Perth Glory defender Steve Pantelidis will have a point to prove when he comes up against Sydney FC marquee Alessandro Del Piero in Sunday’s A-League clash at ANZ Stadium.
Del Piero has scored two goals in three games this season, with last week’s winner against Western Sydney lifting the Sky Blues to their first points of the campaign.
The Italian great will celebrate his 38th birthday next month, but age has not robbed him of his renowned magic.
Pantelidis isn’t foreign to coming up against big-name Sydney FC marquees.
In his first game for Melbourne Victory seven years ago, Pantelidis could only watch on as Trinidad and Tobago superstar Dwight Yorke scored against him.
Pantelidis is desperate to ensure Del Piero doesn’t enjoy a similar result.
“I’ve seen him and he’s been brilliant,” Pantelidis said of Del Piero on Monday.
“He’s probably carried them somewhat and he’s deserving of his marquee status.
“Hopefully we can keep him quiet this weekend.
“My first game was against Dwight Yorke in the first year of the A-league and he scored against me.
“So if I’m lucky enough to play and I’m marking Alessandro, hopefully he doesn’t score.
“But if we focus too much on him, they’ll probably get the better of us.”
Perth sit equal top of the table with Adelaide and Newcastle following Sunday’s 2-0 win over Melbourne Heart.
Pantelidis played solidly in the heart of defence in that game, and the 29-year-old hopes he can hold his spot even if fellow centre back Bas van den Brink is ready to return from a calf injury.
Japanese midfielder Ryo Nagai and star Glory striker Shane Smeltz will miss Sunday’s encounter due to hamstring injuries.
pete4
Guest
This game has even made it to the New York Times... Del Piero Slowly Coming to Grips With Australia http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/10/23/sports/soccer/23reuters-soccer-australia-del-piero.html?_r=2&
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Well he can dazzle us with his grace and skill on every other matchday except Sunday and any othe time Sydney play the Glory.I actually think the Glory should do whatever it takes(legally of course)to keep him out of the game,Sydney do not look threatening at all apart from Del Piero.Well actually Reid is another we'll have to mark tightly
Stevo
Guest
Another Argentinian luminary, Lionel Messi, has been similarly enamoured with il Capitano's wonderful skill and poise over his 19-year Juventus career. "He is a great player who has given everything to football, to Juventus and to Italy," Messi once said. "To me he plays a beautiful, clean type of football, and he is a man to admire." I guess that's why 25k might turn up to see him.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Congratulations to Alessandro Del Piero! Hopefully he can nab a few more goals and mesmerize the crowd! A minimum of 25,000 is expected for this class already, more to hopefully turn up if bad weather stays away.
pete4
Guest
Pretty amazing it'll be Del Piero's 800th career game http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/sydney-fc-star-alessandro-del-piero-to-play-800th-game-this-weekend/story-e6frf4gl-1226502145713
Stevo
Guest
Will Panto be playing and what's the insurance policy for ADP worth?