Champions Juventus Target Earliest Ever Serie A Title Victory
5th April 2019
Massimiliano Allegri's side return to their home comforts of the Allianz Stadium in Turin to host AC Milan
- Champions Juventus turn their focus to nailing down an eighth consecutive Serie A title in record time this weekend, days after a row erupted over racist abuse aimed at starlet Moise Kean in Cagliari
- Juventus could win the league title with seven games to spare -- the earliest any team has ever sealed Serie A -- if they beat AC Milan and nearest challengers Napoli lose at home to Genoa
- The Turin giants have an 18-point advantage on Napoli and have won both their direct clashes with Carlo Ancelotti's side this season
MILAN, Italy- Champions
Juventus turn their focus to nailing down an eighth consecutive Serie A title
in record time this weekend, days after a row erupted over racist abuse aimed
at starlet Moise Kean in Cagliari.
Massimiliano Allegri's side return to their home comforts of
the Allianz Stadium in Turin to host AC Milan after their trip to Sardinia on
Tuesday ended amid scenes of chaos as Kean and teammate Blaise Matuidi were
subjected to monkey cries and racist chanting.
Juventus could win the league title with seven games to
spare -- the earliest any team has ever sealed Serie A -- if they beat AC Milan
and nearest challengers Napoli lose at home to Genoa.
The Turin giants have an 18-point advantage on Napoli and
have won both their direct clashes with Carlo Ancelotti's side this season.
"The eighth consecutive championship is in the 'loading
phase'," said Juve captain Giorgio Chiellini.
"Right now, the 'uploading' is getting closer to
completion. These will be two very important weeks for us."
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Barcelona
Boosted by the summer signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus
have had an unparalleled campaign, with just one defeat in 30 games on March 17
against Genoa, when the Portuguese superstar was rested.
But Allegri's side are building momentum as they prepare for
next week's Champions League quarter-final, first leg clash against Ajax in
Amsterdam.
If they don't seal the title on Sunday they can do so the
following weekend with a win at SPAL.
In both cases it would be a record for the 20-team Italian
championship.
Three teams have won with five games to go -- Roberto
Mancini's Inter Milan in 2006-2007, Torino in 1947-1948 and Fiorentina in
1955-1956.
Paris Saint-Germain hold the European record by winning
Ligue 1 three years ago with eight games to spare.
Allegri wants to seal a 35th 'Scudetto' as quickly as
possible, before the real seasonal goal, the coveted Champions League, last
achieved in 1996.
- 'Precious points' -
The Serie A points record of 102 which Juventus achieved
under Antonio Conte in the 2013-2014 season, remains an achievable goal as by
winning the last eight remaining matches they can achieve 105.
Ronaldo is recovering from a right thigh injury, which could
rule him out of this weekend's game.
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But tests carried out on Monday, indicated he may be able to
play the first leg against Ajax, according to reports in Italy.
Allegri could opt for the 34-year-old to start on the bench
on Saturday and give him a runout before the Ajax challenge.
Injury-hit AC Milan, in fourth, are desperate for a result
having taken just one point from their last three league games.
Gennaro Gattuso's side occupy the final Champions League
berth, but have just a one-point advantage on Atalanta, with Lazio, Roma and
Torino four points behind.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (thigh) and midfielder Lucas
Paqueta (right ankle) are out injured, complicating matters as Milan target a
Champions League return after six years.
Milan lost 2-0 to Juventus in the reverse fixture.
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"We'll go to Turin to take home precious points,"
defender Ignazio Abate told Milan TV. "There's still a long way to go
and anything can happen."
Inter Milan, in third, take on Atalanta, fifth, in the San
Siro, in a clash between Champions League hopefuls with both teams coming off
four-goal wins this week.
AS Roma travel to European rivals Sampdoria as Lazio, with a
game in hand, hosting Sassuolo and Torino at Parma.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday
Parma v Torino (1300), Juventus v AC Milan (1600), Sampdoria
v AS Roma (1830)
Sunday
Fiorentina v Frosinone (1030), Cagliari v SPAL, Udinese v
Empoli (1300), Inter Milan v Atalanta, Lazio v Sassuolo (1600), Napoli v
Genoa (1830)
Monday
Bologna v Chievo (1830)