Atalanta vs Juventus preview - Juve aim to continue good defensive record

Posted Saturday, January 21, 2012 by PA

Juventus go into Saturday's game at Atalanta boasting the stingiest defence in Serie A.

So far, the Bianconeri have yet to lose in the competition after letting in just 12 goals in 18 games.

But goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he and the team's backline do not deserve all the praise.

"It's true that our defence is doing well," Buffon told www.juventus.it.

"But this is thanks to the work of the whole team that with pressing and focus at certain lines means that the balls that arrive at my end are easy to control."

Buffon did concede a goal in last weekend's 1-1 home draw to Cagliari, though.

The result, Juve's second draw in their last three league games, saw the club miss a chance to move three points clear at the top of Serie A.

But Antonio Conte's men are still one point above AC Milan heading into this weekend's game, and Buffon expects his side to be tested at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium.

"It's going to be a delicate game," he said.

"It's always like that against Atalanta and more so considering their current form.

"We will go there determined to defend our current top spot in the standings."

Atalanta need three points to stop their slide.

The Bergamaschi, having begun the campaign with a six-point penalty for match-fixing, overcame that with a fine start to the season and ended the calendar year in 11th place.

Stefano Colantuono's men have lost their first two games of 2012, however.

They fell 2-0 to AC Milan and last week Lazio beat them, 2-0.

The results have seen the them drop to 15th place.

"We need to be humble and keep working," Cigarini said.

"We've faced a difficult calendar to start the year and we must leave behind us our last two defeats and concentrate on handing in a good performance against Juve."

Conte will have all of his players available with the exception of injured striker Fabio Quagliarella.