Carrera calls for Juve caution

First-team coach Massimo Carrera has said there is a long way to go before Juventus, quoted 4/9 by bet365 in the outright betting, can consider themselves worthy Serie A title favourites.

The Turin giants make the trip to Florence on Tuesday to take on rivals Fiorentina attempting to make it five wins from their opening five fixtures of the new Italian domestic season (Fiorentina 11/4, draw 9/4, Juventus 21/20 – 90 minutes).

Victory against Vincenzo Montella’s Viola would see the Old Lady extend their lead over nearest rivals Napoli by five points, but Carrera is refusing to get carried away by his side’s electric start to the new campaign.

The 48-year-old warned there will be many twists and turns before the Scudetto is decided and said his and the players’ sole focus was the next game.

Speaking at a press conference in Vinovo, Carrera said: “We’ve only played four championship fixtures. Yes, the other teams have started badly, but they also have time to improve and will do so accordingly.”

He added: “There’s also plenty to develop from our point of view and we’ll try to work on this as much as possible.”

With no new injury or suspension worries, Antonio Conte is expected to name an unchanged Bianconeri squad for the Stadio Artemio Franchi clash.

Bayern play down Pirlo talk

Bayern Munich have moved to dismiss a link with Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo as the Bundesliga giants look to bounce back from a trophyless season (Bayern Munich 4/5 – To Win Bundesliga – bet365).

The Bavarians came second in the league, cup and Champions League last term and speculation has suggested Juventus star Pirlo was wanted to help their cause.

The 33-year-old World Cup winner has only been with the Old Lady for a season following a decade with Milan but it seems he is not on his way to Germany this summer.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in an official statement: “FC Bayern have neither made an offer to Juventus, nor have FC Bayern had any contact with the player or his agent.”

Pirlo was a key player for the Azzurri at Euro 2012 earlier in the summer but could do little as Italy were outclassed by Spain in the final.

Bayern Munich, who last ruled Europe in 2001, are 14/1 to go one better than last season and win the Champions League in 2012-13.

Goals could flow in Florence

Fiorentina (7/5 – Match Result with bet365) will provide title-chasing Udinese (2/1, draw 11/5) with a stern test in Sunday’s Serie A clash, as the visitors are likely to be without several key players.

Diego Fabbrini, Andrea Coda, Paulo Barreto and Gianpiero Pinzi are all unlikely to feature for Udinese, while defender Danilo is banned.

Iconic striker Antonio Di Natale should start, while Moroccan defender Mehdi Benatia is available again after returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Friulani closed to within two points of AC Milan with their midweek 2-1 win over Lecce and their home form – which has seen them win ten and draw one this season – has never been in doubt.

Udine’s away form has been less reliable with one point from the last three matches and Sunday’s venue, the Stadio Franchi, has not been kind to the Friulani and last season they lost 5-2 there.

Udinese have lost their last three in Florence, conceding 13 goals and scoring just five and La Viola are in the mood to prolong their misery – having rested in midweek when their clash with Bologna was called off.

Stevan Jovetic is likely to continue his partnership in attack with new signing Amauri, but Ruben Olivera, who also joined in the transfer window, cannot play his first game for the Viola because of suspension.

Per Kroldrup is unable face his former club due to a long-term injury.

Juve boss makes Milan Scudetto favourites

Juventus coach Antonio Conte believes that AC Milan are still the favourites to retain their Scudetto title after a weekend in which both clubs pulled away from their rivals.

Juve kept their one point Serie A lead in tact with a 2-1 home win over third-placed Udinese on Saturday before the reigning champions answered back with a 3-0 home demolition of Cagliari last night.

The Old Lady are yet to lose a league match since Conte arrived from Siena in the summer, but the 42-year-old ex-Bianconeri midfielder believes that AC Milan are favourites to hold on to their crown.

“Milan are the super-favourites,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia. “We must give everything and dig deep with the others behind us.

“Being forced to go forward doesn’t always work out, but it motivates you.”

Conte defended his decision to rotate his squad in recent matches, saying his players’ response to the changes has vindicated his decision.

He added: “They say ‘Never change a winning team’, but it is not our opinion. In the last games we have made use of the whole squad and they all responded positively.”

Juventus (8/11 in Full Time Result) continue their bid for their first Scudetto since 2003 with a trip to Parma (4/1, Draw 5/2) on Tuesday night while Milan (6/5 in Full Time Result) face a tricky trip to Rome to face Lazio (23/10, Draw 9/4) 24 hours later.

Ranieri calls on Inter to bounce back

Inter Milan slumped to defeat in the Coppa Italia at Napoli last time out, bringing an end to their eight game winning streak in all competitions, and boss Claudio Ranieri hopes his side can bounce back when they travel to Lecce in the Serie A on Sunday (Match betting – Lecce 5/1, draw 13/5, Inter Milan 8/13).

Inter will be without Thiago Motta, who has been linked with a January move to Paris Saint-Germain, with a calf injury but Lucio and Giampaolo Pazzini, who both missed the cup defeat, return to the fold.

Ranieri is confident his side will bounce back after their cup exit, as he feels the team has the mental strength to recover from adversity.

“I am not worried by that loss, but I am curious to see how we will react,” said the Inter coach. “More than once we’ve seen this season that this team has the energy to get back on its feet. We have fallen, but we will get back up.

“The team played well and I really liked the performance in Naples. Now we must continue to do well in Serie A and see how many points we end up with.”

Inter endured an horrendous start to the campaign but have since impressed and are now just six points adrift of league leaders Juventus.

Wesley Sneijder has now returned after a spell on the sidelines, while Diego Forlan and Dejan Stankovic have returned to training after respective injuries but the game at Lecce comes too soon for the pair.

Ranieri is eager for his team to continue their fine run of form in the league and the Italian coach admits securing Champions League football for next season is the priority (Serie A outright – Inter Milan 11/2 with bet365).

He added: “Our priorities remain balance and improving our position in the table. Reaching the Champions League zone is crucial.”

Lecce have a number of injury concerns themselves and Moris Carrozzieri, Manuel Giandonato, Luigi Falcone, Andrea Esposito and Julio Sergio are all sidelined for Inter’s visit.

Roma coach downplays Totti talk

Roma coach Luis Enrique has insisted veteran forward Francesco Totti has no plans to leave the Stadio Olimpico, despite his struggles during the current campaign, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Napoli (Napoli 5/6, draw 12/5, Roma 7/2 with bet365).

Totti has spent the entirety of his career with Roma but the 35-year-old has been unable to hold down a spot in the starting line-up this season, and admitted he was considering his future following fierce criticism from fans.

However, the veteran frontman has since stated he is happy to stay with Roma and coach Enrique is convinced Totti has no plans to leave.

The Spanish coach also insists that Totti will continue to take Roma’s penalties, despite his miss in the recent 1-1 draw with Juventus.

“During the way I have seen Totti at the level he always was. I have seen he is happy at Roma and didn’t notice any change,” Enrique told a press conference.

“It’s always said this club is a difficult place to work so we have to carry on together. He will also continue to be the penalty taker.

“I saw the best version of the captain this week and expect a great deal from Francesco as he can still beat many records. I have a special, different rapport with him.

“If we talk about statistics, it’s impossible to think Francesco won’t score. He just needs to continue like this and the breakthrough will come.”

Roma travel to Napoli on Sunday and Enrique has a host of injury and suspension problems with Marco Cassetti, Fabio Borini, Simon Kjaer, Fernando Gago, Nicolas Burdisso and Miralem Pjanic all ruled out.

Totti is set to be handed a place in the starting line-up and the Roma legend will be eager to impress after an indifferent campaign so far (Anytime Goalscorer – Francesco Totti 5/2 with bet365).

In contrast Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri has a virtually fully-fit squad to chose from.

Juve find Roma in dire straits

Roma (9/4 – Match Betting with bet365) are without three players through suspension and several others through injury ahead of tonight’s Serie A clash with Juventus (5/4, draw 11/5) at Stadio Olimpico.

Defender Juan, midfielder Fernando Gago and striker Bojan Krkic are all banned after Roma’s night of shame last week in Florence which saw the visitors finish with just eight men after a humbling 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina (20/1 Juventus 3-0 – Correct Score).

Roma striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is expected to return from a one-match club-imposed suspension for punching team-mate Erik Lamela amid more dressing room unrest following the 2-0 defeat to Udinese a fortnight ago.

Francesco Totti is fit again after an ankle injury but Roma’s defensive problems have worsened – to the point where coach Luis Enrique could ask midfielder Daniele De Rossi to play as a makeshift centre back.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte looks set to deploy Paraguayan forward Marcelo Estigarriba alongside Simone Pepe and in-form hitman Alessandro Matri, who has scored five goals in his last seven Serie A appearances, in attack.

Roma star rejects exit talk

Roma talisman Daniele De Rossi claims he never gave an interview to Four Four Two magazine, which stated he was “flattered” by reported interest from Manchester United and Manchester City.

Roma, who are 10th in the Serie A table, take on league leaders Juventus on Monday and ahead of the crucial tie, De Rossi has moved to deny talk he could be heading for the Premier League (Serie A match betting – Roma 11/4, draw 12/5, Juventus 1/1 with bet365).

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has spoken of his admiration for De Rossi, although the Italian boss admitted it will be hard to convince the Roma star to depart the Stadio Olimpico.

De Rossi’s current deal expires at the end of the season and the quotes in the interview suggested he was keen to test himself in England and may consider a switch to the Premier League. However, the midfielder claims the interview never took place.

De Rossi used his official Twitter account to clarify his situation. He tweeted: “I never gave an interview to the magazine Four Four Two.”

De Rossi may be used as a makeshift centre-half for Juve’s visit on Monday as Simon Kjaer is a doubt, as is midfielder David Pizarro (Half Time/Full Time – Juventus Juventus 21/10 with bet365).

Roma will definitely be without suspended trio Juan, Bojan and Fernando Gago.

However, the Rome outfit will not have to face former striker Mirko Vucinic when they host Juventus, as he has been ruled out with a muscle strain.

Ranieri predicts title charge

Claudio Ranieri believes that he can drag bet365′s 12/1 shots Inter Milan back into the Serie A title race despite the Nerazzurri currently languishing in 17th place, as he has done it before with Roma two seasons ago.

The 2010 treble winners have endured a torrid start to the campaign, parting with Gian Piero Gasperini in September and replacing him with former Chelsea and Juventus boss Ranieri.

However, Inter still find themselves towards the wrong end of the table and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, although they do have a game in hand on most of their rivals.

Ranieri though is not too fazed by his club’s current predicament and believes that he can turn things around, having dragged Roma from the lower reaches in the 2009/10 season to runners-up by just two points to Inter on the back of a 23-game unbeaten run.

“People said of the Roma side that I inherited from (coach Luciano) Spalletti that they were finished,” Ranieri said.

“But then we proved them wrong by fighting with Inter for the Scudetto.

“I believe this Inter team has a lot more to give.

“I believe that we can make a great recovery because I see a united group that wants to try.

“Perhaps all the teams that are ahead of us seem unreachable today but I am confident.”

Inter take on Cagliari – in a game marking Davide Ballardini’s first in charge of the Sardinians in his third spell at the club – at the San Siro on Saturday and are 8/15 favourites with bet365 to make home advantage count, with the visitors priced up at 11/2 to win and the draw at 14/5.

Mihajlovic issues Fiorentina challenge

Sinisa Mihajlovic insists Fiorentina can inflict a first home defeat in Serie A on Juventus in Turin on Tuesday (Juventus 4/6, draw 13/5, Fiorentina 9/2 – match prices with bet365).

Victory for the Old Lady would see them go above Udinese at the top of the table but recent draws have been affecting their attempts to take control of domestic affairs.

The Viola have not won in Serie A since a 3-0 victory over Parma in late September but coach Mihajlovic is convinced it will be an open game.

He said: “The lads are motivated, and this makes me certain that we’ll play a great game.

“I like the fact that Fiorentina could be the first team to win at Juventus Stadium. It won’t be easy in front of 40,000 Bianconeri fans, but it’ll be an open game.”

Former Juve favourite Mattia Cassani is injured and Riccardo Montolivio will miss out because of suspension, and Mihajlovic has warned his players that they must be ready for a tough challenge.

He added: “Juve are an aggressive team, in which each player gives his absolute all, they have quality up front and in the middle of the park. They’re a complete side.”