Bologna vs Juventus preview - Conte calls for concentration
Posted Friday, December 06, 2013 by PA
Juventus coach Antonio Conte has demanded maximum concentration from his players ahead of Friday's match at Bologna.
Conte does not want his players distracted by Tuesday's Champions League match at Galatasaray.
The Bianconeri need to beat the Turkish outfit in Istanbul in their final Group B match to progress to the knockout round of the competition.
However, Conte wants his side to focus solely on Bologna.
"This match will be a tough one against a good side," Conte said."I will put my best team out on the pitch with the aim of being better than our rivals and taking home three points.
"I am certain that the team that will play, will respond in the best possible way."
Conte is confident his side will overcome the absence of Andrea Pirlo, who sustained a knee injury in last weekend's 1-0 triumph against Udinese and will be sidelined until the new year.
"Paul (Pogba) can take that role and do well," he said.
"But depending on our rivals' tactics we will decide whether it is Paul, Arturo Vidal or Claudio Marchisio to take Pirlo's position."
Juve go into the encounter at the Renato Dall' Ara stadium riding a six-match winning streak in Serie A.
The Turin giants are three points clear of Roma at the top of the standings and could extend that gap if they beat Bologna and the Giallorossi fail to come out triumphant against in-form Fiorentina this weekend.
Rivals Bologna go into the encounter looking to make amends for Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Serie B side Siena that knocked them out of the Coppa Italia.
"We are all angry, not just the coach," Bologna goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic said. "We expected a victory and instead we lost in extra time.
"Now we have to leave this defeat behind us and concentrate on doing well in Serie A.
"We will have to play a flawless game if we are to surprise Juventus."
Last weekend's 1-1 draw at Parma followed Bologna's 1-1 result against Inter Milan and extended their winless run in the league to four games.
Stefano Pioli's side holds the last safety position but are level on 12 points with 18th-placed Livorno.
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