Juve face Chievo as UCL opener against Catalan giants looms
>> ROME: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri will get a final chance to test his troops before next week’s Champions League opener at Barcelona in today’s Serie A tie at home against Chievo.
Serie A champions Juventus travel to the Camp Nou on Tuesday to take on the Catalan side they eliminated in the quarter-finals of the European competition last season.
But first up is modest but consistent Chievo Verona, whose players earn a combined €18 million annually compared to the €164 million pocketed by Juventus’ squad.
And Chievo coach Rolando Maran has no illusions about the task awaiting in Turin.
“When you go there you know that you will suffer, but it is a beautiful suffering, one which makes you grow and them suffer a bit too,” said Maran, whose side snatched a point in Turin two years ago.
Germany midfielder Sami Khedira is back for the six-time title holders who are looking to stay ahead of the pack at home with a third win in as many games after Cagliari and Genoa.
But Allegri will have to do without defender Giorgio Chiellini, who picked up a calf injury playing for Italy, with Andrea Barazgli also sidelined after Azzurri duty against Spain and Israel and forward Paulo Dybala recovering after Argentina qualifiers.
Also preparing for European curtain raisers are Roma who visit Sampdoria today before hosting Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Napoli look for a third win at Bologna before their long journey to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine on Wednesday.
Meanwhile AC Milan travel south to Lazio with city rivals Inter hosting SPAL tomorrow.