Juventus will start learning how to play without Paul Pogba today against Genoa with the France midfielder ruled out for two months through injury.
Pogba limped off with a hamstring problem during Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League triumph at Borussia Dortmund.
The 22-year-old is expected to miss Juve’s next seven Serie A games as well as the Champions League quarter-final tie against Monaco.
His absence should not prove detrimental to Juve’s scudetto hopes as they have a 14-point lead over nearest challengers Roma.
However, Pogba will be missed in the other competitions, with Juve involved in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia as well as progressing in Europe.
Despite Pogba’s injury, his team-mates are thrilled to have made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“We are delighted,” midfielder Arturo Vidal said.
“Against Dortmund we played a beautiful game and it was almost a perfect night but for Pogba’s injury.
“We know that against Monaco we have a 50 per cent chance of progressing. We now need to be focused on our next match. We want to clinch our fourth straight scudetto.
“Against Genoa we also want to make amends for our only defeat of the tournament.”
Genoa beat Juve 1-0 earlier this season and will look to spring another surprise and end Juve’s unbeaten home run today.
“We want to play a great game just as we did back in October,” Genoa striker Leonardo Pavoletti said.
“We know we will need to use our heads, our hearts and our legs to have a chance to win this game. Our fans will see a different Genoa than with respect to our performance against Chievo.”
Genoa lost 2-0 to Chievo last time out to see their five-match unbeaten run halted. GianPiero Gasperini’s side sit ninth in the standings and have a game in hand.
Genoa are without midfielders Iago Falque and Tomas Rincon, who are suspended.
The hosts will be without Spanish striker Alvaro Morata, who serves a one-match ban.
Serie A
Played yesterday
Chievo 1
Paloschi 35;
Palermo 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 11,000.
Missed penalty: Paloschi (C) 62.
Red card: Andelkovic (P) 86.
Milan 3
Menez 21, 78 pen.; Mexes 49;
Cagliari 1
Farias 47;
HT: 1-0. Att: 30,748.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Juventus | 27 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 54 | 14 | 64 |
| Roma | 27 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 38 | 21 | 50 |
| Lazio | 27 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 49 | 27 | 49 |
| Napoli | 27 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 46 | 35 | 46 |
| Fiorentina | 27 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 39 | 29 | 45 |
| Sampdoria | 27 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 36 | 28 | 45 |
| Milan | 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 41 | 35 | 38 |
| Inter | 27 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 35 | 37 |
| Genoa | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 37 | 32 | 37 |
| Torino | 27 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 30 | 30 | 36 |
| Palermo | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 38 | 41 | 35 |
| Udinese | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 29 | 34 | 32 |
| Sassuolo | 27 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 33 | 40 | 32 |
| Chievo | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 30 | 32 |
| Verona | 27 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 33 | 46 | 32 |
| Empoli | 27 | 5 | 15 | 7 | 27 | 29 | 30 |
| Atalanta | 27 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 37 | 25 |
| Cagliari | 28 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 34 | 53 | 21 |
| Cesena | 27 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 25 | 48 | 21 |
| Parma (-3) | 25 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 21 | 51 | 9 |
Playing today – 20.45
Cesena vs Roma
Empoli vs Sassuolo - 12.30
Juventus vs Genoa - 15.00
Lazio vs Verona
Napoli vs Atalanta
Parma vs Torino
Sampdoria vs Inter
Udinese vs Fiorentina
Top scorers
15 goals: Tevez (Juventus), Icardi (Inter), Menez (Milan).
13 goals: Higuain (Napoli), Toni (Verona).
12 goals: Dybala (Palermo).
Next fixtures
Saturday, April 4: 12.30 Roma vs Napoli. 15.00 Atalanta vs Torino; Cagliari vs Lazio; Genoa vs Udinese; Verona vs Cesena; Inter vs Parma; Palermo vs Milan; Sassuolo vs Chievo. 18.30 Fiorentina vs Sampdoria. 20.00 Juventus vs Empoli.
Serie B
Avellino vs Perugia - 1-2
Crotone vs Brescia - 2-1
Entella vs Catania - 2-0
Latina vs Spezia - 1-2
Livorno vs Cittadella - 0-1
Modena vs Vicenza - 1-2
Pro Vercelli vs Lanciano - 2-1
Ternana vs Carpi - 0-1
Trapani vs Bologna - 0-0
Tomorrow
Varese vs Frosinone - 20.30
Standings: Carpi 62; Bologna 53; Vicenza 52; Avellino, Spezia 49; Frosinone 48; Pescara, Livorno 47; Perugia 46; Lanciano 43; Bari 41; Entella 40; Modena, Cittadella, Pro Vercelli, Trapani 38; Latina 37; Ternana 36; Crotone 35; Catania 32; Brescia, Varese 27.
Lega Pro
Group A: Lumezzane vs Monza 0-0; Pordenone vs Como 2-5; AlbinoLeffe vs Sudtirol 2-1; Bassano vs Pro Patria 3-2; Cremonese vs Real Vicenza 1-1; Giana Erminio vs Venezia 0-0; Novara vs Renate 2-0.
Group B: Lucchese vs Pisa 2-1.
Group C: Messina vs Cosenza 0-0; Paganese vs Savoia 2-2; Matera vs Vigor Lamezia 0-0; Lecce vs Aversa 3-0; Reggina vs Melfi 2-1.