Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring for his nation towards Spain final week. (Koen van Weel)
Igor Tudor begins his bid to get Juventus into the Champions League towards Genoa on Saturday as Napoli host AC Milan with their Serie A title battle with Inter Milan coming into the house straight.
Juventus sit one level and one place outdoors Italy’s high 4 forward of the return of membership motion, and Tudor has been tasked with returning the “Outdated Girl” to the place they really feel they belong after sacking Thiago Motta over the worldwide break.
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Tudor, who spent the majority of his taking part in profession at Juve, has been employed till the tip of the season and the previous Croatia midfielder will possible get replaced by a much bigger title earlier than the beginning of subsequent season.
Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini and Gian Piero Gasperini are a few of the names which have been floated to steer the newest of an extended line of makes an attempt to reconquer the Scudetto and put a interval of scandal and monetary ache behind them.
However though Tudor has had a modest, nomadic profession as coach, there might be some good omens for Juve from his most up-to-date job as caretaker boss at Lazio.
Tudor took over at Lazio at the very same level of final season following the resignation of Maurizio Sarri, and after beating Juventus in his first recreation completed the season with 18 factors from his 9 matches in cost.
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That factors complete was decrease solely than Atalanta’s, who bagged 22 in that very same interval, and stage with Inter Milan who went on to win their twentieth league crown.
Juve shall be hoping Tudor can have the identical impact this season, with a crowded area of golf equipment proper right down to ninth-placed Milan bidding for a Champions League place.
Milan have been in turmoil for the reason that begin of the marketing campaign, however might have a say within the vacation spot of the Scudetto with their conflict at off-form Napoli probably giving native rivals Inter a push in the direction of a second straight championship triumph.
Napoli have solely picked up eight factors for the reason that finish of January and are three behind leaders Inter, who host Udinese on Sunday night forward of the primary of two Milan derbies within the Italian Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night time.
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Inter have an enormous month developing as Simone Inzaghi’s facet additionally face a titanic Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich and tough fixtures with in-form Bologna and Roma which might be essential to their title defence.
Inzaghi shall be lacking key gamers Lautaro Martinez and Denzel Dumfries to harm this weekend however star wing-back Federico Dimarco has recovered from a thigh drawback.
Atalanta, who’re nonetheless within the combat six factors again in third, face what’s prone to be a enjoyable fixture at Fiorentina with each midfield lynchpin Ederson and coach Gasperini suspended.
Participant to look at: Tijjani Reijnders
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Netherlands midfielder Reijnders has been one of many few brilliant spots in an terrible season for Milan, with 13 targets and three assists giving one thing for disgruntled followers to cheer about.
The 26-year-old will begin at Napoli after including one other purpose to his season tally in an exhilarating Nations League quarter-final with Spain, and he shall be key to Milan’s possibilities on Sunday night time.
Milan are six factors behind Bologna and nonetheless in contact with the Champions League locations due to Reijnders’ magical efficiency towards Como simply earlier than the worldwide break, which placated residence supporters who’re in revolt towards the membership’s American house owners RedBird.
Key stats
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7 – The variety of targets Juve conceded of their final two fixtures with Atalanta and Fiorentina.
6 – Simply six factors separate fourth-placed Bologna and Milan within the Champions League race.
Fixtures (occasions GMT)
Saturday
Como v Empoli, Venezia v Bologna (1400), Juventus v Genoa (1700), Lecce v Roma (1945)
Sunday
Cagliari v Monza (1030), Fiorentina v Atalanta (1300), Inter Milan v Udinese (1600), Napoli v AC Milan (1845)
Monday
Verona v Parma (1630), Lazio v Torino (1845)
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