Juventus head into tomorrow’s Serie A game at Genoa on the back of a confidence-boosting triumph over Manchester City in the Champions League.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side travelled to the Etihad Stadium without a win to their name this term, but Alvaro Morata’s goal earned the Bianconeri a 2-1 success.
Juve captain Gianluigi Buffon, who made some important saves on the night, says the result was just what the club needed to get their campaign on track.
“Winning football matches like this gives you great self-belief, which is the best thing you can have,” the 37-year-old said.
“The emotions and feelings that run through you are crucial for your growth, and especially for the youngsters.
“But we also need to remember that the season has only just begun. We can’t get ahead of ourselves, but this is how we need to move forward.
“We must make sure we have many more evenings like this, because we deserve it and we have the ability to make it happen.”
Juve are 16th in the Serie A standings with just one point from three games.
Roma, who finished a distant second to Juve last term, host Sassuolo this weekend.
The Romans have two wins and a draw from their first three Serie A games, and on Wednesday Rudi Garcia’s team got off to a positive start in the Champions League thanks to a wonder goal from Alessandro Florenzi in their game against Barcelona.
Florenzi struck a 45-yard equaliser at the Stadio Olimpico as the game finished 1-1.
Roberto Mancini’s Inter are alone at the top of the domestic standings for the first time in five years after three wins in as many games.
They will try to clinch a fourth successive victory at midday tomorrow when they go up against unbeaten Chievo in Verona.
Milan, who lost 1-0 to Inter in their last match, host Palermo this evening.
Napoli and Lazio will battle it out tomorrow night in Naples following games in the Europa League.
On Thursday, Napoli thrashed Belgium’s Club Brugge 5-0 at home – their first victory of their campaign.
Lazio, meanwhile, conceded a last-gasp equaliser to draw 1-1 against Dnipro in Ukraine.
Fiorentina, who visit newly promoted Carpi, were also involved in European action this week.
They followed their 1-0 triumph over Genoa with a 2-1 defeat at home to Basel in their Europa League Group I opener.
Sampdoria, with two wins and a draw in their first three Serie A games, travel to Torino while top-flight new boys Bologna and Frosinone, both with three defeats to start the campaign, meet at the Stadio Renato Dall’ Ara.
Udinese stunned Juventus on the opening weekend but they go into today’s home game against Empoli reeling from back-to-back defeats against Palermo and Lazio.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing today
Udinese vs Empoli - 18.00
Milan vs Palermo - 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Atalanta vs Verona
Bologna vs Frosinone
Carpi vs Fiorentina - 18.00
Chievo vs Inter - 12.30
Genoa vs Juventus
Napoli vs Lazio - 20.45
Roma vs Sassuolo
Torino vs Sampdoria
Standings: Inter 9; Chievo, Sampdoria, Torino, Roma, Sassuolo, Palermo 7; Fiorentina, Lazio 6; Atalanta 4; Genoa, Milan, Udinese 3; Napoli, Verona 2; Juventus, Empoli, Carpi 1; Bologna, Frosinone 0.
Serie B
Played yesterday
Modena vs Ternana - 1-0
Livorno vs Brescia - 3-1
Today – 15.00
Ascoli vs Cesena
Bari vs Pescara
Cagliari vs Avellino
Novara vs Entella
Perugia vs Crotone
Pro Vercelli vs Latina
Salernitana vs Spezia
Trapani vs Virtus Lanciano
Vicenza vs Como
Monday
Ternana vs Livorno - 20.30
Leading standings: Livorno 9; Cagliari, Trapani, Salernitana, Bari, Pro Vercelli, Vicenza 4; Cesena 3, Perugia, Lanciano, Avellino, Entella 3.