Juventus' Del Piero set to return for Zenit clash

MILAN: Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero is expected to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's Champions League game at home to Zenit St. Petersburg, having been left on the bench at the weekend.

Juve, which beat Artmedia Bratislava in qualifying, is back in the group stages of Europe's premier club competition having missed out in the past two seasons following its 2006 demotion for match-fixing.

Del Piero played in the 1996 final when the Turin club won the second of its two European Cups and the 33-year-old's Champions League experience should come in handy for the opening Group H game against the Russian champion.