Inter-Juve still big match despite gap

ROME – Serie A front-runners Juventus are not going to pull punches when they visit Inter Milan Saturday despite the massive lead they hold on the Nerazzurri.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

SaturdayUdinese     vs     Bologna    16:00Lazio     vs     CataniaCagliari     vs     FiorentinaInter     vs     JuventusParma     vs     US PescaraPalermo     vs     AS RomaAtalanta     vs     SampdoriaGenoa     vs     SienaChievo     vs     Milan    19:30 Torino     vs     Napoli    22:00ROME – Serie A front-runners Juventus are not going to pull punches when they visit Inter Milan Saturday despite the massive lead they hold on the Nerazzurri.As the league resumes after a break dedicated to international games, Juve have 18 more points than the Milanese hosts, but are eager to avenge a 3-1 home defeat that last November ended a run of 49 unbeaten league games.The holders from Turin have 65 points from 29 games and lead Napoli by nine points with as many games left.Coach Antonio Conte faces defence issues, with Giorgio Chiellini nursing ankle problems and Martin Caceres recovering from a car crash, as he looks ahead to a Champions League quarterfinal Tuesday at Bayern Munich."Two close, important games await us. Concentration is at its highest,” tweeted Chiellini, who is due back against the German club.Inter also have mid-week duty on Wednesday, playing at Sampdoria in a game cancelled due to bad weather. But Andrea Stramaccioni should have veteran Walter Samuel back in defence after a long layoff.Inter vie with Fiorentina, Lazio and Roma for an Europa League berth and have a game in hand as they sit seven points from third place, which qualifies for the Champions League playoffs.Third-placed AC Milan play a late-afternoon game at Chievo as they sit two points behind Napoli, who close the 30th round later at Torino.Fourth-placed Fiorentina are away at Cagliari, while Roma and Lazio are level on points with Inter as they tackle Palermo and Catania, respectively.