Juventus vs Fiorentina preview - Tevez expects a thriller
Posted Saturday, March 08, 2014 by PA
Juventus striker Carlos Tevez expects a thriller when his team take on Fiorentina in Turin on Sunday evening.
The runaway Serie A leaders face Fiorentina at the Juventus stadium in the first of three meetings between the two sides this month.
Juve will host the opening game of their Europa League round of 16 tie next Thursday before travelling to Florence for the return leg on March 20.
"I think it's going to be a fascinating game," Tevez said. "We cannot forget Fiorentina are the only side to have beaten us this season.
"We have worked hard this week to recover our energy for such an important game."
Fiorentina came from 2-0 down to stun Juve 4-2 back in October and Juve coach Antonio Conte knows his team cannot take them lightly.
"They are a very strong side," Conte said. "They have a lot of ambition and they want to qualify for the Champions League next season.
"They are fourth in the standings."
Juve head into the encounter on the back of a 2-0 win at AC Milan.
The outcome moved the Bianconeri 11 points clear of Roma at the top of the standings.
The result at the San Siro was Juve's 22nd league win of the campaign and saw them keep a clean sheet for the fourth straight game.
Juve must overcome the absence of pivotal playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who serves a one-match ban.
Rivals Fiorentina are desperate to get back on a winning path.
The Viola lost 1-0 at home to Lazio last weekend and have mustered just one point in their last three league games.
Their drop in form has seen Fiorentina's gap with third-placed Napoli increase to seven points.
"We will go all out for a win on Sunday," Fiorentina goalkeeper Norberto Neto said.
"We know how much this game means for our fans and we will try to bring home three points."
Fiorentina, coached by Vincenzo Montella, will be without defender Nenad Tomovic and midfielder Borja Valero, both suspended.
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