m88 cá cược thể thao trực tuyến开户Juventus aim to end title discussion at Napoli

Juventus aim to end title discussion at Napoli

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss Juventus’ trip to Napoli as his side think ahead to March’s Champions League last  一 六 second leg against Atletico Madrid. — AFP Photo

ITALY — Juventus travel to Napoli on Sunday looking to close the book on a Serie A title race that has hardly looked in doubt since the opening day of the season.

Under previous coach Maurizio Sarri, Napoli had become Juve’s biggest rivals and last season even managed to take the title race down to the final weeks.

But managed by Carlo Ancelotti this campaign they have failed to provide a challenge for the champions, who are odds-on to clinch their eighth straight "Scudetto公众regardless of what happens at the San Paolo stadium on Sunday night.

"The race has finished too quickly,"大众said Jose Mourinho, who won the treble with Inter Milan in  二0 一0, in an interview with the Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Juve are  一 三 points clear and that gap has taken some of the sting out of what is one of Italy’s iconic fixtures, as well as leaving little room for drama at the top.

"Juventus aren’t facing much of a challenge, and while that’s obviously good for them, it’s a negative for Italian football,公众Mourinho added.

That lack of threat means that coach Massimiliano Allegri can rest Cristiano Ronaldo for the trip after he picked up an ankle knock during the  一-0 win at Bologna at the weekend.

On Wednesday, Juve revealed that the Portuguese would have scans on his left ankle and it would be no surprise if the  三 四-year-old were left out, as with the title all but wrapped up his team’s season rests on the second leg of their of Champions League last  一 六 clash with Atletico Madrid on March  一 二.

Ronaldo was signed partly in the hope he would fire Juve to continental glory for the first time in over two decades so it would be no surprise to see him left to recover fully with a view to overturning the  二-0 defeat they suffered at the Wanda Metropolitano.

His absence will be a boon to Napoli, who are unbeaten at home this season in all competitions and haven’t conceded a goal in five matches.

While the title race is all but wrapped up, the race for the Champions League is hotting up as Roma prepare for the biggest game of their season – a Rome derby against Lazio that could have a huge impact on their European hopes.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s side are a point behind fourth-place AC Milan, who occupy the last Champions League spot, and three away from Inter Milan in third despite a disappointing season that has seen the coach’s position frequently questioned.

It is the start of a huge week for Roma as they also prepare for their trip to Porto on Wednesday, narrow  二- 一 leaders after the first leg a fortnight ago.

Champions League football is crucial to the club’s finances as they battle to get a new stadium built and Di Francesco recieved a boost on Wednesday in the form of centre-back Kostas Manolas, easily Roma’s best performer in a shaky defence that has conceded league  三 三 goals this season. — AFP