Roma determined to spoil party for champions-elect

– Juventus aim to claim a seventh consecutive league title at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow but opponents Roma will be determined to gatecrash the party and secure a spot in the Champions League.

All-conquering Juventus claimed a fourth consecutive Italian Cup with a 4-0 win over AC Milan in Rome midweek, and need just a point to add the Scudetto to complete the double for the fourth year in a row.

“The Scudetto’s not ours yet, but we’re on the right track. We’re close,” said goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon (right) who reached the milestone of

Milan

300 clean sheets for Juventus in 655 appearances on Wednesday.

Roma, in third place, need just a point to ensure top European football next season as they hold a four-point advantage on fifth-placed Inter Milan in the race for the top four with two games to play.

“Playing for a draw isn’t in my make-up,” said Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco. “You go out on to the pitch to win.

“The game could always end in a draw, but I don’t like talking about permutations.

“I can assure you I will try to convince my players that we need all three points.”

However, if fifth-placed Inter Milan lose today at home to Sassuolo then the top four will be confirmed for Roma. Lazio, in fourth two points behind Roma, travel to Crotone, who are hovering two points above the drop zone.

In any case, Di Francesco’s aim is to postpone the Juventus party for a week, sending the multiple champions back home to Turin to complete the double in their final game against already-relegated Verona.

That game in Turin could also be the swansong for 40-year-old Buffon who said he would retire at the end of the season. –