MILAN // Champions Juventus travel to struggling Sassuolo on Saturday looking to maintain their lead at the top of Serie A, while nearest challengers Roma insist the fight for the title has just begun.
Juventus moved three points clear at the summit two weeks ago after a bad-tempered 3-2 win over Roma in Turin which saw the Bianconeri concede their first goals of the campaign.
[ Read more: Inter Milan ‘aware of our problems’ after Fiorentina take things from bad to worse ]
Despite their defeat, Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis insists the top-of-the-table clash showed Massimiliano Allegri’s men the capital club are a force to be reckoned with as they prepare to host Chievo on Saturday.
“We don’t want to finish second, we want to win (the league). We can do it, we realised that after seeing their reaction,” De Sanctis said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.
Almost a fortnight after an explosive encounter that saw five goals, three penalties and two red cards as well as the sending-off of Roma coach Rudi Garcia, the dust has yet to settle.
De Sanctis on Thursday repeated allegations, notably by Giallorossi captain Francesco Totti, that Juventus benefit from favourable refereeing decisions.
“You have to know how to lose, but it is hard to accept certain decisions when you have the feeling you’re not playing on an equal footing,” said the ‘keeper, who played for Juve at the start of his career.
While the champions have steadfastly rejected the accusations, Juve defender Angelo Ogbonna went on the charm offensive when he told Sky Sport: “We don’t underestimate any of our opponents.
“Roma are a top side, they’ve done well in the transfer market with a view to the Champions League.”
Both Roma and Juve are expected to rest key players whenever possible this weekend ahead of midweek Champions League clashes against Bayern Munich and Olympiakos respectively.
Inter host Napoli in the pick of Sunday’s fixtures when home coach Walter Mazzarri will be firmly in the spotlight.
Mazzarri steered Napoli to a runners-up spot in 2013 but has struggled to work his magic with the Nerazzurri, who recently dropped to 10th place following consecutive defeats to Cagliari (4-1) and Fiorentina (3-0).
Inter’s recent woes prompted club president Erick Thohir to demand affirmative action, and French midfielder Yann M’Vila said the Indonesian tycoon’s message had been loud and clear.
“Yes, we certainly got the president’s message,” M’Vila told Sky Sport during the international break last week.
“The mental approach is something we have to work out between us, within the team. Next we’ll play against Napoli at home and we absolutely have to win; for ourselves, for our morale, and to stay on course this season.”
Rafael Benitez’s Napoli will feel confident of causing an upset at the San Siro on Sunday having strung two consecutive wins together following a three-game winless run.
The visitors’ cause will not be harmed by Inter’s growing injury list. Striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is out for a month, joining a casualty list that already includes defender Danilo D’Ambrosio.
Mazzarri also has doubts over the availability of Jonathan and influential Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, as well as Japanese wing-back Yuto Nagatomo, Gary Medel and Fredy Guarin.
City rivals AC Milan travel to Verona looking to make it two wins out of two against sides from the northern city, having accounted for Chievo 2-0 at the San Siro a fortnight ago.
Coach Filippo Inzaghi has been bolstered by ‘keeper Diego Lopez’s return to training following a thigh injury suffered in a 5-4 win away to Parma a month ago.
Milan, however, could be without influential French forward Jeremy Menez, who did not train with the main squad on Thursday as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
Menez’s possible absence could pave the way for rarely-used striker Stephan El Shaarawy to come into the side.
Italian Serie A fixtures (in UAE time)
Saturday
Roma v Chievo, 8pm
Sassuolo v Juventus, 10.45pm
Sunday
Fiorentina v Lazio, 4.30pm
Atalanta v Parma, 5pm
Cagliari v Sampdoria, 5pm
Verona v Milan, 5pm
Palermo v Cesena, 5pm
Torino v Udinese, 5pm
Inter v Napoli, 10.45pm
Genoa v Empoli, 10.45pm
Follow our sports coverage on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
The Afghan connection
The influx of talented young Afghan players to UAE cricket could have a big impact on the fortunes of both countries. Here are three Emirates-based players to watch out for.
Hassan Khan Eisakhil
Mohammed Nabi is still proving his worth at the top level but there is another reason he is raging against the idea of retirement. If the allrounder hangs on a little bit longer, he might be able to play in the same team as his son, Hassan Khan. The family live in Ajman and train in Sharjah.
Masood Gurbaz
The opening batter, who trains at Sharjah Cricket Academy, is another player who is a part of a famous family. His brother, Rahmanullah, was an IPL winner with Kolkata Knight Riders, and opens the batting with distinction for Afghanistan.
Omid Rahman
The fast bowler became a pioneer earlier this year when he became the first Afghan to represent the UAE. He showed great promise in doing so, too, playing a key role in the senior team’s qualification for the Asia Cup in Muscat recently.
Confirmed bouts (more to be added)
Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez
Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Almouneer
Started: 2017
Founders: Dr Noha Khater and Rania Kadry
Based: Egypt
Number of staff: 120
Investment: Bootstrapped, with support from Insead and Egyptian government, seed round of
$3.6 million led by Global Ventures
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
