Veteran keeper Buffon ready for Juve return
>> MILAN: Gianluigi Buffon is set to make his long-awaited return for Juventus as in-form Lazio travel to AC Milan for the first of their double header in Serie
A action this weekend.
Veteran goalkeeper Buffon returns against Chievo on the weekend he turns 40 after struggling with a calf injury since the 1-0 win over Napoli on Dec 1.
In his absence Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has impressed, conceding just one goal in seven Serie A games as the Turin side continue their push for a seventh straight Serie A title.
Juventus are just one point behind leaders Napoli after 21 games with Maurizio Sarri’s side hosting Bologna tomorrow.
Massimiliano Allegri will be counting on bringing home all three points against Chievo, in 13th, and without a win in two months.
“Playing these kinds of games is always difficult,” said Juventus’ Moroccan defender Medhi Benatia.
“If you face Inter or Roma, the coach does not even need to talk. Everyone is focused and ready to give their best.
“In games like the one on Saturday [today] you can be led to think that it is easier to get a positive result, but that’s not true.
“It will be a battle and we will have to be ready on both a physical and mental level.”
The Italian championship looks increasingly like a two-horse race between Napoli and Juventus.
But Lazio, although seven points behind Juventus in third, have been picking up steam. The Romans play AC Milan at the San Siro tomorrow in the first of a double header with the teams clashing again in the Italian Cup three days later.
FIXTURES
(kick-offs 9pm Thai time unless stated Today
Sassuolo v Atalanta (midnight), Chievo v Juventus (2.45am, Sun)
Tomorrow
SPAL v Inter Milan (6.30pm), Crotone v Cagliari, Fiorentina v Verona, Genoa v Udinese, Napoli v Bologna, Torino v Benevento, AC Milan v Lazio, Roma v Sampdoria (2.14am, Mon)