MILAN // Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has insisted the Serie A season is far from over after the champions guaranteed year-end top spot with a three-point lead on challengers Roma.
Juventus face defending Cup champions Napoli in Doha on Monday where the Bianconeri will aim to secure their third consecutive Italian Super Cup.
It would be the 30-time Italian champions’ seventh trophy in the competition since it began in 1988, but for Allegri it comes third in his list of season priorities.
“It’s the last game of the year and our third objective of the season after the Serie A title and the last 16 of the Champions League,” Allegri told reporters from Doha on Sunday.
“It won’t be easy because Napoli are a quality side and a difficult team to face in a one-off match.”
Allegri has a lot to live up to, at least on the domestic front, after former Juve coach Antonio Conte led the Old Lady to three consecutive ‘scudetti’.
He added: “We still have a long way to go in Serie A and a lot of points to pick up because Roma will be keeping the pressure on. There’s a lot to play for in the league and we still have to face Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.”
As Juve look to secure their first silverware of the campaign, Roma head into the Christmas break kicking their heels after spurning the chance to keep the Bianconeri on a tighter rein.
Two consecutive draws by Juve prior to Thursday’s 3-1 away win in Cagliari had allowed Roma to close the gap to just a point but Rudi Garcia’s men slipped up when held to a scoreless draw at home to Milan on Saturday.
Roma remain second three points behind, and with a nine-point lead on third-placed Napoli remain the only side keeping pace with the Turin giants.
But after their sluggish performance at the Stadio Olimpico, the French coach hinted that this season’s efforts so far had taken a toll.
“Footballers aren’t machines; they can’t go ten months non-stop without resting, and they need to rest both physically and mentally,” said Garcia.
“I hope we always have breaks like this, not like in England.”
Having exited the Champions League at the group stages following a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City, Roma dropped into the Europa League where they will face Feyenoord in the last 32.
With Italian Cup duties also on the horizon in January, Garcia is hoping the winter break has a soothing effect on his players.
“I hope the lads return from the holidays full of determination and with the same hunger we’ve shown in the first five months of the season,” he added.
As Juventus and Roma forge a path towards the first two Champions League qualifying spots, the fight for third in the second half of the season should be epic.
Thanks to a 2-2 draw away to Inter on Sunday, Lazio snatched third place from Napoli to make sure they begin 2015 on a positive note before hosting Sampdoria on January 5.
Stefano Pioli’s men sit on 27 points, 12 shy of Juve and nine behind Roma with Napoli and Sampdoria in fourth and fifth respectively only on inferior goals difference.
“Now we have a chance to recharge our batteries for January which will be crucial for us,” said Pioli as he responded to questions about Lazio’s push for third place.
“But the lads have shown they are up to the job.”
Genoa are a point further adrift in sixth but with Milan, in seventh and 11th-placed city rivals Inter also desperate to qualify for next season’s Champions League the second half of the campaign won’t be short on drama.
Milan handler Filippo Inzaghi, for one, feels the seven-time European champions should be setting their targets high.
“We are Milan, we shouldn’t be fighting to finish third. We should be gunning for the title.”
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BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Law%2041.9.4%20of%20men%E2%80%99s%20T20I%20playing%20conditions
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The%20specs
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The%20specs
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Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The%20Beekeeper
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
