Trezeguet delights in dream return

David Trezeguet declared that his "suffering has ended" as he crowned his return to the UEFA Champions League with a goal in Juventus FC's 4-0 win at home to FC Basel.

Perfect comeback
The French international started only his second game since suffering a serious knee injury, and ignored the heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures at the Delle Alpi stadium to score after three minutes, heading home from a Mark Iuliano flick-on. Further goals from Paolo Montero and Alessio Tacchinardi, before half-time, and Alessandro Del Piero in the second half, gave Juventus only their second win in six games.

'Enormously satisfied'
"It was my first goal for a long, long time and I am enormously satisfied. My suffering has ended," Trezeguet said. I did not feel any pain in the knee at all and I am really happy about that. I am just a bit tired. I still have a lot of work to do to regain full fitness and I will train hard during the Christmas period because I am only at 60 per cent at the moment."

'We are really happy'
And Juventus coach Marcello Lippi praised his striker, saying: "We are really happy that he has returned. For me, it is important that I have my whole squad available. It was great having him back and his return and early goal obviously gave the team a massive boost."

'On the right track'
The win leaves Juventus in second place in Group D,  led by Manchester United FC, following on from the Italian champions' draw against RC Deportivo La Coruña on Matchday 7, and Lippi said: "This win means that we are still two points behind Manchester United but we are on the right track. We just need to carry on the way we are playing at the moment."

Giménez chance

Attacking team
Visiting coach Christian Gross had promised before the game that his team would not sit back and play for a draw and sent out an attacking lineup with Argentinian forward pair Giménez and Julio Hernán Rossi supported by the creative Hakan Yakin, a combination that has served them well this year.

Seven goals against
But this defeat means that Basel have now leaked seven goals in their two second group stage games, and Gross admitted: "We have let in too many goals at the moment, but we are an attacking team and then you will concede goals."

Difficult task
He added: "It is very difficult to play against Juventus and even more difficult when you fall behind after three minutes. Juventus were very effective and used their chances whereas we maybe lacked something in the final third of the pitch."

'A fantastic year'
However, Gross were not downbeat after a 12 months that saw his side crowned Swiss champions for the first time in 22 years and get further in Europe's premier club competition that any of their compatriots has previously managed. "We have to remember that the club has had a fantastic year and that we are only beginning to learn how to play against the best teams in Europe," said Gross.