Juventus vs Cagliari preview - Juve target new points record

Posted Saturday, May 17, 2014 by PA

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo is confident his side can cap off a superb season with a home win over Cagliari on Sunday.

Antonio Conte's side head into the encounter in Turin having ended Roma's unbeaten run at home this season with a 1-0 success last time out.

The victory was Juve's 32nd of the campaign and allowed the Bianconeri to set a new record of wins in one season in Italy's top flight.

The recently-crowned Italian champions can add another milestone to their name on Sunday by becoming the first club in Italy to reach the 100-point mark.

The Turin giants have 99 points with one game remaining.

"It's an important achievement," Pirlo said. "We have the opportunity to do so and we will not miss this chance."

Pirlo, who is set to sign a contract extension with Juve next week, is hopeful Conte will continue in charge of the team next season.

Conte has one year left in his contract but has been strongly linked with a move to Monaco this summer after three successful seasons in charge of the 'Old Lady'.

"I hope Sunday's game against Cagliari is not Conte's last," Pirlo said. "In three years he has taken us to win three league titles."

Juve have won all of their games at the Juventus stadium this season while Cagliari travel to Turin having mustered just one victory away from home.

The Sardinian outfit head into the encounter on the back of two successive losses, including last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Chievo which saw them drop to 15th place.

"We will try to finish the season with dignity," Cagliari coach Ivo Pulga said. "But it will not be easy against a Juventus side that have looked impressive all season."

Cagliari will be bolstered by the return of goalkeeper Marco Silvestri from suspension.

Conte will be without defender Giorgio Chiellini, who was slapped with a three-match ban by the Italian football league after elbowing Roma's Miralem Pjanic last weekend.