Milan (AFP) – Italian champions Juventus turn their focus back to their quest for an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday against Parma just days after the holders’ bruising Coppa Italia exit.
The big guns all suffered upsets with Juventus crashing 3-0 to Atalanta, Napoli falling 2-0 to AC Milan and Roma suffering a 7-1 humiliation at Fiorentina.
Juventus had signed Cristiano Ronaldo last summer from Real Madrid for 100 million euros ($114 million) as they pushed for a treble of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia crowns.
But the dream evaporated as the Portuguese star played a peripheral role in Bergamo, dumping his team out of the competition they had won the previous four years.
“It’s not an evening to forget, but one to remember, often, to prevent it from happening again,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri of his side’s first defeat in 23 domestic games this season.
Unbeaten in the league, Juventus are comfortably cruising 11 points clear of second-placed Napoli in Serie A after 21 games.
Allegri urged the team to react accordingly ahead of their Champions League last 16 first leg tie against Atletico Madrid on February 20.
“If you react in the right way, these nights can do you good and help you to raise your level of focus,” said Allegri.
“Obviously, that needs to start on Saturday with a win over Parma.”
The defeat was damaging in every way.
Skipper Giorgio Chiellini limped off with a calf problem to join fellow defender Leonardo Bonnucci and centre-back Andrea Brazagli on the injury table.
German midfielder Emre Can — who conceded an own-goal in Juventus’s come-from-behind win against Lazio last weekend — remains in doubt with a gastrointestinal bug.
But veteran Uruguay defender Martin Caceres could get his first start after arriving from Lazio on loan, in Juve’s only signing of the January transfer window.
– Quagliarella record bid –
Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli host Sampdoria in need of a win after their league hopes were dented by a goalless draw against AC Milan last weekend.
But motivation will be high in Sampdoria with forward Fabio Quagliarella targeting a new record for scoring in 12 consecutive Serie A games.
Quagliarella’s brace against Udinese last weekend saw the 36-year-old equal Gabriel Batistuta’s record.
The Genoa side are also just two points adrift of fourth-placed AC Milan.
Meanwhile Roma’s Cup collapse has left coach Eusebio Di Francesco’s hanging by a thread, days after his side threw away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Atalanta.
from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2RuS8oU
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