Ronaldo rested as Atletico loom
– Cristiano Ronaldo (right) is set for a rare start on the bench as Juventus host struggling Frosinone tonight looking to pull 14 points clear in Serie A with an eye towards next week’s Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid.
Portuguese star Ronaldo brought his tally to 20 goals for Juventus in all competitions last weekend in a 3-0 win over Sassuolo.
But the 34-year-old will start on the bench for just the second time this season before the former Real Madrid player returns to the Spanish capital next week.
Paulo Dybala returns to the starting line-up, forming an attacking trident alongside Mario Mandzukic and Federico Bernardeschi.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri’s defensive problems have been eased with trio Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and captain Giorgio Chiellini back in training.
Chiellini is expected to return tonight.
Second-placed Napoli dropped points last weekend with a goalless draw against Fiorentina and face a potentially tricky test at home against Torino.
Walter Mazzarri’s Torino are four points off the Europa League places.
Napoli will be without midfielder Marek Hamsik for the first time since the former skipper having sealed his move to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.
Lorenzo Insigne takes on the captain’s role and insisted motivation remained high despite Juventus’ charge towards an eighth consecutive league title.
“Juventus haven’t sapped our motivation, we knew it would be hard to keep up with them,” said Insigne.
“We know they’re a great team, but we’re no worse than them.
“The championship is still long. We left some points on the road but we certainly do not give up.”
Meanwhile, third-placed Inter Milan, nine points behind Napoli, are in turmoil as they host Sampdoria days after stripping star forward Mauro Icardi of the captain’s armband.
Icardi’s contractual situation,
Bayern Munich hope to have star goalkeeper Manuel Neuer back for tonight’s Bundesliga game at strugglers Augsburg, their final tune-up before next week’s crunch Champions League clash at Liverpool.
Neuer, 32, has sat out Bayern’s last three games with a thumb injury but is set to prove his fitness at Augsburg ahead of Tuesday’s last-16, first leg against Liverpool at Anfield.
“Manuel has not had any negative reaction,” Bayern head coach Niko Kovac said on Wednesday.
Neuer is confident he will face Liverpool, telling ESPN: “I think I’ll be between the posts. I am doing well, it’s not so bad.”
However, Kovac is wary of rushing him back too soon, especially given Neuer’s history after fracturing his foot twice in quick with his current deal expiring in 2021, has become an increasingly divisive issue between club bosses and the player’s wife, who is also his agent.
The Argentina forward hit back by refusing to travel for their Europa League round of 32 first-leg game at Rapid Vienna last night and is uncertain to play against his former club Sampdoria, who are ninth, on Sunday.
Inter are just four points ahead of city rivals AC Milan who travel to Atalanta.
Atalanta, Roma and Lazio are all one point behind AC Milan.
The clash in Bergamo will be one for fourth place, the final Champions League berth, which Roma will also be targeting at home against Bologna, and Lazio at Genoa. – AFP succession in 2017 which saw him miss most of last season.
“Manuel is an ambitious goalkeeper,” said Kovac.
“It was his decision alone to not play in certain games – the player always has the last word and in this case, Manuel is ready.”
Kovac has virtually a fullstrength squad to choose from at Augsburg with only Arjen Robben and Corentin Tolisso still out.
Second-placed Bayern’s 3-1 home win against Schalke last weekend trimmed the gap to five points behind Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund, who threw away a three-goal lead in a 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim.
Kovac and Bayern will target a ninth league win in 10 outings at Augsburg to maintain the pressure on Dortmund, who go to bottom side Nuremberg on Monday.
Augsburg, who have recruited former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as assistant coach, were hammered 4-0 by Werder Bremen at the weekend to leave them just above the relegation places.
“The league title will be won in defence, I hope we win the game and, if possible, prevent them from scoring,” said Kovac.
“We have no reason to spare anyone in Augsburg.
“We have enough time to recover and we don’t want to underestimate the game, because this is a chance to really get into the Bundesliga race.
“This game is important to create a bit of atmosphere,” added Kovac.
Liverpool will host Bayern having had 10 days off since their last match, Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Bournemouth, but Kovac says their opponents’ break could be an advantage for the Germans.
“It’s no bad thing if Liverpool get a few days’ rest – it’ll mean they’ll lose their rhythm.” – AFP