Toni out to shoot down Juve

A look ahead to the weekend's action in the Italian Serie A, including Juventus' clash with Fiorentina.

Last Updated: 07/02/13 at 19:29 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Italian Serie A. Click here to bet.

Luca Toni: Has bad memories of his spell in Turin

Luca Toni: Has bad memories of his spell in Turin

Luca Toni spent his childhood dreaming about playing for Juventus but now he is determined to help Fiorentina derail the Serie A champions' title defence.

The veteran striker realised a lifelong dream when he made Juve the 13th club of a well-travelled career in 2011, but the 35-year-old has only bad memories of his brief spell in Turin.

The Bianconeri must avoid defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday night to avoid Napoli joining them at the top of the table with a win over third-placed Lazio and there is no doubt where Toni's loyalties lie.

He told the Corriere dello Sport: "I was a Juventus fan from a young age but when I moved to Modena I just started supporting the team I was playing for.

"What happened in Turin? I injured myself during my second game for the club and (Luigi) Del Neri told me not to give up. But then (Antonio) Conte arrived and told me to pack my bags."

La Viola have failed to beat Juve in nine attempts but Toni believes that could change this weekend.

"We can make history," he added. "We are strong and we give every opponent we face a lot of trouble. No one has ever truly dominated us and in the reverse fixture we dominated them."

Juventus striker Alessandro Matri helped his side stay out in front with a goal against Chievo last time out but he knows beating Champions League hopefuls Fiorentina will be a tall order.

He told juventus.com "We're in good shape and we approached this week's training following a morale-boosting victory.

"We'll prepare for Fiorentina by studying our first meeting this season, in which they did very well and made things difficult.

"They're enjoying a great league campaign, but we'll be relaxed during the build-up to Saturday."

Napoli can open a nine-point gap on Lazio with victory at the Stadio Olimpico with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis banishing any thoughts of a crucial home clash with Juve on March 1.

He said: "I won't talk about the Juve game. I'm superstitious before we face Lazio."

The Biancocelesti have signed former Sunderland striker Louis Saha as cover for Germany international Miroslav Klose, who will miss eight weeks through injury.

"I'm really happy to have joined this great club and to have accepted this opportunity," the Frenchman said. "I want to do my best so we can win as much as possible."

Cagliari will host a resurgent AC Milan side at Turin's Stadio Olimpico after their own Stadio Is Arenas failed safety checks, while under pressure Inter Milan boss Andrea Stramaccioni searches for an elusive win at the expense of Chievo.

Alberto Malesani has been tasked with lifting Palermo off the foot of the table after replacing Gian Piero Gasperini this week but the Sicilians' opponents, Pescara, are just as eager to escape the relegation zone.

There was a managerial change at Roma, too, where Aurelio Andreazzoli has taken over from Zdenek Zeman until the end of the season. His first task is a trip to Liguria to face mid-table outfit Sampdoria.

Parma look for a first win in five games as Samp's city rivals Genoa visit the Stadio Ennio Tardini, with the Rossoblu a much-improved prospect under returning boss Davide Ballardini.

Torino will hope to extend a seven-game unbeaten run at Udinese, where they have not won in over 20 years, as struggling Siena strive for a second win on the bounce at the expense of Bologna.

Elsewhere, Atalanta take on upwardly-mobile Catania at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.


Click here for completely free £10 bet with Sky Bet & £5 free every week


Bet with SkyBet  Italian Serie A. Click here to bet.

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Hummels wants stars to stay

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels hopes a Champions League final win will stop more of his team-mates from joining Bayern Munich.

Cech and Luiz praise for Rafa

Petr Cech and David Luiz have hailed outgoing boss Rafa Benitez and revealed their excitement about the likely arrival of Jose Mourinho.

Zidane: Bale one of world's best

Zinedine Zidane believes Gareth Bale is one of the best three players in the world and "more than good enough" for Real Madrid.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved