Football Previews
Juventus will look to get their Serie A title march going once again when they host Fiorentina on Wednesday night. The Bianconeri are 14 points clear of Lazio at the top of the standings with six games remaining but have lost some momentum with two defeats in their last three Serie A games. Juve have not lost at home all season and their coach, Massimiliano Allegri, wants to clinch the title as soon as possible with his side also in the Champions League semi-finals and the Coppa Italia final. “We are focused because we need four more points to be mathematically certain,” Allegri said to the Italian press. “Now we must get back to winning ways to secure the three points which would leave us just one short of winning the scudetto.” If Juve win and Lazio fail to beat bottom-side Parma in their game on Wednesday, the Bianconeri will retain the title, their first under Allegri. However, Allegri expects a stern test. “Tomorrow will be a very difficult game because Fiorentina always play well and are a difficult opponent,” he said. “Fiorentina will want to make up for their recent defeats. “Fiorentina have had a good season and have also done very well in the Europa League, making it to the semi-finals of the competition.” Juve, who lost 2-1 at Torino in Sunday’s derby, are without defender Leonardo Bonucci, who must serve a one-match ban. Fiorentina will have plenty of incentive to beat Juve in their own stadium. The Viola did just that in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final but then crashed to a 3-0 defeat at home and exited the competition. Vincenzo Montella’s side has not been the same since with three losses in their last five games in all competitions. Last weekend’s 3-1 home reverse to Cagliari was Fiorentina’s third-straight defeat in Serie A and dropped the Florence outfit to sixth place. Fiorentina are one point and one place adrift of Sampdoria, who are fifth and hold the last Europa League qualifying spot. “The Europa League has taken a lot of energy from us,” Montella said. “The important thing is that we don’t lose balance and determination.” The Viola have struggled in front of goal, scoring just once in their last three league games.
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Team
MP
W
D
L
F
A
G
P
1
SSC Napoli
12
8
2
2
19
9
+10
26
2
Atalanta
12
8
1
3
31
15
+16
25
3
Fiorentina
12
7
4
1
25
10
+15
25
4
Inter Milan
12
7
4
1
26
14
+12
25
5
Lazio
12
8
1
3
25
14
+11
25
6
Juventus
12
6
6
0
21
7
+14
24
7
AC Milan
11
5
3
3
20
14
+6
18
8
Bologna
11
4
6
1
15
13
+2
18
9
Udinese
12
5
1
6
15
18
-3
16
10
Empoli
12
3
6
3
9
10
-1
15
11
Torino
12
4
2
6
15
18
-3
14
12
Roma
12
3
4
5
14
17
-3
13
13
Parma
12
2
6
4
16
18
-2
12
14
Verona
12
4
0
8
17
27
-10
12
15
Como
12
2
4
6
13
23
-10
10
16
Cagliari
12
2
4
6
12
22
-10
10
17
Genoa
12
2
4
6
9
22
-13
10
18
Lecce
12
2
3
7
5
21
-16
9
19
Monza
12
1
5
6
10
15
-5
8
20
Venezia
12
2
2
8
11
21
-10
8
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