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Juventus gamers, Reuters
Reuters – Juventus host Lazio on Saturday seeking to hold contact with Serie A leaders Inter Milan earlier than subsequent week’s crunch Champions league recreation towards Porto.
Andrea Pirlo’s facet are third, with a recreation in hand, 10 factors behind Inter who host Atalanta on Monday in a conflict of the 2 highest-scoring groups in Serie A.
AC Milan are second, six factors adrift of Inter and 4 factors forward of Juventus after a last-gasp 1-1 draw towards Udinese midweek.
The stress is on Pirlo’s injury-hit Juventus to assert a tenth consecutive Serie A title.
The Turin giants are additionally trailing Portuguese facet Porto 2-1 going into the second leg of the final 16 tie in Turin subsequent week with success a precedence within the elite European competitors they final received 25 years in the past.
“We’re making an attempt to get gamers again from damage, however nothing is for certain,” mentioned Pirlo after a snug 3-0 win over promoted Spezia on Tuesday.
Ahead Paulo Dybala stays out injured with Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Juan Cuadrado and Arthur sidelined this week, whereas Matthijs de Ligt pulled up earlier than the win over Spezia.
Pirlo will even be with out younger left-back Gianluca Frabotta, to a one-match ban, with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur testing constructive for coronavirus.
Juventus have received every of their final six dwelling video games in Serie A, holding a clear sheet of their final 4.
However Lazio, who held Juve 1-1 within the reverse fixture, might be more energizing after Torino didn’t journey to Rome for this week’s recreation due to a coronavirus outbreak within the northern membership.
Torino haven’t performed their final two video games, towards Sassuolo and Lazio, due to the virus with a scheduled journey to relegation rivals Crotone on Sunday.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli additionally has damage issues earlier than his facet journey east to Hellas Verona however is set to not lose additional floor on Inter.
“I am frightened concerning the accidents as a result of this can be a decisive second of the season,” mentioned Pioli with star ahead Zlatan Ibrahimovic additionally out.
Eighth-placed Verona are pushing for European soccer subsequent season and have held Juventus and overwhelmed Napoli in current weeks.
The stress is on Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso after an erratic run of type.
Gattuso’s facet are sixth, 5 factors adrift of Atalanta who occupy the ultimate Champions League berth.
The southerners host Bologna needing the factors earlier than subsequent week’s journey to AC Milan adopted by a conflict with direct rivals Roma, who’re at dwelling this weekend towards Genoa.
Fiorentina, in 14th, host second-from-bottom Parma with ahead Franck Ribery suspended for one match.
One to observe: Franck Kessie
Midfielder Kessie is having the perfect season of his profession as Milan push for a primary league title since 2011.
Kessie has scored 10 targets in all competitions together with 9 from the penalty spot, and his first Europa League purpose.
“Sure, I rating numerous targets from penalties, nevertheless it’s not straightforward to attain penalties,” mentioned the 24-year-old Ivorian, who stepped up after Ibrahimovic’s misses from the spot this marketing campaign.
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