MILAN, April 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus head to SPAL
on Saturday needing just a point to wrap up an eighth consecutive Serie A
title in record time before their crucial Champions League decider against
Ajax in Turin next week.
Ronaldo returned from injury to score a precious away goal for Juventus in
their 1-1 Champions League quarter-final, first leg draw in Amsterdam on
Wednesday, and the 34-year-old can claim his first Italian league title to
add to his two in Spain with Real Madrid and three with Manchester United.
It would be a 28th trophy in four countries for the five-time Ballon d’Or
winner, a haul which includes five Champions League, and the Euro 2016 title
with Portugal.
Juventus have a 20-point advantage on second-placed Napoli and a draw would
seal their 35th ‘Scudetto’ with six games to spare — the earliest any team
has ever sealed Serie A — thanks to their superior head-to-head record over
Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
SPAL, 16th and just four points above the drop zone, had eased their
relegation fears with three consecutive wins that included victories over
Champions League-chasing Lazio and Roma, but lost last weekend at Cagliari.
Leonardo Semplici dogged side also have history against them, as they have
beaten Juventus just once in their history, way back in 1957.
Given the relative weakness of the weekend’s opposition, coach Massimiliano
Allegri may not want to risk Ronaldo ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League
decider and could rotate his side.
Forwards Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa came off the bench at Ajax ahead of
highly-rated teenager Moise Kean, who had scored five goals in as many games
for Juventus.
All three could start against SPAL.
Leonardo Bonucci looks set to work overtime with defenders Giorgio
Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres all out injured.
“Let’s close down the championship on Saturday,” urged Bonucci.
Second-placed Napoli travel to bottom club Chievo looking for a boost after
their demoralising 2-0 Europa League quarter-final, first leg defeat at
Arsenal.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are without a win in three games and next week host
Arsenal in their Stadio San Paulo hoping for a miracle. – Champions League
hunt heats up –
Inter Milan, seven points behind Napoli, can consolidate third place at
second-from-bottom Frosinone after last weekend’s draw against fellow Europe-
chasers Atalanta.
Inter are five points ahead of both Atalanta and fourth-placed city rivals
AC Milan who occupy the final Champions League berth but have taken just one
point from their last four games.
Gennaro Gattuso’s Milan also have Roma, Torino and Lazio within three
points of them as they host Simone Inzaghi’s capital club at the San Siro
days after UEFA ordered another probe into the club for Financial Fair Play
(FFP) breaches.
Claudio Ranieri’s Roma play Udinese looking to build on last weekend’s
gutsy win at Sampdoria.
“Obviously the Sampdoria game was a confidence boost for us all, but for
now we need to keep doing what we’re doing,” said Ranieri.
“We need the fans to get behind us and realise that this is a key game for
us.
“We’re in the hunt for the Champions League places — that’s where we want
to finish and the fans share that.”
Vincenzo Montella will begin his second stint as coach of mid-table
Fiorentina at home against Bologna on Sunday.
His team’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Europa League have
plummeted after a terrible run of form that has left them 12 points off the
second-tier European competition.
The Tuscan side have just one win from their last 10 Serie A games.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday
SPAL v Juventus (1300), Roma v Udinese (1600), AC Milan v Lazio (1830)
Sunday
Torino v Cagliari (1030), Fiorentina v Bologna, Sampdoria v Genoa, Sassuolo
v Parma (all 1300), Chievo v Napoli (1600), Frosinone v Inter Milan (1830)
Monday
Atalanta v Empoli (1830)