolific scorer, Roberto Bettega.

He is also closing in on the all-time record of 181, held by Giampiero Boniperti.

With both Ibrahimovic and Trezeguet struggling to regain full fitness after minor injuries, there is a good chance coach Fabio Capello will reward Del Piero for his recent performances with a place in the starting line-up at Bayern's Allianz Arena.

Del Piero said he expected the game to be one of Juventus's toughest matches so far.

The teams are currently competing for the top spot in Group A with six points apiece, having each beaten Rapid Vienna and Club Bruges in their first two matches.

"Bayern have changed very little. They are a solid team and also physically very strong like all the German sides," he said.

"It will be an evenly balanced game, just like last year."