Goals keep coming for evergreen Di Natale

Posted Tuesday, March 08, 2011 by UEFA.com

Antonio Di Natale paid tribute to his "second family" at Udinese Calcio after his 20th goal in the last 17 league games took the veteran striker to third in the ESM Golden Shoe rankings.

Goals keep coming for evergreen Di Natale
Antonio Di Natale celebrates his penalty against Bari

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Lionel Messi at the top of the ESM Golden Shoe rankings but with four goals in two games Udinese Calcio forward Antonio Di Natale was the week's major mover as he rose to third place.

The 33-year-old Italian international followed up his hat-trick in Udinese's 7-0 win at US Città di Palermo the previous weekend with the only goal against AS Bari on Sunday. That strike, a penalty, took his tally to 20 goals in 17 Serie A games – and continued a run that has taken Udinese, now in fifth position, from mid-table plodders to challengers for a UEFA Champions League spot. "Udinese are like a second family," he said. "I have to thank the president and the team for what they are doing – it's why I'm having such a positive time."

FC Internazionale Milano are also in fine fettle as they geared up for next Tuesday's trip to FC Bayern München with their 11th victory in 13 Serie A outings, 5-2 at home to Genoa CFC. Samuel Eto'o netted twice to reach 18 league goals for the campaign – six more than he managed last term.

As impressive as that tally is, Eto'o remains nine behind the two-horse race of Messi and Ronaldo. A rare week without a goal for Messi was capitalised on by Ronaldo, whose hat-trick in Real Madrid CF's 7-0 victory over Málaga CF last Thursday brought him level at the top of the standings with 11 games to go in the Spanish Liga.