Sarri back, Ronaldo firing on all cylinders as Juventus head for Fiorentina

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MILAN, Sept 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Italian
league action after his four-goal spree for Portugal as Juventus head for
Fiorentina on Saturday also boosted by coach Maurizio Sarri’s highly-
anticipated debut on the bench after a bout of pneumonia.

The ex-Chelsea coach missed his first two league games with the Serie A
champions against Parma and his former club Napoli.

But the 60-year-old will be on the bench for the first time on Saturday as
Juventus look to make it three wins this season before their Champions League
opener at Atletico Madrid midweek.

Ronaldo’s four goals in Portugal’s European qualifying win over Lithuania
during the week were enough to send shivers down the spines of Fiorentina
fans.

The 34-year-old overtook Ireland’s Robbie Keane as the all-time top scorer
in Euro qualifiers, with 25 goals, and will be looking to impress further
with the winner of the Best FIFA Football Awards to be named in Milan on
September 23.

Ronaldo will lead the Juventus attack along with Douglas Costa and Gonzalo
Higuain, the Argentine also in-form on his return to Turin after a loan spell
at Chelsea.

“I’m back on the same team as Cris (Ronaldo) after a few years and he’s
even stronger, more complete and ambitious, I’m happy to play with him
again,” said Higuain, who played alongside Ronaldo on Real Madrid, said on
Thursday.

Fiorentina have also changed owners and coach with former AC Milan and
Sevilla manager Vincenzo Montella overseeing two defeats in as many games on
his return to the club.

“Great stories are born of impossible challenges,” said Montella, whose
side last beat their fierce rivals in January 2017.

The rivalry has been fuelled further after Juventus wrapped up their eighth
consecutive title with a 2-1 win at the expense of the Tuscans last April.

“I’d like to start a new chapter in Fiorentina’s history by doing something
special against Sarri’s team,” Montella told Gazzetta Dello Sport.

And Montella believes that new French signing Franck Ribery can make the
difference for the team.

“Franck played the friendly against Perugia as if he was playing the
Champions League final,” he said.

“He’s different, as Ronaldo is different. We talk of stars who excel
through sacrifice. They are wonderful examples for everyone.”

“It will be hard, very hard, but we’re convinced that we will see a new
great Fiorentina,” said new Italian-American owner Rocco Commisso hoping to
build a team who can add to their Serie A titles in 1956 and 1969.

– Ancelotti ‘outrage’ –

Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli, who are midtable, need to pick themselves up
after Kalidou Koulibaly’s own goal handed Juventus a 4-3 win in Turin last
weekend.

But they play their first match at home this season against Sampdoria with
doubts over whether their San Paolo stadium will be ready in time.

The Serie A outfit played their opening two league games away from home, at
Fiorentina and Juventus, due to the reconstruction of the stadium.

Ancelotti said he was “outraged” after seeing the state of the changing
rooms midweek with their Champions League opener against Liverpool next
Tuesday.

The contractors have however insisted the work will be completed by Friday.

Inter Milan welcome Udinese to the San Siro also looking to extend their
maximum points with Antonio Conte’s side ahead of both Juventus and Torino on
goal difference.

Inter’s new star signing Romelu Lukaku will be looking to score for a third
consecutive game a week after monkey chants against the Belgian tarnished
their 2-1 triumph at Cagliari.

Inter are also in Champions League duty against Slavia Prague at the San
Siro on Tuesday and need to avoid a slip-up against Udinese who shocked AC
Milan 1-0 in their season opener.

Torino host new boys Lecce, having also won their first two matches, as
Atalanta head for Genoa before travelling to Dinamo Zagreb for their first
ever Champions League game next week.

Fixtures

Saturday

Fiorentina v Juventus (1300GMT), Napoli v Sampdoria (1600), Inter Milan v
Udinese (1845)

Sunday

Genoa v Atalanta (1030GMT), Brescia v Bologna, Parma v Cagliari, SPAL v
Lazio (all 1300GMT), AS Roma v Sassuolo (1600), Verona v AC Milan (1845)

Monday

Torino v Lecce (1845GMT)