And he has blamed Alessandro Del Piero for his less than perfect time in Turin as his career foundered.

His time with La Vecchia Signora was ephemeral. Hopes were met with hindrance as he never played, and ultimately he was forced to leave in the summer.

“Did Del Piero call me during my injury? No. He never called me,” Giovinco told Il Corriere dello Sport.

“In any case, when I was at Juventus he never used to call me.

“He has never said anything on me. Was there tension between me and him? Maybe he never liked me.”

To address the problem, Giovinco thought it was best to move to Parma and construct his own legacy at the Ennio Tardini.

He has recovered from a downward spiral at Juventus to reshape his identity with the Ducali.

“I am getting back to my best form. It was important to come back against Roma. It gave me good signs. I have a good relationship with the coach too,” he added.

“Am I thinking of Juventus? No. Zero. My present is Parma and I want to think about this. The rest doesn’t count.”

Last Chance For Silverware

Juventus come into this match behind on aggregate and completely out of form, as they have failed to win in the last month of football. Their last victory came back on March 22, when they put four goals past Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Since then though, the Bianconeri have been extremely disappointing, as they have failed to pick up a win in three league matches, against Chievo, Genoa and Inter most recently. These results have all but ended any hope of attaining this season’s Scudetto, as they find themselves ten points adrift of the league leaders with just six matches remaining

The Old Lady commenced their Coppa Italia campaign in the last 16 stage, in which they convincingly overcame Catania thanks to goals from Marco Marchionni, Sebastian Giovinco and the captain, Alessandro Del Piero.

Their next match, against Napoli, proved to be tougher and had to be decided on penalties following 120 goalless minutes. Juve held on to live another day, winning the shootout 4-3.

Heading into the first leg against Lazio, Claudio Ranieri’s men were certainly affected by the distraction of their Champions League tie against Chelsea, which they ended up losing 3-2 on aggregate.

This time around though, there are no external concerns or pressures for them to deal with, allowing the players to put all of their focus into claiming the club’s first Italian Cup since 1995.

European Hopes Rest On Coppa Result

Lazio currently find themselves in ninth place in the Serie A, with six matches remaining in the season. They are currently five points adrift of their bitter rivals Roma, who occupy the sixth and final European qualifying position.

With this in mind, the Biancocelesti will be aware of the fact that success in the Coppa Italia will be enough to pave the way for them into the Europa League next term, as continental football is the bonus for the eventual winners of this competition.

To this point, they have done extremely well in the cup, as they have managed to ease past Atalanta and, more significantly, Milan, who they managed to overcome 2-1 in extra time, along the way. Their most recent progression in the competition came against Torino, as they ran away with a 3-1 victory.

Delio Rossi’s men come into this match on the back of two impressive victories over a pair of European hopefuls in Genoa and their neighbouring rivals Roma. This will give them plenty of confidence heading into this second leg, as will the fact that they are yet to be defeated by the Bianconeri in two attempts this term.

For Lazio, the Coppa Italia represents a real opportunity for success this season, as if they do manage to avoid defeat against Juve this week, they could find themselves up against Sampdoria in the final. If this is to be the case, the Biancocelesti will certainly be confident of winning their fifth Italian Cup in their history.

First Leg In Rome

Lazio stunned Juventus in the first leg with an impressive come-from-behind 2-1 victory. Marchionni opened the scoring for the visitors, to ensure the Old Lady grabbed at least one crucial away goal. A dominant second half by the Biancocelesti, however, ensured that they would take the lead into the second leg, thanks to goals by Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi.

The Bianconeri opted to rest Del Piero, whilst Gianluigi Buffon missed through injury on that night. The home side started with Pandev and Rocchi up front in the absence of Mauro Zarate, a man who is in great form at present.

FORM GUIDE

Juventus

April 17 v Inter (H)                     DREW 1-1

April 11 v Genoa (A)                   LOST 2-3

April 5 v Chievo (H)                    DREW 2-2

March 22 v Roma (A)                 WON 4-1

March 15 v Bologna (H)              WON 4-1

Lazio

April 17 v Genoa (A)                  WON 1-0

April 11 v Roma (H)                   WON 4-2

April 5 v Siena (A)                      LOST 0-2

March 21 v Catania (A)               LOST 0-1

March 15 v Chievo (H)                LOST 0-3

TEAM NEWS

Juventus

Unfortunately for the Bianconeri, the news on the injury front has failed to improve over the past few days, as they are still without the likes of Momo Sissoko and Hasan Salihamidzic. Amauri should be fit in time for the match; however, he will almost certainly have to make do with a spot on the bench, as Alessandro Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta are tipped to head the attack yet again.

Thankfully for Ranieri though, he will be able to recall both Mauro Camoranesi and Claudio Marchisio, both of whom missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Inter through suspension. The pair will both be pushing for a spot in the starting lineup, against the likes of Christian Poulsen, Tiago and Pavel Nedved in the midfield.

Possible Starting XI – (4-4-2): Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Camoranesi, Poulsen, Tiago, Giovinco; Iaquinta, Del Piero.

Lazio

Having decided to rest some players at the weekend, Delio Rossi’s men are in good shape heading into this clash. Unfortunately for their sake though, they were dealt a harsh blow against Genoa, as their star man Pandev suffered a thigh strain which will keep him out of action for the next month. The Macedonian hitman was replaced by Rocchi after just 41 minutes of play, meaning the club captain will play from the start alongside Zarate in this second leg.

Better news for the capital outfit surrounds the availability of both Cristian Brocchi and Francelino Matuzalem, two players that missed the victory over Genoa through suspension. They will almost certainly earn a start in the midfield, most likely replacing Ousmane Dabo and Stefano Mauri.

Possible Starting XI – (4-4-2): Muslera; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Kolarov; Lichtsteiner, Ledesma, Matuzalem, Brocchi; Zarate, Rocchi.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Juventus – Vincenzo Iaquinta: The former Udinese man has had a fairly inconsistent season to date; nevertheless, he has managed to find the back of the net on eight occasions thus far. His impact against Inter at the weekend was extremely minimal, mainly due to the dominance of Walter Samuel, so with this in mind, the world champion will be desperate to bounce back with a strong showing against Lazio.

Lazio – Mauro Zarate: The in-form hitman has rediscovered his very best touch in recent times, with some inspiring performances against Roma and Genoa in particular. After bursting on to the scene with eight goals in quick succession to get his maiden Serie A season underway, the Argentine is back to his best and will need to be on top of his game once again if Lazio are to progress to the final.

PREDICTION

It certainly will be a fascinating second leg in Turin, as Juventus have to win in order to advance to the final of the competition. It should be interesting to see how the Biancocelesti approach the contest, as they will be aware of the fact that a draw will see them go through. Both clubs have conceded more often than not in recent times, so I am expecting an entertaining, high-scoring match, with the Bianconeri doing enough to progress to the final.

Juventus 3-1 Lazio (4-3 aggregate)

All Or Nothing For Roma

Roma’s hopes of salvaging their season rest on finishing fourth in Serie A with a Champions League place in their pocket. From now until the end of term, thirty points are up for grabs. The first three of those are on offer when Juventus visit the Stadio Olimpico this Saturday. However, it will not be easy for the Giallorossi as they have several stars missing through injury.

Luciano Spalletti’s men are joint fifth with Fiorentina, just two points behind Genoa. The Grifoni welcome Udinese at Marassi, and anything less than a win for Roma could start to get the critics shooting down their Champions League chances. The records are heavily stacked against the Eternal-city side. They have not beaten Juventus in Serie A in any of their last six meetings. Roma have lost four times to the Bianconeri; the other two matches ended in draws in Rome and in Turin. The reverse fixture ended 2-0 to the kings of Piedmont back in November. A wonder free-kick from Alessandro Del Piero, and a sucker-punch strike from Marco Marchionni did the damage. The Giallorossi will be hoping for a better outcome in front of their own crowd.

Juventus have not won at the Stadio Olimpico since November 2005. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the protagonist back then, and plenty has changed since. Italy won the World Cup and Calciopoli changed the Italian game for good. With so many injuries taking their toll, a positive result is looking difficult. All of Roma’s last three games ended in draws. The Giallorossi did brilliantly to come back against Sampdoria last week. And the two previous clashes were against Udinese at home and the epic Inter draw away. With plenty of talk regarding Alberto Aquilani’s contract and Francesco Totti’s injury, distractions are likely. However, it’s all or nothing for the capital city side if they are to keep their hopes of top European football alive for next season.

Juventus Fighting On

The Bianconeri are keeping the Serie A title race still open. After the loss to Chelsea in the Champions League, Claudio Ranieri made some wholesale changes to the team for the Bologna game in Turin. For once, the Tinkerman’s choices seemed to pay the right dividends as Juve stormed to a 4-1 win to keep the pressure up on Inter. A new and tougher challenge awaits the Bianconeri in Rome. Anything less than a win could see the Nerazzurri take a further leap towards the title.

Although Ranieri is well aware of the injury situation at Trigoria, he will not be taking anything for granted against Roma. The Giallorossi showed their mettle against Sampdoria, and thus an alert Juve will need to be present at the Olimpico this weekend. Following the recent spat with David Trezeguet, peace seems to have been reached between the Frenchman and his coach. The prolific striker missed out last week, perhaps as punishment for his rant against Ranieri. However, he has a good chance of featuring this weekend as the coach makes more changes.

Juve will be confident knowing they have not lost to the Giallorossi in the league for almost four years, but the Olimpico has not always been kind to them this season. Juve have lost and drawn there already this term, albeit against Roma’s bitter rivals Lazio. Ranieri and his men will be hoping it’s third time lucky in Rome this weekend. Nothing more than three points will be on the agenda, and it’s time to show their mettle as we enter the business end of the season. Although the gap between second and first stands at seven points, the Scudetto lantern is still, just about, flickering for the Old Lady.

FORM GUIDE

Roma

Mar 15: Sampdoria 2-2 Roma
Mar 7: Roma 1-1 Udinese
Mar 1: Inter 3-3 Roma
Feb 21: Roma 1-0 Siena
Feb 15: Atalanta 3-0 Roma
Feb 8: Roma 3-0 Genoa

Juventus

Mar 14: Juventus 4-1 Bologna
Mar 7: Torino 0-1 Juventus
Feb 28: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Feb 21: Palermo 0-2 Juventus
Feb 15: Juventus 1-1 Sampdoria
Feb 8: Catania 1-2 Juventus

TEAM NEWS

Roma

The injury room is almost full to bursting at Trigoria. Matteo Brighi was unable to train on Thursday, but he may be available to Spalletti for his midfield. Daniele De Rossi and David Pizarro are out with a one match suspension each, while Albeto Aquilani and Rodrigo Taddei are both injured. Marco Cassetti and Simone Perrotta are doubtful, and so Spalletti may have to call up Brazilian midfielder Filipe from the reserves. Cicinho, Juan and Francesco Totti are also crocked as the injuries continue to plague the Romans. Marco Motta and Sulley Diamoutene are also suspended for this one.

Probable Starting XI: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Loria, Riise, Filipe, Brighi, Tonetto, Baptista, Vucinic, Menez.

Juventus

Pavel Nedved is back in contention for his side after missing out last week. Giorgio Chiellini is also likely to play following a nose break last week, but he will wear a protective mask to support him. Olof Mellberg is likely to keep his place ahead of Nicola Legrottaglie who has a problem to his left knee. Claudio Marchisio is still struggling with a knock, and he is unlikely to feature. There may be space for Tiago and Christian Poulsen in midfield. Mauro Camoranesi, Mohamed Sissoko, Cristian Zanetti, Amauri, Paolo De Ceglie and Alex Manninger are all out of contention with various problems.

Probable Starting XI: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Salihamidzic, Tiago, Poulsen, Nedved, Iaquinta, Del Piero.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Roma: Keep an eye on Julio Baptista. The hitman has blown hot and cold recently, but he was on fire last week. The ‘Beast’ grabbed a double against Sampdoria to rescue his side, and he will be hoping for more of the same against the Bianconeri on Saturday night.

Juventus: Hasan Salihamidzic has been consistent and covered well for the injured Mauro Camoranesi on the right. He has been effective and made the difference on a number of occasions. Expect him to be key to Juve’s cause.

PREDICTION

It’s set to be a Roman epic this weekend. With both teams struggling with injuries, a result is almost impossible to predict. Although there will still be difference makers on the pitch, a draw is likely. However, Juve have the greater chance of three points.

Roma 1-2 Juventus

Kick Off: Saturday March 14 2009, 20:30CET, Stadio Olimpico.

League Focus For Juventus

Having been knocked out of the Champions League, Juventus will have to focus all of their efforts on the Scudetto race. The Coppa Italia hangs in the balance, but there is still a chance of Serie A glory, and points will need to be scooped up from now until the final day of the season in May. Bologna come to town this weekend, but the Vinovo-based outfit are still trying to heal the pain of European elimination.

Juve were flying against Chelsea, but a combination of ruthlessness, tactical errors and a solid Blues side saw plans for the greatest European club trophy put on hold. Nevertheless, the players cannot dwell too much on this week’s events and they need to move on. A seven-point gap separates Juve from bitter rivals Inter. Bologna will seem like easy pickings, but Claudio Ranieri will not be fooled by the relegation strugglers. The Bianconeri beat the Rossoblu 2-1 in the reverse earlier this term. However, former Juve striker Marco Di Vaio is out to get one over his former employers. The Italian has scored a magnificent 19 goals this term.

Although Juve’s defence is strong, they will need to keep an extra eye out for the Rome-born goal machine. In their last six games against each other, Juve have won every fixture. The Emiliani are yet to taste success over Juve. However that could all change this weekend. Ranieri’s men are still hurt by their Euro exit, and Bologna will know how to profit from the Old Lady’s vulnerability. However, the Bianconeri have won four of their last six Serie A matches heading into this one, so confidence should be on the up.

Apart from rock-bottom Reggina, Bologna have conceded the most  goals in Serie A so far. Juve have one of the best attacks in the league and thus three points should be heading towards Turin if the coach plays his cards right. No more mistakes can be afforded by the Vecchia Signora. The game on Saturday represents the perfect chance to narrow the gap down to just four points. Inter have a tricky home clash against Fiorentina, so it will be an ideal opportunity to apply further pressure on the Nerazzurri. With no further European worries, the time to focus on winning the Scudetto is now.

Bologna Surviving Slowly But Surely

Sinisa Mihajlovic is guiding his team towards Serie A safety this term. Although Bologna are not speeding up the table, they are slowly climbing further away from the relegation zone. Last week’s 3-0 destruction of Sampdoria proved the squad has the potential to finish the season with a place in next season’s ‘Campionato’. Much of the Rossoblu’s success has been down to Di Vaio. Only he seems to be scoring for his side at the moment. Mihajlovic will be praying his star man stays injury free from now until the end of term.

Midfielder Francisco Valiani is the club’s second top-scorer with two. It’s not good enough from the Emiliani, but their progress towards survival is going well. The Renato Dall’Ara-based side need to pick up further points against Juve though. They are only two points above the relegation zone. Calcio is quickly moving into the business end of the season and thus Mihajlovic will be asking his players to step up their campaign to survive.

Although they are heading in the right direction, it’s time for Bologna to show their true colours. A win against Juve will work wonders for their hopes of survival, despite their away record this term painting a less than perfect picture. Three wins, five draws and six defeats on the road do not make for confident reading. However, the team beat Milan at San Siro on the first day of the season, and the players will be dreaming of a repeat against Juve this weekend.

The last decent away performance from Bologna came exactly a month to the day come kick-off time – a 1-1 draw away to Napoli on February 14, with Di Vaio grabbing the goal at San Paolo for his side. Since then, the team have lost to Inter and Lazio, before bouncing back to win 3-0 at the Dall’Ara against ‘Doria last week. The players have been training hard all this week. In addition they will be fresher than their opponents who are still trying to recover from Tuesday night’s European adventures. Juve always seem to struggle against teams fighting for survival, and this could be just the moment for the away side to rack up some precious points to continue working towards their objectives.

FORM GUIDE

Juventus

Mar 7: Torino 0-1 Juventus
Feb 28: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Feb 21: Palermo 0-2 Juventus
Feb 15: Juventus 1-1 Sampdoria
Feb 8: Catania 1-2 Juventus
Jan 31: Juventus 2-3 Cagliari

Bologna

Mar 8: Bologna 3-0 Sampdoria
Feb 28: Lazio 2-0 Bologna
Feb 21: Bologna 1-2 Inter
Feb 14: Napoli 1-1 Bologna
Feb 8: Udinese 1-0 Bologna
Feb 2: Bologna 3-1 Fiorentina

TEAM NEWS

Juventus

Juve will be without Mohamed Sissoko who is recovering from a broken foot, while Nicola Legrottaglie, Mauro Camoranesi, Cristiano Zanetti and Paolo De Ceglie all trained separately from the rest of the squad. Pavel Nedved suffered a rib injury against Chelsea and he is looking doubtful for Bologna. Marco Marchionni is also struggling and he is likely to be rested. David Trezeguet is suffering from muscular fatigue, while Amauri is likely to be out for a month after pulling a muscle in his right leg.

Probable Starting XI 4-4-2: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Salihamidzic, Poulsen, Tiago, Giovinco, Del Piero, Iaquinta.

Bologna

Gabi Mudingayi and Salvatore Lanna returned to train with the rest of the squad on Thursday after being out with injury. The duo are likely to be in contention and Lanna could be drafted into the left-back position. Mudingayi may take over from Massimo Mutarelli in the middle. Di Vaio is likely to start up front on his own as Mihajlovic reverts to a five-man midfield. Massimo Marazzina has still not recovered from injury, while Aparecido Cesar and Vangelis Moras are looking doubtful.

Probable Starting XI 4-5-1: Antonioli, Zenoni, Terzi, Britos, Lanna, Bombardini, Mingazzini, Volpi, Mudingayi, Valiani, Di Vaio.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Juventus

Vincenzo Iaquinta is likely to start for Juventus and, following his great work in the Champions League on Tuesday, Bologna will be keeping their eyes on the Italian international striker. The former Udinese man is looking to prove his worth to the Bianconeri as he eyes a regular starting role.

Bologna

All eyes will be on 19-goal hero Di Vaio this weekend. The Italian hitman is trying to push himself into La Nazionale, and a good performance against Juventus could convince Marcello Lippi to call him up for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Ireland. The ex-Parma man played under Ranieri at Valencia, and he will be looking to get one over his former coach.

PREDICTION

Juventus will be looking to bounce back in style against Bologna, but don’t expect a rout from the Old Lady. Mihajlovic’s five-man midfield will be a perfect way to frustrate and keep Juve at bay. It will be a tight game as the away team are fighting a relegation battle. In addition, they will be fresher than their opponents. Ranieri’s men have the quality to bag maximum points, but they will have to work for it. Expect a tight and hard fought game.

Juventus 1-0 Bologna

Kick-Off: Tuesday March 10, 2009, 20.45 CET. Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Italy

On A Roll

Having lost the first leg and failed to score an away goal at Stamford Bridge, Claudio Ranieri’s men have it all to do in Turin on Tuesday night.

To compound matters they face a Chelsea side who are currently enjoying a hot run of form.

The Blues are flourishing under new manager Guus Hiddink and have won their last six games on the trot.

Chelsea’s good recent form owes much to striker Didier Drogba who did the damage in the first leg, hitting the winner in the first half. The Ivorian appears to be enjoying his football again and may well be the man to watch, having bagged three goals in his last four games.

Another key man for the Blues is Michael Essien who may make something of a shock return to action against Juventus. Having missed the last six months due to a knee injury picked up on international duty in September, Essien made his long-awaited return to action with a substitute appearance against Coventry City at the weekend.

Manager Hiddink has since admitted that he must now decide whether to start with Essien, although after such a long absence it is possible he will begin on the bench.

Further good news on the injury front concerns Ricardo Carvalho who may partner John Terry at the back although Nicolas Anelka and Deco are expected to miss out and Paulo Ferreira has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Whilst Chelsea have endured something of an inconsistent season so far, Juventus will be aware that away from home they have been excellent.

The Blues have lost only three times on their travels all season and, armed with a narrow lead, will travel to Italy brimming with confidence.

Ranieri’s Revenge

Yet Claudio Ranieri’s men will be buoyed by their display in the first leg and will feel confident they can turn this tie around.

Their second half performance against the Blues proved they can cause Hiddink’s men problems and Pavel Nedved, in particular, almost grabbed a vital equaliser.

The Czech Republic international, who announced his intention to retire at the end of the season after the game at Stamford Bridge, was inches away from an equaliser in the closing minutes with a shot that whistled past Petr Cech’s left post.

Certainly Nedved’s determination to reach the Champions League final in his last season will aid Juve, as will their experience of coming from behind in the Champions League.

The Bianconeri have overturned first leg defeats in Turin, four times in seven attempts, mostly famously in 2003 when a 2-1 first leg semi-final defeat to Real Madrid was forgotten about with a 3-1 home win.

However, if they are to stage another remarkable comeback they will have to do so without some key players.

Mauro Camoranesi broke a rib at Stamford Bridge and will miss the game but so too will Mohamed Sissoko who injured his foot at the weekend and will join his colleague on the sidelines.

Against a midfield as strong as Chelsea’s, those injuries could prove key but with the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Amauri and David Trezeguet the options in attack they will hope to find the inspiration needed to hand Hiddink his first Chelsea defeat.

FORM GUIDE

Last Five Results

Juventus

Mar 7: Torino 0-1 Juventus
Mar 3: Lazio 2-1 Juventus
Feb 28: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Feb 25: Chelsea 1-0 Juventus
Feb 21: Palermo 0-2 Juventus

Chelsea

Mar 7: Coventry City 0-2 Chelsea
Mar 3: Portsmouth 0-1 Chelsea
Feb 28: Chelsea 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Feb 25: Chelsea 1-0 Juventus
Feb 21: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

TEAM NEWS

Juventus

Claudio Ranieri has problems in midfield where injury rules out Mauro Camoranesi and Mohamed Sissoko. The pair join Paolo De Ceglie and Cristiano Zanetti on the sidelines and they may be accompanied by Marco Marchionni who is also a doubt.

Possible starting XI: Buffon, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro, Poulsen, Tiago, Salihamidizc, Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet.

Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka and Deco are both expected to miss the trip to Turin. Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien are both fit again and Hiddink must decide whether or not the pair to start with the pair.

Possible Starting XI: Cech, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Bosingwa, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Kalou, Drogba.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Juventus – Alessandro Del Piero

If one man can inspire his team to come from behind to beat Chelsea and progress into the quarter-finals of the competition it is Alessandro Del Piero.

Whilst the striker could not find a way past Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge, he will know that his side must beat the Chelsea stopper in Turin at least once if they are to progress.

The 34-year-old striker has been rested by Ranieri for the last two games, meaning he should be raring to go come Tuesday night.

Chelsea – Didier Drogba

Drogba scored the vital goal in the first leg and is a man on form after hitting three goals in his last four games.Guus Hiddink’s arrival seems to have revitalised the Ivorian who has rediscovered his goalscoring touch with a bang.

With Nicolas Anelka likely to miss out through injury, Drogba’s presence will prove even more crucial and he will know that an away goal will make Juve’s task that much more difficult.

PREDICTION

Whilst Chelsea undoubtedly go into the match with a slight advantage, this game remains delicately poised.

Yet the Blues look a different prospect than under Luiz Felipe Scolari and Hiddink appears to have restored their previous air of invincibility.

Although Juventus will undoubtedly hand Chelsea a very stiff examination, the Blues are a tough side to beat, especially away from home, and they may just do enough to sneak past Ranieri’s men.

Juventus 1-1 Chelsea

Kick Off Saturday March 7, 20:30 CET, Stadio Olimpico Turin

The Only Way Is Up For Torino

Torino have enjoyed a good 2009 so far. After two early defeats at the start of the year to Genoa and Roma, the Granata have stopped the slide towards Serie B. Walter Novellino has finally managed to get Toro back on the right track. Unbeaten in seven games, there is real belief that Juventus’ bitter city rivals will live to fight another season in Italy’s top-flight. However, there are still 11 games before Urbano Cairo’s men can wave the safety flag.

Although Toro are slowly climbing back up the table, they are still just one point clear of the relegation zone. A win against Juve this Saturday will give the team a massive psychological boost. Serie A salvation is never easy. Despite being on the right track, the Granata are just not picking up enough wins. Only five victories all season does not make for inspirational reading in terms of dodging relegation. In there last six matches, Torino have only picked up one win. That was at home to Udinese two weeks ago. The rest have been draws with Cagliari, Chievo, Reggina, Lazio and Inter. Torino really should have beaten the first three teams as they are direct rivals for the survival places.

The only way is up for Toro, but the raging bull will need to learn how to beat the Old Lady. Traditionally, Juventus have always had the better record against Novellino’s men, but the derby della Mole has always been a special affair. The Piedmont-based team shouldn’t be surprised if they bag all three points against Juve. The Bianconeri won the reverse 1-0 thanks to a solitary strike from Amauri. Anything less than a win then it’s back down into the drop zone. It will be a 90 minutes of fire for the ‘home’ side, and they will be hoping Juve get burnt this time.

Too Many Distractions For Juventus

The Bianconeri have had a very busy last two weeks. Their focus on all fronts has been affected as a result. Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League matches have taken their toll on the the team and there will be no respite for them this weekend either. It really is a case of make or break for Claudio Ranieri’s men. First up is a battling Torino side who will not give up without a fight. More than just city bragging rights are up at stake as failure to secure maximum points will allow Inter to begin laughing again after all the midweek hype.

Juventus cannot afford to let their focus slip up against Toro. The Bianconeri head into the game having lost to Lazio in the Coppa Italia first-leg semi-final and confidence is not at its highest. Add to that matters off the pitch regarding the war of words with Inter and Jose Mourinho, as well as the Champions League clash with Chelsea, and there is a potential cloud of distraction gathering over Vinovo. However, having already beaten Saturday’s opponents earlier this season, Juve should be able to do the job confidently without hesitation.

Ranieri has come under some heavy fire recently as the Bianconeri’s hopes of silverware have been put in doubt. A win on Saturday night is needed in order to silence the critics and restore some pride and hope. In addition, victory against Torino can help spur the Old Lady on to overturn their Chelsea deficit just three days later. It’s a crucial stage of the season, and time to get things right for all involved with Italy’s most famous club.

Form Guide

Torino

Mar 1: Cagliari 0-0 Torino

Feb 22: Torino 1-0 Udinese

Feb 14: Lazio 1-1 Torino

Feb 8: Torino 1-1 Chievo

Feb 1: Inter 1-1 Torino

Juventus

Feb 28: Juventus 1-0 Napoli

Feb 21: Palermo 0-2 Juventus

Feb 15: Juventus 1-1 Sampdoria

Feb 8: Catania 1-2 Juventus

Jan 31: Juventus 2-3 Cagliari

Team News

Torino

Alessandro Rosina is fighting for a starting role against Juventus. The No. 10 has been impressive in training this week and he could come into contention. Elvis Abbruscato, Aimo Diana and Marco Di Loreto are all unavailable, while Paolo Zanetti serves a one match suspension.

Probable Starting XI 4-4-1-1: Sereni, Colombo, Natali, Pisano, Ogbonna, Saumel, Dzemaili, Corini, Abate, Bianchi, Stellone.

Juventus

Giorgio Chiellini worked apart from the rest of the squad on Thursday after suffering from muscle fatigue, but he should be back for the game against Torino. Zdenek Grygera and Marco Marchionni also trained separately but they are likely to start. Nicola Legrottaglie is suspended while Mauro Camoranesi, Paolo De Ceglie, Cristiano Zanetti, Tiago and Jorge Andrade are all injured.

Probable Starting XI 4-4-2: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Marchionni, Sissoko, Marchisio, Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet.

Players To Watch

Torino: Keep an eye on former Manchester City flop Rolando Bianchi. He has scored four goals for Toro this term. The big target man is likely to cause the Juve back line some trouble and he has the ability to score when it’s least expected.

Juventus: David Trezeguet is the one Torino will be monitoring closely. The Frenchman is itching to score again after his showing against Palermo. The problem has been the constant changing from Ranieri. If ‘Trezegol’ starts then he will all but guarantee a goal for his side.

Prediction

With Juventus having the Chelsea Champions League distraction hanging over them, this could be a chance for Torino to take full advantage. The Bianconeri are likely to have one eye on Europe and it may prove to be their demise. Juve have a lot of work this weekend. Local derbies are never easy, but they have enough quality to do the business.

Torino 1-2 Juventus

Claudio Marchisio scored in the 44th minute to take the Bianconeri to within six points of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who host Roma tomorrow night.

Napoli, in contrast, are still searching for their first win in eight league matches and remain stuck in mid-table with Reja clinging onto his job by a thread.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri fielded Alessandro del Piero and David Trezeguet in attack for the first time this season with Sebastian Giovinco giving veteran winger Pavel Nedved a break.

The attacking formation signaled Ranieri’s intention of getting in an early blow on league leaders Inter 24 hours before they host Roma in a tough fixture at the San Siro.

Del Piero had the home team’s first chance in the 10th minute when he cut in from the right and forced Nicolas Navarro to make the save in two attempts.

A cross from Del Piero in the 15th minute then set his strike partner Trezeguet up for a chance from point-blank range.

Navarro made a quick reaction save, but the ball still spilled out to Giovinco, who had the whole of the goal to aim at but seemed to either slip or lose his balance as he blazed the ball over the open goal.

Del Piero was involved in everything early on and one of his trademark direct free-kicks from 25 yards forced Navarro into another save as it started to dip under the crossbar.

Napoli had to wait until the 38th minute before their first sight of goal, which fell to Marek Hamsik, whose shot from a tight angle was deflected behind by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Juve were the most threatening side in the first half, and they got the goal they deserved just a minute before the interval, although luck certainly played a part.

Marchisio’s 25-yard shot was heading wide to the left of the goal before it took a wicked deflection off Fabiano Santacroce to wrong-foot Navarro and curl into the opposite corner.

Napoli responded well in the second half with Hamsik’s volley from the edge of the area keeping Buffon warm.

Ranieri reacted by removing Giovinco to bring on the more defensive-minded Hasan Salihamidzic before Nicola Legrottaglie limped off with a worrying knee injury and Olof Mellberg took his place.

The visitors kept looking for an equaliser and thought they had got it two minutes from time when Ezequiel Lavezzi beat Buffon at his near post, but play had already been halted for a dubious offside decision against Paolo Cannavaro.

Juve managed to hold on for a crucial three points which could open up the race for the Scudetto once again.

Juventus Blowing Hot And Cold

Juventus welcome Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico this weekend and they will not be looking forward to facing a team who are wounded from a six match winless streak. Claudio Ranieri’s men will know all about the Partenopei having lost to them back in October by a 2-1 scoreline. Since then, both clubs have endured mixed fortunes in Serie A, but the Old Lady will be hoping to build on last week’s 2-0 win over Palermo.

Mohamed Sissoko and David Trezeguet did the damage in Sicily in order to close the gap on Inter to nine points. They are still some way off the pace, but with the Nerazzurri hosting Roma on Sunday night, the Bianconeri will be looking to take full advantage in every sense. Napoli’s woeful form may play into Juve’s hands. The cunning Old Lady has always known how to treat a wounded animal and will be looking to feast on some much needed points.

Claudio Ranieri’s side suffered a major blow in midweek during their tie against Chelsea. Apart from the 1-0 defeat, the Italians also lost Mauro Camoranesi for at least four weeks. The Italian international was crunched by a hard tackle from Frank Lampard. It was the World Cup winner who came out worse off as he broke a rib by falling awkwardly.

Juve will need to put all their recent trouble behind them. The team cannot allow themselves to be distracted against a Napoli side who have already proven they can beat La Vecchia Signora. In the last six matches between these two teams, the Turin giants have won three times, drawn once and lost twice. The losses to Napoli have never been at home during these six ties and thus Juve will be confident of keeping their good record in Turin intact.

Napoli Sliding Down The Table

After being the surprise package of the first half of the season, Napoli have yet to pick up a win in 2009. Defeats to Genoa, Palermo, Fiorentina, Roma and draws against Udinese and Bologna have seen the team in an unstoppable slide down towards the bottom half of the standings.

The team just hasn’t been able to get alive and kicking this year, and they will need to arrest their drop if European hopes are to be fulfilled. Valuable points have been dropped against direct rivals for a shot at continental football next term and it’s not looking good. The club have been locked in a press silence for the last week. The lack of communication led a large number of fans to confront the players and staff at their Castelvolturno training ground on Wednesday evening. The angry faithful will have only added to the growing tension, and it’s not what the club would have wanted.

Preparing for games against Juventus is never easy, but the recent trouble surrounding Edy Reja’s side could help fire up the players and cause a shock upset in Turin. Points are desperately needed and three against Juve will seem like six given the negative situation Napoli find themselves in. A win in Turin will see the team reacquaint themselves with the top half of the Serie A table. However, only two wins away from home all season may hamper chances of glory come 20:30 CET on Saturday night.

Form Guide (Serie A)

Juventus

Feb 22: Palermo 2-0 Juventus

Feb 15: Juventus 1-1 Sampdoria

Feb 8: Catania 1-2 Juventus

Jan 31: Juventus 2-3 Cagliari

Jan 28: Udinese 2-1 Juventus

Jan 24: Juventus 1-0 Fiorentina

Napoli

Feb 22: Napoli 0-1 Genoa

Feb 14: Napoli 1-1 Bologna

Feb 8: Palermo 2-1 Napoli

Jan 31: Napoli 2-2 Udinese

Jan 28: Fiorentina 2-1 Napoli

Jan 25: Napoli 0-3 Roma

Team News

Juventus: Mauro Camoranesi will be out after suffering a fractured rib against Chelsea. Jorge Andrade is still out for the long term while Cristiano Zanetti and Paolo De Ceglie are missing with minor knocks. The rest of the team trained regularly on Thursday and no-one reported any further problems.

Probable Starting XI 4-4-2: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Marchionni, Sissoko, Marchisio, Giovinco, Iaquinta, Trezeguet.

Napoli: Walter Gargano will miss the trip to Turin after suffering a bruise to his left foot during training. The midfielder has been ordered to rest by doctor Mariani and he should be back next week. The rest of the squad trained as normal, but Genaro Iezzo, Matteo Gianello, Luca Grava and Marcelo Zalayeta are all out with various injuries. Daniele Mannini remains suspended after the Court of Arbitrations decision to ban him for a year after turning up late to a doping test.

Probable Starting XI 3-5-2: Navarro, Santacroce, Cannavaro, Contini, Maggio, Blasi, Pazienza, Hamsik, Vitale, Russotto, Lavezzi.

Players To Watch

Juventus: Keep an eye out for David Trezeguet. The Frenchman was allowed a few minutes against Chelsea, but showed his prowess as he almost scored with his first touch of the ball. The hitman wants to be a regular in Ranieri’s team and he is itching to prove he hasn’t lost his magic despite his recent injury woes.

Napoli: The spotlight will be on Marek Hamsik. He has been Napoli’s leader and talisman this season. The Slovakian has been outstanding, but he has been firing blanks recently. However, Hamsik raises his game against the big teams and thus he could be the main threat for Juve.

Prediction

Juventus against Napoli is always a special game for both players and fans. In recent times results between them have been closer than expected, with even a few shock results served up. The Bianconeri will be confident of getting the right result at home, but Napoli will not be heading to Turin for some sightseeing. Expect a hard battle, especially in midfield. The Azzurri will be fired up and they are capable of doing the business against Juve.

Juventus 2-1 Napoli

Juventus head into the new year with great expectations. A decent challenge for the Scudetto is needed and Siena represent an easy chance to snap up three points and close the six point gap with Inter.

Coach Claudio Ranieri demanded a good performance against Monaco in the mid-week friendly. The display was not special from the Bianconeri as they showed some old frailties and things will need to change against Siena.

Juve headed into the Christmas break in stunning form. Unbeaten in four Serie A matches, they racked up 13 goals during those fixtures. Only league leaders Inter have scored more and conceded less than the Bianconeri, and the Turin based side will be hoping to overtake their bitter rivals in the goals for and against chart. Their only slip up was the defeat to the French side in the exhibition match, but Ranieri will forgive his players if they take three points off Siena.

Amauri has been key for the Old Lady this term. His 11 goals in 17 league games have been vital to Juve’s Scudetto push. The Brazilian has a habit of scoring against the smaller teams and he will relish the chance to make his name stand out in the Capocannoniere charts.

The Bianconeri’s record against Siena is superb apart from last season’s abysmal 1-0 loss away from home. In the last six matches between both bianconero teams, the Turin-based side have won five and lost one. In those games, the Old Lady has smashed a massive 13 goals against the Tuscan minnows, conceding just one. A great record and they will be looking to add to it this weekend.

Juventus will take comfort from the fact that apart from rock bottom Chievo, Siena have the lowest goals for record in the league and with the Old Lady boasting a rock solid defence, all the odds are stacked heavily in favour of the two-time European Champions.

Ranieri will be hoping the engines start up first time on Sunday after Tuesday night’s stuttering in Messina. The players have had their annual Christmas service and so they should all be revved up and ready to speed towards maximum points against the lesser known Bianconeri.

Siena Searching For Safety

The first game of the year is always hard, especially after the break and the club will not be looking forward to a trip to snow covered Turin on what is likely to be a frozen Sunday afternoon.

However, Marco Giampaolo’s men are still feeling the heat from their 2-1 defeat to Inter on the final Serie A game of 2008. Many will remember the way Robur lost out to Jose Mourinho’s side because of fatal errors. All the rage and frustration is likely to come out against Juve, and thus the players will be all fired up heading to Turin.

The Bianconeri are well on course to reach their Serie A safety target. Giampalo’s side are currently two points off 13th place which is an astonishing achievement given the fact that they finished last season in that position.

Europe is likely to remain a dream, but they will not be dreaming in the Tuscan town if they manage to pull off the near impossible and beat Juve on Sunday. The records go against Siena in every way, but the Old Lady have various injury problems to deal with and, following the Inter game, the Toscani will fancy their chances. In their last six games, Siena have won twice, lost three times and drawn once.

Their lack of a goal threat up front has taken its toll even though Houssine Kharja, Massimo Maccarone and Abdel Ghezzal have been impressive but only in phases. The trio have only scored seven goals between them this term.

As well as this, the team has only won once away from home all season. The other eight matches ended in seven losses and a draw. All the players can do is hope that a lacklustre Juventus turn up and maybe, just maybe, they will pull off the first shock of the year.

Form Guide

Juventus

Dec 21: Atalanta 1-3 Juventus (Serie A)

Dec 14: Juventus 4-2 Milan (Serie A)

Dec 7: Lecce 1-2 Juventus (Serie A)

Nov 29: Juventus 4-0 Reggina (Serie A)

Nov 22: Inter 1-0 Juventus (Serie A)

Siena

Dec 20: Siena 1-2 Inter (Serie A)

Dec 14: Palermo 2-0 Siena (Serie A)

Dec 7: Napoli 2-0 Siena (Serie A)

Nov 30: Siena 1-0 Torino (Serie A)

Nov 23: Chievo 0-2 Siena (Serie A)

Team News

Juventus have a number of players who have returned from injury. Although Gianluigi Buffon has recovered, he picked up a minor knock on Thursday and he is looking doubtful. The Italian shot-stopper played a part against Monaco but unlikely to face Siena, leaving Alex Manninger to play against his old side.

Giorgio Chiellini has improved and he is expected to be in the squad, but, like Buffon, he could be in doubt. Mauro Camoranesi is still recovering from a calf strain while Hasan Salihamidzic picked up a tendon injury against the French side and his appearance is unlikely. Fortunately Ranieri has no suspensions to contend with.

Probable Starting XI 4-4-2: Buffon, Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro, Marchionni, Nedved, Marchisio, Sissoko, Del Piero, Amauri.

Siena will be without Luca Rossettini, Daniele Ficagna and Nicola Belmonte who are all in the treatment room. Captain Simone Vergassola is looking doubtful with an Achilles tendon injury and he has been training on his own this week. However, he could start if he recovers in time. Massimo Maccarone is undergoing a separate programme to his team-mates, but he is expected to start against the Turin giants. Gianluca Curci has a two match ban and this Emanuele Manitta will start in goal.

Probable Starting XI 4-3-1-2: Manitta, Zuniga, Brandao, Portanova, Del Grosso, Codrea, Galloppa, Vergassola, Kharja, Ghezzal, Maccarone.

Players To Watch

Juventus: Keep an eye on Amauri; The Brazilian is on 11 goals so far this term and he will be looking to use this game as a chance to rack up plenty and take a lead in the top-scorers chart. The big hit-man is in stunning form and he is expecting to start off 2009 by banging in some goals.

Siena: Watch out for Houssine Kharja. The Moroccan international has been outstanding for his side this term. His attacking threat will be key to Siena’s chances of success this season. He has a lethal shot and his passing is pinpoint. Buffon will need to watch out for the unexpected strikes from outside the box.

Prediction

There is only one winner in this one and, although it might be hard to tell because they both wear the same colours, it will be the Bianconeri from Turin who take maximum points. Siena will put up a fight, but Juve are just too strong and home advantage will be key.

Juventus 3-0 Siena

Luigi Delneri has calmed the waters at the Stadio Atleti D’Italia this term and his side are on course in Europe. Their run has been so decent that fans have every right to dream about a Champions League spot seeing that the Orobici are just six points off fourth place.

Juventus come to town on Sunday and, although the Nerazzurri are in top form, they have lost to all of the so called ‘big teams’ so far this season. Roma, Fiorentina and Milan have all dispatched Atalanta to defeats and thus the players will not really fancy their chances against a Bianconeri team coming off the back of a 4-2 demolition of the Rossoneri.

However, Del Neri will look back over the last few weeks and he can take comfort from the last three results which have all been positive. A 2-0 win over Lazio in week 15 was followed by a 3-0 hammering of Udinese and last weekend the Bergamaschi were unlucky not to have come away with maximum points against Genoa as a 1-1 draw at Marassi saw their match-winning streak come to an abrupt end.

Much of their success this season has been down to one Sergio Floccari. The hit-man had limited opportunities last term following his arrival at Messina but he has already equalled his goal scoring tally from last year, scoring eight goals so far for his side. The Vibo Valentia-born striker is eyeing a call up from Marcello Lippi and if he carries on banging in the goals, then you can be sure the World Cup winning coach will take a look.

Atalanta have hit 20 so far but their defence is looking a little shaky with 16 goals shipped in as many games in Serie A. However, their home form is good. Six wins, a loss, and a draw which, ironically, is the same as Juve’s form in Turin. The Bianconeri will need to pay close attention though as the Nerazzurri have scored 14 and conceded just four at the Atleti D’Italia stadium.

Del Neri is hoping his side can build up their good form as he looks for a way into Europe and, if they can beat Juve, then they will have a good chance of moving onwards and upwards.

Juventus Chasing The Leaders

The Bianconeri silenced their critics last week as a 4-2 win over a resilient Milan in Turin saw the Scudetto race being whittled down to just two real candidates. Claudio Ranieri’s side are six points off the pace in Serie A and, with Inter facing a potential banana skin away to Siena this weekend, that gap can be slashed to just three points with a win.

Although Juve will fancy their chances, away form doesn’t make happy reading at Vinovo. Just four wins with two defeats and a couple of draws seems to suggest that Juventus, like a delivering milk float, will lose the Scudetto on the road this season.

Only nine goals scored and six conceded will see the opposition smile on Sunday.  Although goals have been hard to find this term, Amauri is beginning to pay back some of the €24.8 million Juve paid for him, albeit with some prolific strikes in the box.

The Italo-Brazilian, who may represent Italy in two months, has found the net 10 times this season. Alessandro Del Piero has struck five. Scoring needs to improve for the Old Lady and the game against Atalanta is the perfect chance for some end of the year shooting practice.

Juventus can take comfort that Atalanta have not beaten them in any of the last six games against each other. The Turin-based side are kings of this clash as they can boast a five wins and one draw record. Last season’s game ended 4-0 to the Old Lady while in total, Juve have blasted 13 goals against the Bergamaschi while Delneri’s side have only managed to hit three goals against La Vecchia Signora.

The odds are heavily stacked in Ranieri’s favour but Atalanta’s recent resurgence, plus an on-going injury problem in Vinovo, means you can bet this will not be an easy ride.

Team News:

Atalanta

Thomas Manfredini is looking doubtful for the game on Sunday after picking up a knock in the friendly game against Brusaporto during the week. Antonino D’Agostino, Luca Cigarini and Alessio Cerci are all injured for Delneri while Giampaolo Bellini and Claudio Rivalta miss the game through a one match suspension.

Probable Starting XI 4-4-1-1: Coppola, Garics, Talamonti, Manfredini, Capelli, Ferriera Pinto, Padoin, Guarente, Valdes, Doni, Floccari.

Juventus

Vincenzo Iaquinta and Mauro Camoranesi are almost certain to miss the trip to Bergamo after both players pulled out of training with injury on Thursday morning. Gianluigi Buffon has returned to full training but he is not expected to return until the new year. Jorge Andrade, Jonathan Zebina, Dario Knezevic, Christian Poulsen, Pavel Nedved, and Zdenek Grygera are all injured. Ranieri has no suspensions to deal with.

Probable Starting XI 4-4-2: Manninger, Salihamidzic, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro, Marchionni, Sissoko, Marchisio, De Ceglie, Del Piero, Amauri.

Players To Watch

Atalanta: Keep a look out for Sergio Floccari. The prolific hit-man will be the dangerman for his side. His runs into the box are always unpredictable and he has a decent shot on him too.

Juventus: Amauri is in hot form at the moment and he will be looking to keep in touch with the with the Capocannoniere leaders. His aerial ability is likely to give the Orobici some problems.

Prediction

These games are always tight and a repeat of last year’s 4-0 result is unlikely. Juve’s injury problems will boost Atalanta’s chances but the Old Lady has a young and ambitious side who will fight. Alessandro Del Piero said he wanted to finish the year on a high and he will lead the charge. Points will be going back to Turin come Sunday night.

Atalanta 1-2 Juventus