Juventus must “take command” of their opponents, thundered coach Massimiliano Allegri, as they look to warm up for a vital Champions League clash with a win at Palermo on Saturday.
Juventus must “take command” of their opponents, thundered coach Massimiliano Allegri, as they look to warm up for a vital Champions League clash with a win at Palermo on Saturday.
Juve pounced on Napoli’s shock scoreless draw at Genoa on Wednesday to go top of Serie A with a one-point lead on the southerners thanks to a 4-0 rout of Cagliari.
But defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro last week left a bitter taste and the Old Lady is still looking for early season consistency.
Days after goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said he “didn’t recognise” his team during their San Siro reverse, Allegri followed suit.
After a scoreless draw with Sevilla at home, Juve travel to Dinamo Zagreb under pressure to win if they are to maintain their status as one of the Champions League favourites.
Napoli set for Chievo clash Dropped Juve points in Sicily would not go amiss with Napoli.
But the Partenopei, who warm up for their Champions League clash at home to Benfica on Tuesday by welcoming Chievo to the San Paolo, have their own amends to make.
Marek Hamsik hit the crossbar in the opening half and although Napoli had two penalty claims waved away, only the lightning-quick reflexes of ‘keeper Pepe Reina in the last five minutes prevented defeat to Genoa in midweek.
Chievo, surprisingly, sit only two points off the lead after winning three of their five games so far including a 2-1 defeat of Sassuolo in midweek.
All eyes on Gabigol debut Although Napoli were Juve’s key challengers last season, the pundits in Italy have been tickled by Inter Milan’s title credentials.
Frank de Boer’s men followed their Juve victory by cruising to a 2-0 win at Empoli midweek thanks to a brace from Mauro Icardi, who is now top of the scoring charts with six goals in five games. But for all of Icardi’s goals, Inter fans can’t wait to feast their eyes on new Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa, who could make his debut Sunday when Inter host Bologna looking to make it four wins in a row.
Fixtures (time IST): Saturday: Palermo v Juventus (9.30 pm), Napoli v Chievo (12.15 am): Sunday: Torino v Roma (2 pm), Genoa v Pescara, Inter Milan v Bologna, Lazio v Empoli, Sassuolo v Udinese (all 6.30 pm), Fiorentina v AC Milan
