Focus, Ronaldo advised
JUVENTUS COACH: HE WAS UPSET AND HE NEEDS TIME TO CALM DOWN
Italian champions without Khedira and Costa for Frosinone.
Cristiano Ronaldo picks himself up and gets back to business in Serie A against promoted Frosinone tomorrow after his return to Spain in the Champions League ended in a sending off against Valencia.
The former Real Madrid star was handed a controversial red card just days after his first goals for Juventus saw the champions keep their 100% record to pull three points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Juventus beat Valencia anyway thanks to two Miralem Pjanic penalties.
And after securing a winning start to the European campaign, the Turin giants look to keep their quest for an eighth straight domestic title on track.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri is confident that Ronaldo, 33, will be back to business against a side who are second from bottom of the league with one point.
“He was upset and he needs time to calm down. He needs to rise above it and focus, even if these things leave a bitter taste in the mouth,” said the coach.
The champions will be without German midfielder Sami Khedira who suffered a thigh muscle injury in Spain.
Douglas Costa also suffered an adductor injury, but the Brazilian would have missed the game as he sits out a four-match ban for spitting last weekend.
Inter Milan also return from Champions League duty on a high after a last-gasp 2-1 win over Tottenham in their return to Europe for the first time since 2012.
But Roma fell 3-0 to defending champions Real Madrid in Spain with Napoli drawing 0-0 at Red Star Belgrade.
Inter scored two goals in a seven-minute spell, sparked by captain Mauro Icardi who scored his first goal of the season on his Champions League debut.
Inter – floundering in 15th in Serie A with just four points from four games – head to fourthplaced Sampdoria looking for just their second win in the fifth round of action.
Roma – last year’s Champions League semifinalists – are reeling from their defeat to Real Madrid.
Eusebio di Francesco’s side have not won since their opening game against Torino in August, and trave to Bologna tomorrow.
“I’m concerned but I’m not pessimistic,” said Roma sporting director Monchi.
“I remain confident the coach will find the right path.”
Serie A runners-up Napoli, three points behind Juventus, visit Torino after a lacklustre European stalemate in Belgrade.
Lazio host Genoa after their Europa League win over Apollon Limassol at the Stadio Olimpico, with AC Milan hosting Atalanta after Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal against Dudelange in Luxembourg.
SPAL – who are three points behind Juventus in second – host Fiorentina. –