Juventus aim to bounce back by clinching title
Allegri’s side host Fiorentina on the back of shock derby loss to Torino
A fter their weekend derby disappointment, Juventus will need favours from elsewhere if they are to secure a fourth consecutive Serie A title in front of their own fans today.
Fourteen points clear at the top of the table with six matches remaining, Massimiliano Allegri’s side host Fiorentina at the Juventus Stadium knowing a win will see them confirmed as champions provided their nearest rivals Lazio slip up at home to Parma.
A draw could also be enough for the Bianconeri to clinch their 31st Scudetto this midweek, but only if Lazio, Roma and Napoli all fail to win, with the latter not in action away to Empoli until tomorrow.
In the last week, Juve have gone from the high of winning through to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years to the low of losing 2-1 to city rivals Torino, their first defeat in the so-called ‘Derby della Mole’ since 1995.
That match was also marred by crowd trouble, with the Juve team bus being attacked on its way to the ground and several Torino fans then being hurt when a paper bomb was thrown inside the stadium.
“Sorry to have lost the derby. We didn’t get much luck. We continue to pedal towards winning the Scudetto,” defender Leonardo Bonucci wrote on Twitter ahead of a game that he will miss due to suspension. Paul Pogba is still sidelined, but Claudio Marchisio is back after a ban and the likes of Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and leading scorer Carlos Tevez are in line to return to the team.
Fiorentina are dangerous opponents on paper, although a 3-1 home loss to struggling Cagliari on Sunday was their third in a row in Serie A, with coach Vincenzo Montella admitting their run to the Europa League semifinals has sapped energy. Rather than delaying Juve’s title celebrations, Lazio’s priority is on holding on to the second automatic Champions League qualifying spot as they host a Parma side who have avoided their inevitable relegation on a run of just one defeat in six.
“We will have to grit our teeth because a very difficult week awaits. I am convinced that our season will be decided on the final day,” said Lazio coach Stefano Pioli after his team’s 1-1 draw with Chievo on Sunday.
Lazio are a point better off than capital rivals Roma, who go to Sassuolo looking to improve on a run of just three wins in their last 15 Serie A games.