Injury-hit Italian giants Juve make a case for the defence
MILAN: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, is expected to continue tinkering with his injury-hit side when the Italian giants host Parma tomorrow, looking to reinforce their lead over title challengers Roma.
Champions Juve opened up a threepoint gap at the top of Serie A last week when an unrecognisable Roma succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away to resurgent Napoli.
Allegri’s men host Parma, who moved off bottom spot with a shock 2-0 win against Inter, on the back of their moraleboosting 3-2 Champions League defeat of Group A rivals Olympiakos in midweek.
However, injuries among the defence mean Allegri could again deploy the 4-3-1-2 formation that effectively kept Juve in the race for a place in the last 16 of Europe’s premier competition.
Ghanaian Kwadwo Asamoah, usually deployed as a wingback, played as a leftback on Tuesday, but an inflamed knee has yet to recover.
With defenders Martin Caceres and Andrea Barzagli and French wingback Patrice Evra still sidelined, Allegri has no choice but to ditch again his trusted 3-5-2 formation for Parma’s visit.
But the big news from Juve’s training ground on Thursday was the prospect of striker Carlos Tevez being moved back a notch to play in the hole behind front pair Fernando Llorente and fellow Spaniard Alvaro Morata.
European commitments also proved costly to Roma who, with major injury worries, prepare to host Torino at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow.
Roma lost defender José Holebas (ribs) to injury in a 2-0 defeat away to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, when attacking midfielder Alessandro Florenzi (ankle) hobbled off.
Roma are without defenders Davide Astori, Leandro Castan, Maicon and there are doubts about Malian midfielder Seydou Keita.
Lazio have dropped only two points in their past six games, moving up to third place, only six points adrift of Juventus, three behind Roma and one ahead of fifthplaced Napoli.
Stefano Pioli’s men have banged in a league-topping 20 goals in 10 games, a quarter of which have come from 27-yearold Serbian Filip Djordjevic.
The former Nantes striker’s form has led to reports of ill feeling between him and Miroslav Klose. The former Germany striker started in the place of Djordjevic last week and hit a brace in a 4-2 win over Cagliari, before being replaced by the Serbian just after the hour.
Before a manageable trip away to Empoli, Lazio are firmly back in the fight for next season’s European places.
Djordjevic has played down suggestions that he is now fighting Klose for the No 1 striker position.
“I am really happy to play alongside such a great player. We play in the same position, but there’s no jealousy between us,” said Djordjevic.
Sitting level with Lazio are high-flying Sampdoria, in fourth place, and they will fancy staying there before meeting a Milan side who have taken only two points from their past three games.
The enthusiasm of Milan’s revival under coach Filippo Inzaghi has been on the wane of late, especially following a shock 2-0 home reverse to promoted Palermo last week.
Milan continue to be without injured Brazilian Alex and could be without fellow defender Ignazio Abate (ankle), the only player to have played every game so far.
Napoli’s defeat of Roma last week left Rafael Benitez’s men only seven points adrift of Juve and one behind Lazio in the third Champions League qualifying spot.
A 3-0 Europa League defeat of Young Boys on Thursday, thanks to a hat-trick from Dutch midfielder Jonathan De Guzman, will serve only to foster confidence before a tricky trip away to Fiorentina, who were held at home by PAOK Salonika. – Sapa-AFP