Cagliari vs Juventus - Del Neri wants respect

Posted Saturday, February 05, 2011 by PA

Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri goes into the match at Cagliari lamenting the treatment of his team by referees in midweek.

In Wednesday's clash at Palermo, the Bianconeri believed referee Emidio Morganti should have awarded them two penalties.

Palermo went on to win 2-1 to leapfrog Juve in the Serie A standings.

"We want to be respected," Del Neri said. "We don't expect every penalty to be given to us, but when something is evident, one cannot say that he did not see it.

"There was a clear foul to Alessandro Matri inside the area while also Cesare Bovo's handball was evident to everyone except the match officials."

The result was Juve's second straight loss and means they go into Saturday's clash at the Sant' Elia in eighth place, trailing six points behind fourth-placed Inter Milan.

They will be hoping to avoid any further alleged ill-treatment as they attempt to cut the deficit to Inter, who face an arduous task on Sunday when they host Roma.

Del Neri knows his side need to show a vast improvement after just one win in their last seven games.

"We have to continue to work hard," he said. "I think we are lacking something at the moment."

Juve have scored just twice in their last three league games.

Saturday's game will have a special significance for Juve striker Alessandro Matri.

Matri will play against his former club just four days after leaving the Sardinian outfit to join Juve on loan until the end of the season.

Cagliari, meanwhile, go into the clash inspired by Wednesday's 1-0 triumph at Sampdoria, a second straight win leaving them just three points behind Juve.

Cagliari coach Roberto Donadoni said: "After Matri's departure I told my players that if before they were giving 100%, now they had to give 101%.

"They certainly did that at Sampdoria and I have to thank them."