Juventus take on Fiorentina with one hand on title

Milan: After their weekend derby disappointment, Juventus will need favours from elsewhere if they are to secure a fourth consecutive Serie ‘A’ title in front of their own fans on Wednesday. Fourteen points clear at the top of the table with six matches remaining, Massimiliano Allegri’s side entertain Fiorentina at the Juventus Stadium knowing a win will see them confirmed as champions provided nearest rivals Lazio slip up at home to Parma.

 

A draw could also be enough for the Bianconeri to clinch their 31st scudetto this midweek, but only if Lazio, Roma and Napoli all fail to win, with the latter not in action away to Empoli until Thursday.In the last week, Juve have gone from the high of winning through to the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years to the low of losing 1-2 to city rivals Torino, their first defeat in the so-called ‘Derby della Mole’ since 1995.

 

That match was also marred by crowd trouble, with the Juve team bus being attacked on its way to the ground and several Torino fans then being hurt when a paper bomb was thrown inside the stadium.

 

Juve risk having part of their stadium closed as a punishment, which would take some of the gloss off an end to the season which promises so much.“Sorry to have lost the derby. We didn’t get much luck. We continue to pedal towards winning the scudetto,” defender Leonardo Bonucci wrote on Twitter ahead of a game that he will miss due to suspension.