Category: News

The Argentine defender was optimistic about his side’s title chances earlier this term, but has stated they are now gunning for a Champions League place instead

Javier Zanetti has admitted he felt Inter could challenge for the Scudetto after they beat Juventus 3-1 earlier this season.

The Nerazzurri were the first team to beat the Bianconeri at their new stadium in November 2012, but they have since been unable to keep up their good form and have dropped to joint fifth spot in the table, trailing the Old Lady by 18 points.

“We all thought we could win the Scudetto after that win. However, we have never had a full squad at our disposal since, and the season has gone the way it has,” Zanetti was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

“Our goal now is to qualify for the Champions League again.”

Inter lock horns with Juventus again on Saturday and Zanetti is eagerly anticipating the Derby d’Italia.

“It is the big game for all of us with a lot of history. Ever since I arrived here at Inter, I understood what this game means because of everything that’s happened on and off the pitch,” he added.

“These are the kind of games that everybody wants to play.”

Saturday’s match at San Siro is due to kick off at 15:00CET.

The successful coach has warned his side they cannot afford to lose focus at this crucial stage, and has urged them to take things one step at a time

Antonio Conte has made it clear that the upcoming few weeks are crucial for Juventus in their hunt for the Scudetto and Champions League.

The Turin giants take on arch-rivals Inter in Serie A on Saturday, before travelling to Germany for the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

“It’s an important moment of the season for us, with six games in 21 days. We’ll be playing for the Scudetto and a place in the Champions League semi-finals,” Conte said at a press conference.

“We need to chase our goals which are to reclaim the Scudetto and keep the Champions League dream alive.

“Experience tells me that getting ahead of ourselves could cause us to slip up. We need to take one game at a time. The most important encounter is the one we’re facing next.

“I’ll choose my strongest side on Saturday, we’re focused solely on Inter. It will be an open and entertaining encounter, a draw won’t suit either side. Inter can beat anyone in a one-off game, we must be extremely focused and alert.”

Saturday’s encounter at the Giuseppe Meazza is scheduled to kick off at 15:00CET.

Goal.com’s team of experts take a look at the race for second and third places as they predict the results from the run-in to decide who will represent Italy at the top table

With the final international window before the season’s end having been negotiated, Serie A now takes centre stage once more, and there is an almighty tussle set to take place for Italy’s Champions League spots.

Juventus are seemingly coasting towards a second successive Scudetto, but behind them lie six clubs who are all still in with a realistic chance of claiming one of the remaining podium positions with nine rounds to play.

Napoli currently sit in second place, but a recent poor run of form has seen Milan close in on the Partenopei. The Rossoneri themselves are only three points ahead of Fiorentina, who have thrilled many observers since the arrival of Vincenzo Montella last summer.

Despite there being a four-point gap behind the Viola, any one of the next three sides could yet make a run for contention in the final two months of the campaign.

Inter have the benefit of a game in hand, meaning that victory in their rearranged Round 29 game against Sampdoria could push them right back into the mix. Meanwhile, Roma are back in form under Aurelio Andreazzoli, making them a decent outside bet for the top three.

They may well have to fight off the attentions of local rivals Lazio, though. Vladimir Petkovic’s men have struggled of late, but a timely return to their form of the first half of the season could easily see them make up the deficit behind the top three.

We asked our team of experts to make their predictions on the fixtures which will have a say in the destiny of the final two Champions League tickets, with some interesting prognostications having come out of the exercise …

MARK DOYLE – Goal.com International

AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION: Milan (74 points)

PLAY-OFFS: Fiorentina (72 points)

FOURTH: Napoli (71) – Europa League FIFTH: Roma (64) – Europa League SIXTH: Inter (64) SEVENTH: Lazio (56)

Form is everything at this stage of the season, so I’m backing Milan, Fiorentina and Roma to maintain the momentum they’ve all built up of late. Indeed, while I expect the Rossoneri to drop points in the coming weeks, I can see Massimiliano Allegri’s men finishing with five successive wins to snatch second place on a dramatic final day that will end with a clearly flagging Napoli in fourth, having been overhauled by a recently revitalised Fiorentina, who have a relatively soft run-in. Elsewhere, Roma’s home form should see them pip inconsistent Inter to fifth, with a free-falling Lazio coming home a distant seventh.

SIMONE GAMBINO – Goal.com Italy

AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION: Milan (74 points)

PLAY-OFFS: Napoli (73 points)

FOURTH: Fiorentina (67) – Europa League FIFTH: Inter (66) – Europa League SIXTH: Lazio (64) SEVENTH: Roma (63)

Milan-Napoli at San Siro will likely decide the race for second place behind the unreachable Juventus. The Rossoneri are in better form than Napoli and, after some tough weeks they will have some easier matches in the run-in. Napoli could also be made to pay in their last away game of the season against Roma. For Europa League positions the favorites are Fiorentina and Inter: The Nerazzurri have to play 10 games yet, and Vincenzo Montella’s side have comfortable matches in the final weeks. Lazio and Roma are very close but Miroslav Klose’s return could be decisive.

RENATO MAISANI – Goal.com Italy

AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION: Milan (73 points)

PLAY-OFFS: Napoli (71 points)

FOURTH: Inter (66) – Europa League FIFTH: Roma (65) – Europa League SIXTH: Fiorentina (63) SEVENTH: Lazio (58)

I think Milan will finish in second place this season on the strength of them having easier fixtures ahead of them than Napoli. The Rossoneri have tough matches against Fiorentina, Juventus and Roma to look forward to, while Napoli risk dropping points in a lot of matches. Moreover, I think Milan are favourites against Napoli in the big match between the two sides at San Siro in April because they are in better condition, and this could have a massive bearing on the race for second spot.

KRIS VOAKES – Goal.com International

AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION: Milan (75 points)

PLAY-OFFS: Napoli (75 points)

FOURTH: Fiorentina (70) – Europa League FIFTH: Roma (66) – Europa League SIXTH: Inter (65) SEVENTH: Lazio (62)

With Milan’s form graph pointing upwards and Napoli’s heading south, it is the Rossoneri in pole position for second spot, and I don’t see that trend being too heavily altered between now and the end of the season. The Partenopei may well nudge further ahead in the coming weeks, but Allegri’s side have the easier last month and that could make all the difference. Below them, I expect to see Inter bounce back from a difficult next seven days, yet they may still miss out if Aurelio Andreazzoli’s magic touch continues through to the final day with Roma. Lazio are not in form, and they may find the going just too tough in the run-in, leaving them needing to win the Coppa Italia to reach Europe again.

JUVENTUS Buffon Barzagli, Marrone, Bonucci L’stiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah Giovinco, Quagliarella

In this second league installment of the Derby d’Italia, Inter will be aiming to once again spoil the Bianconeri party as Andrea Stramaccioni celebrates his year in charge of the Nerazzurri.

The young coach was appointed boss after Claudio Ranieri was dismissed following a 2-0 defeat to Saturday’s visitors last March, and while a similar scoreline would not spell the end of Stramaccioni’s tenure, it certainly would not ease the recent pressure.

The hosts haven’t been in a great form of late but will be buoyed by the 4-1 victory over Tottenham in the Europa League second leg clash.

Inter are forced to make two changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Bologna after Juan Jesus picked up a suspension and Dejan Stankovic has continued injury problems.

Influential goalkeeper Samir Handanovic should return to the starting XI, while Antonio Cassano could partner Rodrigo Palacio upfront. Fredy Guarin is still expected start despite missing his intended flight back from South America.

Meanwhile, Juventus will be hoping to at least maintain their nine-point gap at the top as time runs out for the rest of the chasing pack. Prevented from going 50 games unbeaten in November, the Old Lady will be determined to ensure their fierce rivals will not be celebrating this weekend.

A notable absentee for the visitors is Giorgio Chiellini, who may be rested as a precaution before Tuesday’s big Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Mirko Vucinic may also drop out of the starting XI and be replaced by top goalscorer Fabio Quagliarella, while there are no suspensions for coach Antonio Conte to contend with.

• Andrea Stramaccioni’s record for his first year in charge of Inter reads: played 54, won 29, drawn 10 and lost 15, giving him a 54% win rate.

• The previous clash between the two teams at San Siro was back in October 2011 with Juventus running out 2-1 winners.

• Juventus have only won one in their last five trips to San Siro. Goals from Mirko Vucinic and Claudio Marchisio were enough to give them the three points that day.

• The Bianconeri could go 12 points clear at the top if they win on Saturday and Napoli lose to Torino.

• Fabio Quagliarella, who is in contention to start on Saturday, has never scored against the Nerazzurri and in 13 appearances against them has won just once.

The Montenegro international is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s league game and has warned that the Nerazzurri will not be pushovers

Mirko Vucinic has stressed that Juventus cannot afford to take Saturday’s Serie A clash against arch-rivals Inter lightly if they are to get a positive result.

The Nerazzurri have been struggling to find their best form in recent months, but Vucinic believes they remain a force to be reckoned with.

“Just the name Inter says it all. They are a strong team and I’m not paying attention to those who say they’re going through a difficult period,” the Montenegro international told Sport Mediaset.

“I saw the second leg of their Europa League tie against Tottenham, and they put in a great performance. They were close to securing progress.”

Juventus lock horns with Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, but Vucinic has insisted they are focused on Saturday’s match versus Inter.

He added: “We have to focus on the match against Inter for now and approach it as if it’s the last game of our life. I don’t think this will be a problem, though. We have the right mentality, thanks to the coach.”

The Bianconeri were beaten 3-1 by Inter in Turin earlier this season which ended their 49-game unbeaten league run.