Sampdoria vs Juventus preview - Allegri keeping Real clash in mind

Posted Friday, May 01, 2015 by PA

Juventus need only a single point from their trip to Sampdoria to clinch a fourth straight Serie A title - but the small matter of a Champions League semi-final meeting with Real Madrid offers no small distraction.

A hard-fought 3-2 victory over Fiorentina maintained Juve's 14-point lead over Lazio and a point will be enough to secure the Scudetto on Saturday given the Bianconeri have a superior head-to-head record against the capital club.

Head coach Massimiliano Allegri knows Samp are no pushovers having observed the fact Juve visited the Marassi five times without winning before they broke their duck with a 1-0 triumph last season.

He would ideally pick his strongest team but admits he will have to rest certain key players with European champions Real visiting Turin only three days later.

Allegri told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "We need to take it one step at a time and go slowly. It will be difficult.

"We'll have to be at our best to get a point in Genoa, we've lost our last two away games in the league.

"Players will be rested - some will be saved for the Champions League so it's possible (Andrea) Pirlo won't play - but we'll still do whatever we can to beat Samp.

"First we will try to win the championship and then we'll think about the semi-final. We've already had a good season and it could become a great one."

Forced out of contention due to injury are Kwadwo Asamoah, Romulo and Martin Caceres, while French midfielder Paul Pogba, missing since March with a thigh injury, will return to training the day after the Real clash.

Afriyie Acquah is suspended for Samp, who are also missing injured trio Eder, Fabrizio Cacciatore and Luka Djordjevic.

The Ligurians are battling to hold onto fifth place and Europa League football but lost momentum in a 1-1 midweek draw with Hellas Verona.

Boss Sinisa Mihajlovic told the Corriere dello Sport: "It's too bad because the lads did their best, playing the game in the right way.

"We wanted to win at all costs, but unfortunately, it turned out badly.

"But if we continue to play like that, certainly over the last few games, then we have every chance of getting some good results."