Massimo Ambrosini says Fio-rentina would be “crazy” to consider themselves favourites to win tonight’s Europa League showdown with Juventus.

Juventus are the runaway Serie A leaders and look certain to win the Scudetto once again, but Antonio Conte’s men need to score at the Stadio Artemio Franchi after Fiorentina plundered a late goal through Mario Gomez to draw the first leg 1-1.

There is no love lost between the clubs from Turin and Florence, meaning the last-16 decider will have an extra dimension, and veteran midfielder Ambrosini hopes the “positive tension” in Tuscany will boost his side.

But as Juve continue to brush aside all comers in the league, the former Milan man is suitably wary.

He told violachannel.tv: “Are we the favourites? No. We would be crazy to think that.

“Juve are a team that inspire fear in opponents because they have a certain kind of spirit about them.

“They have players who are used to these kind of matches, from both a mental and technical point of view.

“Anything can happen in such a finely-poised tie.”

Juve, who beat Genoa 1-0 on Sunday to pull 17 points clear in the Serie A title race, have a serious crisis in defence.

Conte can only call on senior defenders Martin Caceres, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini as Federico Peluso, Andrea Barzagli and Angelo Ogbonna struggle for physical condition.

“On paper, our opponents have the advantage of playing at home, but only on paper,” Bonucci said.

“On the pitch we’ll see which team deserves to progress. It will be a battle: may the best team win.”

Juventus were losing finalists to Parma in the 1995 edition of the UEFA Cup.

Fiorentina, meanwhile, reached the UEFA Cup final in 1990, only to lose to Juventus.

Round of 16, today’s 2nd legs