Atalanta vs Juventus preview - Buffon: Roma will fight to the end

Posted Friday, September 26, 2014 by PA

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon believes it will be harder to win the scudetto this season with Roma having already shown themselves to be serious title contenders.

The Italian champions are level on 12 points with Roma at the top of the Serie A standings ahead of Saturday's game at Atalanta.

Like Juve, Roma, who finished second - 17 points behind the Bianconeri last season, have enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign.

"It's going to be very difficult to win the scudetto again against this strong Roma," Buffon said. "I know that Roma will fight until the end for the league title.

"They have strengthened their team this summer and have grown in confidence thanks to their good results.

"We want to continue to impress and we are on the right path. I think it's going to be a thrilling campaign."

Juve travel to Bergamo having yet to concede a goal this season and looking for their fifth-straight league triumph.

Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri is expected to hand Spanish striker Alvaro Morata his first start against Atalanta and rest Fernando Llorente in view of Wednesday's Champions League match at Atletico Madrid.

Against Atalanta, Morata will partner Carlos Tevez in attack.

Tevez returns to the starting line-up having rested in Wednesday's 3-0 triumph over Cesena.

Atalanta head into the encounter on the back of Wednesday's 2-0 loss at Inter Milan. The result followed their 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina and dropped the Bergamaschi to 12th place with just one win so far.

Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono has urged his players to put their recent setbacks behind them and focus on putting in a great performance against Juve.

"We must turn the page," he said. "We face a very difficult game against Juventus and will try to do our best.

"The important thing is that we play our game and fight until the end because if we do, the results will eventually arrive."

Atalanta defender Giuseppe Biava has recovered from a muscular injury and will play against Juve.