MILAN, Oct 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Juventus warm-up for their Champions League
clash against Barcelona with a Serie A home tie against Hellas Verona on
Sunday, trying to close the gap on leaders AC Milan.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s AC Milan, who next host Roma, are flying high, the
only team with maximum points after four games.
Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus are coming off back-to-back league draws against
promoted Crotone 1-1 last time out and 2-2 at Roma, with two red cards in as
many games.
The nine-time reigning champions are fifth in the table, four points behind
Stefano Pioli’s Milan.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo remains a doubt having returned another
positive test for coronvirus this week, after missing their 2-0 Champions
League win at Dynamo Kiev.
The 35-year-old could still be available against Verona, and great rival
Lionel Messi’s Barcelona on October 28, if he tests negative 24 hours before
either game.
Juventus are without captain Giorgio Chiellini who went off with a right
thigh injury in Kiev, with the team still in isolation after US midfielder
Weston McKennie’s positive test.
“There are difficulties, it is useless to deny it,” said Juve’s 20-year-old
Swedish star Dejan Kulusevski.
“It’s not easy for anyone living in this situation. I haven’t been home for
almost a month.”
Ibrahimovic has recovered from the virus, scoring both AC Milan’s goals in
their 2-1 derby win over Inter.
They host eighth-placed Roma who are unbeaten since losing their season-
opener to Verona.
Both sides got their Europa League campaigns off the mark with Milan
beating Celtic 3-1 in Glasgow and Roma earning a 2-1 come-from-behind win at
Swiss club Young Boys.
“Roma will be another big test,” said Pioli.
“They have great quality and in the front line are among the best, but we
have quality too.”
Coronavirus-hit Inter Milan travel to Genoa needing a boost after their
derby defeat which left them sixth, was followed by a 2-2 Champions League
stalemate at home against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Sassuolo, second behind Milan, host rock bottom Torino on Friday, looking
to continue their unbeaten run this season.
Atalanta, in third, lost 4-1 loss to Napoli last weekend and next play at
home against Sampdoria, after their 4-0 Champions League win over Danish club
Midtjylland.
Gennaro Gattuso’s fourth-placed Napoli head for Benevento after losing 1-0
at home against Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. One to watch
Argentina forward Paulo Dybala, the scorer of 95 goals for Juventus in five
seasons including 68 in Serie A, has yet to make a league start this season
as he returns from a muscle injury.
The 26-year-old stayed on the bench in Crotone last time out but came on
the second half against Dynamo Kiev, and could feature again against Verona.
“Paulo needs to play to reach peak fitness. He’s getting back to his best
slowly but surely,” said Pirlo. Key stats
14 – Atalanta’s goals in four games
7 – Inter Milan players with coronavirus
4 – AC Milan points advantage on champions’ Juventus Fixtures
Friday
Sassuolo v Torino (1845GMT)
Saturday
Atalanta v Sampdoria (1300), Genoa v Inter Milan (1600), Lazio v Bologna
(1845)
Sunday
Cagliari v Crotone (1130), Benevento v Napoli (1400), Parma v Spezia
(1400), Fiorentina v Udinese (1700), Juventus v Hellas Verona (1945)
Monday
AC Milan v AS Roma (1945)