Black & White Stories | Del Piero's backheel goal in the Derby della Mole | OneFootball

Thiago Motta's Juventus are preparing for their next league engagement - the Derby della Mole against Torino, scheduled for Saturday, 9 November 2024 at 20:45 (CET) at the Allianz Stadium. That's right, 9 November: a date etched in the memory of Juventus fans for decades, the birthday of the legendary Alessandro Del Piero.

The 2024 edition of this match is a special one, as it sees our former captain celebrate his 50th birthday.

That's why, to coincide with the Derby della Mole which falls on this special day, we decided to dedicate our ‘Black & White Stories’ to one of our number 10's greatest feats - a backheel volleyed goal against Torino in November 2002.

DEL PIERO AND JUVENTUS, A CAPTAIN UNLIKE ANY OTHER

The 2002/03 Bianconeri squad, just back from winning the Scudetto on 5 May of that year, is one of the best teams of the 21st century and has a history full of successes and triumphs: a complete group in every department, full of alternatives in every role and with several champions of the highest level, from Gianluigi Buffon to Edgar Davids, from Pavel Nedved to David Trezeguet. All of this, as always, assisted by a number 10 who had become not only a role model on the pitch, but also a true symbol of what it means to be a Juventus player: Alessandro Del Piero.

The Captain was 28 years old in November 2002 and in the prime of his career, he still had a decade of matches in Bianconero ahead of him to play, but he already represented something beyond the playing field: he is family. If Juventus is home, he is our favourite son, the older brother, the best friend.

A deep and passionate relationship with millions of fans that was renewed every Sunday, every time he wore that shirt - a flag bearer of our values, of joy and of our clear message. In words, by example and also through his goals - often each more beautiful and decisive than the last, like the one he scored in the opening match against Torino in 2002.

THE DERBY DELLA MOLE IN 2002 AND ALEX'S BACKHEEL GOAL

The Derby della Mole, with the ‘Delle Alpi’ Stadium sold out and filled with Torino fans, was one of those matches that Juventus could not afford to slip up in. Despite the technical and mental difficulties of playing a match in such a context, the Bianconeri knew that they had a lot to lose in the event of a false step, and that the best way to address the challenge was to dominate their opponents from the opening whistle and score as soon as possible.

Pavel Nedved knew this well, as he tried to open the scoring in the opening seconds, grazing the Torino goal’s right hand post and then, after six minutes of play, he was charged with taking a free-kick near the opponent's penalty area.

It was an unusual free kick routine, with the ball fired towards the near post, beating the wall but seeming to lack the necessary height. Trying to deflect it goalwards was not easy, it would take a stroke of genius - especially if intending to sneak it in at the front post.

If your name is Alessandro Del Piero, however, you were able to see and anticipate the possibiltiies ahead of the other 21 players on the pitch with you: the captain instinctively lifted his leg and hit the ball with his heel, directing an unstoppable shot goalwards and ruining Torino’s evening, who then went onto crumble as Marco Di Vaio added Juve’s second in the first half, before second period goals from Nedved and Davids in a derby that was finished 0-4 to Juventus.

It was a triumphant evening, one of hundreds on which Del Piero - a player, a captain and a symbol unlike any other – left his mark.

Enjoy re-watching that incredible goal here!

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