Serie A preview: Juventus attempt to hold off chasing pack

31 January 2013 13:04

Juventus will be keen to ensure no further slip-ups as they travel to Chievo Verona in the Serie A on Sunday.

The Italian champions have led the league for the majority of the season and after a 1-1 draw at home against Genoa last weekend, their advantage over second-placed Napoli has been whittled down to only three points.

Juventus' opponents Chievo had a shock 1-0 win on the road against third-placed Lazio last week and will be full of confidence to take the game up to Antonio Conte's men.

Two of the Serie A's in-form teams go head-to-head on Saturday as Napoli welcome Catania to the Stadio San Paolo.

Napoli are closing in on Juventus after four wins in their past five games and their main man, Edinson Cavani, fired them to a 2-1 win over Parma last weekend.

But it won't be all Napoli's way with Catania having the longest current win streak in the league (three wins) and the scalps of Fiorentina, Genoa and Roma in that sequence.

Lazio will attempt to bounce back from their shock loss to Chievo as they travel to Genoa on Sunday.

The third-placed club is six points behind Juventus and are in a form dip with a draw to lowly Palermo preceding the Chievo result.

Two points inside the relegation zone, Genoa did well to draw against the Old Lady last week but have only won one of their past eight games.

After two consecutive draws, Inter Milan will be looking to stay within touch of the leaders as they travel to rock-bottom Siena on Sunday.

Currently in fourth, nine points behind the leader and only three points ahead of city rivals AC Milan, Inter would be confident of beating a Siena side that has lost eight of their last nine games.

Milan may have new signing Mario Balotelli in the squad as they host Udinese on Sunday.

In other matches, Roma - currently on a four-game winless streak - host Cagliari on Friday while Torino and Sampdoria battle on Saturday in a 12th-versus-13th clash with the winner pushing up into mid-table.

On Sunday, Atalanta travel to Palermo as both teams look to snap winless runs, Pescara take on Bologna and Fiorentina lock horns with Parma.