Faltering Juve seek Inter lift
Saturday 18 April 2009
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Gianluigi Buffon wants to put on a show for the fans (©Getty Images)
With a recent wobble having all but ended their hopes of catching FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus entertain the leaders in Saturday's 'Derby d'Italia' looking over their shoulders rather than towards a fight for the Scudetto.
Chasing pack
After winning all three of their Serie A fixtures in March, Juve's title push has seemingly been stymied by the international break – their two games since yielding just a point after following up a 3-3 home draw with AC Chievo Verona with a 3-2 defeat at Genoa CFC. The Turin giants are now ten points adrift of Inter but, more pertinently, just two clear of AC Milan and six ahead of in-form Genoa.
Honest Buffon
"We've become very leaky at the back recently," said Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. "But when a team concedes so many goals the blame has to be shared around, it's not only the fault of the defenders. Inter deserve everything they achieve but we still want to win on Saturday to give our fans a moment of great joy."
Champions League
Only the top three qualify automatically for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, with the fourth-placed side facing a potentially perilous tie against a team from another powerful nation in the play-offs – meaning points are precious with seven rounds to play. "Both teams will be playing for the win," said Juve striker Vincenzo Iaquinta. "I'm sure that not even José Mourinho will come to Turin looking for a draw. Unfortunately we've wasted too many opportunities against the smaller teams this season, but we still want to win this game."
In-form Iaquinta
Iaquinta has scored four goals in his last three Serie A outings and is certain to lead the line on Saturday. "Only a crazy person would not play him from the start against Inter," said coach Claudio Ranieri, who has problems in midfield with the injured Hasan Salihamidžić and Mohamed Sissoko missing out along with suspended duo Mauro Camoranesi and Claudio Marchisio.
Keeper returns
Juve's task is likely to be made more difficult by the return of Inter goalkeeper Júlio César after the Brazilian missed his first Serie A match of the season last weekend, a 2-2 draw against US Città di Palermo at the San Siro, because of a groin strain. "It's tough against Júlio César," said Iaquinta. "He's having a great season; at times he's seemed unbeatable." Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso added: "We'll take to the pitch thinking only of victory. The ten-point lead mustn't influence the way we play. The history of this club demands that we play every game for three points."
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