• Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the pitch after being tackled during the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. AFP
    Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the pitch after being tackled during the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. AFP
  • Ronaldo was returning to action with Juventus after recent injury concerns. AFP
    Ronaldo was returning to action with Juventus after recent injury concerns. AFP
  • The corner flag pole lies broken after being kicked by Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the Champions League game. He was limping after the incident. AFP
    The corner flag pole lies broken after being kicked by Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the Champions League game. He was limping after the incident. AFP
  • Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri during the game. Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri during the game. Reuters
  • Ronaldo jumps for the ball during the Champions League match between Juventus and Atletico Madrid at the Allianz stadium in Turin. AP
    Ronaldo jumps for the ball during the Champions League match between Juventus and Atletico Madrid at the Allianz stadium in Turin. AP
  • Ronaldo challenges Atletico Madrid's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas. AFP
    Ronaldo challenges Atletico Madrid's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas. AFP
  • Juventus' Argentine forward Paulo Dybala (C) celebrates with Ronaldo and teamates after scoring. AFP
    Juventus' Argentine forward Paulo Dybala (C) celebrates with Ronaldo and teamates after scoring. AFP
  • Juventus players celebrate after their victory over Atletico Madrid. AFP
    Juventus players celebrate after their victory over Atletico Madrid. AFP
  • Juventus top their group after the 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. EPA
    Juventus top their group after the 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. EPA

Juventus seek 'consistency' as Inter Milan aim to keep pace: Serie A preview


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Fixtures (all times UAE)

Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)

Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)

Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has called on his team to produce greater "consistency" as the Italian champions aim to maintain their pace at the top of the Serie A table this weekend.

Elsewhere, second-placed Inter Milan will aim to keep the pressure on Juven, while Napoli  look to snap a seven-game winless run and climb up the table.

Juventus are at home to 14th-placed Sassuolo on Saturday after ensuring they will finish top of their Champions League group with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in Turin.

The eight-time reigning Serie A champions are unbeaten this season and are one point ahead of Inter Milan, who kept their European ambitions burning with a 3-1 win at Slavia Prague.

Juventus have a perfect home record against Sassuolo with six wins in as many games.

"Right now, we are only showing flashes of what we feel we can achieve and we would like to show more consistently," said Sarri.

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned after a slight knee problem, giving Sarri a selection dilemma with Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain in top form.

Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 41, could start in place of Wojciech Szczesny, as he looks to close in on Paolo Maldini's record for Serie A appearances.

Antonio Conte's Inter have a chance to keep the momentum going as they host lowly SPAL, who have never won in the San Siro.

But Conte sees the side from Emilia-Romagna, who are second-bottom of the league, as "another test" as they build towards their Champions League clash with Barcelona.

Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli host Bologna after a 1-1 draw at Liverpool left them well-placed to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Italians had travelled to Merseyside in disarray with Ancelotti seemingly on the brink of being sacked after a slump to seventh in Serie A.

President Aurelio De Laurentiis has also threatened to sell the entire squad and take legal action against the players after they refused his orders to be confined to a week-long training camp earlier this month.

But Ancelotti declared that "coming out of Anfield alive," had pleased De Laurentiis and boosted morale. "We are united and there is determination on the part of everyone to return and demonstrate our potential," said Ancelotti.

Napoli have taken just four points from their last five league games, but have won their last five home games against 15th-placed Bologna.

Atalanta host the "Derby of Lombardy" against Brescia after creating history with their first ever Champions League win, 2-0 over Dinamo Zagreb.

Atalanta star striker Duvan Zapata's injury absence has seen the team slip to sixth, three points off the Champions League places.

Lazio will be looking to hold third place at home against Udinese, at the expense of Cagliari, two points behind in fourth, who host Sampdoria on Monday.

Joint-fourth, Roma's good form will be tested at Verona, as AC Milan, struggling in 12th, travel to Parma.

Fiorentina host promoted Lecce looking to avoid a third consecutive league defeat.

Fixtures (all times UAE)

Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)

Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)

Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)