Juventus vs US Sassuolo Calcio preview - Conte asks for response
Posted Saturday, December 14, 2013 by PA
Juventus coach Antonio Conte has called on his players to bounce back from the disappointment of their Champions League elimination by taking all three points against Sassuolo on Sunday.
The Turin giants suffered a 1-0 reverse at Galatasaray on Wednesday to finish third in Group B behind Real Madrid and the Turkish outfit.
Juve, will have to settle for Europa League football in the new year, a bitter pill to swallow for the Italian champions.
"We have to dive back into Serie A and this disappointment, which is a big disappointment, has to spur us on domestically," Conte said. "We have another two games before the Christmas break and only then will we start to think about the Europa League."
Juve have shown no signs of weakness in Serie A and go into this weekend's match riding a seven-match winning streak in the league.
Last weekend's 2-0 triumph at Bologna lifted the Bianconeri three points clear of Roma at the top of the standings.
Juve will be hoping to extend that lead with Roma facing a tricky trip to the San Siro on Monday to face AC Milan.
Rivals Sassuolo are also eager to put behind them a disappointing week.
A 1-0 defeat to Chievo last time out was Sassuolo's first loss since October 30 and their fifth defeat of the campaign.
The outcome dropped the promoted outfit to 17th place, one spot and one point clear of the relegation zone.
"We need to put this loss behind us and focus on our next game," Sasssuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco said.
"We now face a very difficult game at Juventus and we have to prepare in the best possible way for the match."
To complicate matters for Sassuolo, they will be without the services of striker Domenico Berardi, who will serve a one-match ban this weekend.
The 19-year-old has scored seven goals in 11 league appearances for Sassuolo.
Juve are without midfielder pair Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo, with the former suspended and the latter out injured.
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