Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi has stressed the importance of his team returning to winning ways when they host Serie A champions Juventus in Florence today.
The Viola go into the encounter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi having drawn their last two league games, their goalless result at Lazio last time out leaving them in sixth place in the standings – seven points adrift of second-placed Juve.
“We are coming off two bad draws at home to Cagliari and Parma,” Rossi told reporters yesterday.
“We need to win three points.
“I tell you what – we win in the league and Juventus beat Real Madrid (in the Champions League on Wednesday). And everyone, more or less, will have a reason to smile.”
The Old Lady, who are aiming for a third successive Scudetto, find themselves behind leaders Roma in the table despite having won six and drawn one of their seven league games so far.
However, Rossi believes Juve remain the team to beat in the title race.
“Juventus are in pole position, but the others are knocking on the door,” the former Manchester United and Parma man said.
Fiorentina held Juve to a goalless draw last season at home and coach Vincenzo Montella hopes his team can do better this weekend.
“We want to win,” he said.
“We know how important this game is for our fans and we hope we can satisfy them. We are preparing to do better than we did last year – even though we did quite well against a team like Juventus.”
Rossi, who has scored five goals in seven games, will lead Fiorentina’s attack.
Juve, meanwhile, head into the game on the back of a morale-boosting 3-2 home victory over Milan in the last round and seeking to stay close with leaders Roma. The result extended their winning run to four games.
“When the fixture list was drawn up, everyone said we would have a really tough start,” Conte said.
“I would have been more than happy with six wins and a draw by this stage.”
Meanwhile, Inter will launch a new era this evening at Torino following the sale of the club to foreign investors last week.
The Nerazzurri announced they had reached a binding agreement over the sale of a 70 per cent stake of Inter to International Sports Capital, led by Indonesian billionaire Erick Thohir.
Thohir said: “I am honoured that Mr Moratti has entrusted me with the responsibility to lead Inter into the next chapter, and I am excited to have him continue in the future as my partner.
“I cannot wait to put our passion and international experience at the service of this fantastic club and its supporters.”
Inter are fourth in the table, ten points behind Roma after seven games.
They go into the game in Turin on the back of a 3-0 defeat to the Giallorossi who extended their 100 per cent record to eight matches on Friday with a 2-0 win over Napoli.
Birsa scores Milan winner
Milan beat Udinese 1-0 last night despite fielding a depleted team following the absences of key players through injury and suspension.
Among the injured were keeper Christian Abbiati, Mario Balotelli, Stephan El Shaarawy and Daniele Bonera as Nigel de Jong and Philippe Mexes were both banned.
Gabriel, 21, made his debut for Milan in goal as Brazil compatriot Kaka came on in the second half at a semi-deserted San Siro.
Walter Birsa scored the goal that mattered midway through the first half with a rasping grounder from the edge of the Udinese box.
In the second half, Udinese veteran Antonio Di Natale rattled the Milan bar from a free-kick but that was the closest the visitors went to scoring an equaliser in a low-key clash.
In yesterday’s other match, Cagliari marked their return to the Stadio Sant’Elia with a 2-1 win over Catania.