Football Previews
Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal believes he and his team-mates must concentrate on domestic matters before worrying about Europe again. The Turin giants go into Sunday’s game at city rivals Torino having reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign. Juve held Monaco to a goalless draw in Monte Carlo on Wednesday to progress 1-0 on aggregate and set up a meeting with Real Madrid in the next round. The Italians will host European defending champions Real on May 5 before travelling to Spain for the return leg on May 13. “We are happy to have taken an important step in our season by clinching a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League,” Vidal said to the Italian press. “We don’t fear anyone as every game at this stage of a competition is very difficult. “Now we turn our full attention to the domestic competition. “Sunday’s game will be important to get closer to the Scudetto.” Juve need two more wins to clinch their fourth straight Italian title and their first under coach Massimiliano Allegri. The Turin giants, who are also through to the Coppa Italia final, are 15 points clear of Lazio at the top of the standings with seven games remaining. Torino go into the game at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico as firm underdogs. The Granata have not beaten Juve in Serie A since April 1995 and have lost their last seven meetings against the Bianconeri. “We don’t care who scores as long as we win the derby,” Torino captain Kamil Glik said. “Juve have done great things this season in Serie A and in Europe. “This game is always special and when it comes to the derby, the standings are not important.” Toro have lost just three games at home this season and are in the midst of a four-match unbeaten run in Serie A. Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Sassuolo left the Granata in eighth place, six points adrift of the last Europa League qualifying spot. Toro coach Giampiero Ventura will have all of his players available. Juve are without midfielder Claudio Marchisio, who must serve a one-match ban while Paul Pogba is still out injured.
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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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