Bittersweet season for Del Piero

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero is extremely happy about the club's season so far but admits he is finding it difficult not to be starting regularly. The Turin giants are unbeaten in Serie A and beat Palermo 3-0 yesterday to return to the top of the standings. Del Piero, who has started just twice and has come off the bench in six other league games for Juve this term, told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I suffer on the bench but as captain, I am delighted with the good run of form by the team." Del Piero's contract with Juve expires next summer but the 37-year-old forward remains coy over his playing future. He said: "It's such a beautiful time with Juve leading Serie A that I don't see why I should think about my future right now. My future is on Saturday, I don't want to think about what will happen after June." Del Piero joined the Turin giants in 1993 and is the club's all-time record goalscorer and highest appearance-maker with 205 goals in 498 Serie A appearances.