Juve ready as Napoli visit Lazio

ROME – Juventus striker Alessandro Matri is confident the leaders can see off the challenge of an impressive Fiorentina side to extend their lead over Napoli this weekend.

Friday, February 08, 2013
Matri is confident the leaders can see off the challenge of an impressive Fiorentina. Net photo.

SaturdayJuventus         vs     Fiorentina    19:00    Lazio         vs     Napoli    21:45    SundayParma         vs     Genoa    13:30    Cagliari         vs     Milan    16:00    Atalanta         vs     CataniaPalermo         vs     US PescaraSampdoria         vs     AS RomaBologna         vs     SienaUdinese         vs     TorinoInter         vs     Chievo    21:45 ROME – Juventus striker Alessandro Matri is confident the leaders can see off the challenge of an impressive Fiorentina side to extend their lead over Napoli this weekend.Fiorentina held Juventus to a goalless draw in Florence at the end of September and Matri told Juventus.com: "We’ll prepare for Fiorentina by looking back at our first meeting this season, in which they did very well and gave us some trouble."They’re enjoying a great league campaign, but we’ll be meticulous in preparing for this game and then relax in the lead-up to the match.”Already considered title favourites, Juve’s claim on the scudetto has been kept in check by the goalscoring feats of Napoli’s Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani.Napoli are on an unbeaten run of six games during which Cavani, recently linked with cash-rich Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City, has taken his league-topping goals tally to 18.In normal circumstances Lazio would hope for at least a share of the points at home to Walter Mazzarri’s side.However Napoli have been on fire recently, while Lazio are winless in their last three league outings including suffering humiliating defeats to Genoa (3-2) and Chievo (0-1).Lazio, who face Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Europa League round of 32 next week, have also lost German veteran striker Miroslav Klose for two months due to a right thigh injury.