The most important week of this part of the black and white season officially begins today. At 18pm Juventus will face Lazio, after which they will be able to start thinking about Chelsea, for what will be a sort of early Champions League final. Just so as not to miss anything, Conte's boys will then be expected from the San Siro away game, which is still demanding despite Milan being at a loss these days. In short, at Juventus it's not really the time to lower concentration. Also because Lazio will come looking for the full booty, as admitted by Petkovic at the press conference: “Juve are the number one favorites for the Scudetto. If we want to score points, we'll have to play a great game, but I'm convinced of my team's possibilities: we're capable of hitting the big time." No reply from Vinovo, because the bad habit of recent times (namely pre-match press silence) shows no signs of disappearing. However, it was the pitch that spoke, which saw the Bianconeri engaged in an important training session. The indications are clear: against Lazio, no turnover, despite Chelsea being on the doorstep. The overflowing Juventus of Pescara will thus be confirmed, capable of burying the Abruzzo players with a performance of quality and quantity. The only exception, due to force majeure (i.e. a disqualification), will concern Pirlo, who will be replaced by Pogba. The Frenchman will thus return to the field after the punitive exclusion of the Adriatic, but also after the fine words spoken by Conte, who defined him as a prototype champion. There will be confirmation of the attacking pair Quagliarella-Giovinco, at the moment the most reliable. However, Vucinic is impatient and it is safe to bet that Conte will throw him into the fray if needed. Apart from Pirlo, everyone will be available, including Pepe, who is back on the squad list.
If the team is focused on the next fundamental commitments, the club is working for the future, or rather the January transfer market. Athletic Bilbao will hardly free Fernando Llorente, whose arrival will thus be postponed to June (on a free transfer). The speech relating to Didier Drogba was different, who according to market rumors would be ready to leave China. Juve would welcome him with open arms, but only if he "satisfied" with a contract until 2014 worth 5 million per season.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco.
On the bench: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Lucio, Lichtsteiner, De Ceglie, Marrone, Giaccarini, Padoin, Vucinic, Bendtner, Matri.
Trainer: Antonio Conte (suspended, Angelo Alessio on the bench).
Unavailable: nobody.
Disqualified: Pirlo.
Lazio (4-5-1): Marchetti; Konko, Biava, Dias, Radu; Candreva, Hernanes, Ledesma, Brocchi, Gonzalez; close.
On the bench: Bizzarri, Carrizo, Scaloni, Cavanda, Stankevicius, Ciani, Onazi, Ederson, Cana, Kozak, Zarate, Floccari.
Trainer: Vladimir Petkovic.
Unavailable: nobody.
Disqualified: Lulic, Mauri.
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Schio).
Line Assistants: Faverani-Stefani.
Port Assistants: Banti – Giannoccaro.
Fourth official: Paduan.
