Juventus defender Alex Sandro says his side need no reminding over the importance of their upcoming fixtures as the Serie A leaders look to end 2016 on a high.
Juve face city rivals Torino today knowing a victory would extend their lead at the summit to seven points ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between nearest challengers Roma and Milan in the capital.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men then play host to Roma next weekend before finishing the year with a league trip to Crotone and the Italian Supercup clash with Milan in Qatar.
Sandro said: “Everyone in the dressing room is looking forward to taking on Torino in the derby, not to mention Roma the following week and Milan in the Supercup.
“We’ll need to be at our very best and play like a proper Juventus side to get the results that we want. We need no reminding of the importance of this little run of fixtures and as ever, our target can’t be anything other than three victories.”
First up for Juve is the Turin derby as the Bianconeri start the fixture as firm favourites having won five of their last six league matches.
But seventh-placed Torino had won four successive games in all competitions before last weekend’s 2-0 setback at Sampdoria.
Torino boss Sinisa Mihajlovic knows the quality of Juve – but was keen to praise the qualities of his own players in the build-up to the contest.
He explained: “Juventus are the strongest team and they have many quality players. We’ll have to play a great match.
“But they too will have to worry about us because we have quality. We must always play like men, giving everything, and with intensity, ambition and courage.”
Mihajlovic was asked how important the contributions of Torino’s leading goalscorer Andrea Belotti – nicknamed the Rooster – and Juve’s free-scoring marksman Gonzalo Higuain would be at his pre-match press conference.
The 47-year-old said: “Higuain is very strong and I’m keeping the Rooster – but both teams have other quality players who can settle the game with one strike.
“But I am convinced teams win matches, not individuals.”
Serie A
Played yesterday
Crotone 2
Palladino 24p; Ferrari 83;
Pescara 1
Campagnaro 82;
HT: 1-0. Att: 4,500.
Missed penalty: Memushaj (P) 44.
Red cards: Aquilani (P) 73; Capezzi (C) 81.
Sampdoria 1
Schick 89;
Lazio 2
Milinkovic-Savic 40; Parolo 45;
HT: 0-2. Att: 20,000.
Playing today – 15.00
Atalanta vs Udinese
Bologna vs Empoli
Cagliari vs Napoli - 12.30
Inter vs Genoa - 20.45
Palermo vs Chievo
Torino vs Juventus
Tomorrow
Fiorentina vs Sassuolo - 19.00
Roma vs Milan - 21.00
Next fixtures
Saturday: 15.00 Empoli vs Cagliari. 18.00 Milan vs Atalanta. 20.45 Juventus vs Roma.
Sunday: 12.30 Sassuolo vs Inter. 15.00 Chievo vs Sampdoria; Pescara vs Bologna; Napoli vs Torino; Udinese vs Crotone. 20.45 Genoa vs Palermo; Lazio vs Fiorentina.
Serie B
Played yesterday
Ascoli vs Latina - 2-2
Avellino vs Benevento - 1-1
Carpi vs Ternana - 1-1
Cesena vs Cittadella - 3-0
Entella vs Trapani - 2-2
Frosinone vs Salernitana - 1-3
Perugia vs Pro Vercelli - 1-0
Spal vs Spezia - 2-1
Vicenza vs Verona - 1-0
Today
Brescia vs Novara - 17.30
Standings: Verona 34; Benevento, Spal, Frosinone 32; Perugia 29; Citta-della, Carpi 28; Entella 26; Bari 24; Spezia 23; Salernitana, Novara, Brescia 21; Latina, Pisa, Ternana 20; Cesena, Ascoli 19; Pro Vercelli, Vicenza 18; Avellino 17; Trapani 12.