Juventus worried over key player injuries

Juventus worried over key player injuries

Juventus hope their recent form in Serie A will not be stalled by a bout of injuries for Thursday's visit to Genoa.

The Turin giants have a perfect record after collecting four wins in as many games and they lead the standings alongside red-hot Sampdoria with 12 points.

While Samp travel to Tuscany to face Fiorentina on Wednesday, Ciro Ferrara's side make the journey to the Italian Riviera 24 hours later without four key players.

Attacking duo Alessandro del Piero and Diego will only return to action against Bologna this weekend.

Del Piero is struggling with a problematic thigh while the Brazilian playmaker is recovering from an ankle injury.

Also sidelined is veteran defender Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Tiago, both struggling with thigh injuries.

Brazilian star Felipe Melo might have a chance of being fit having returned to training this week after shaking off an ankle injury.

While injuries did not hinder Juve in last weekend's 2-0 win over promoted side Livorno, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon knows the game at the Luigi Ferraris stadium is an altogether different battle.

"It's an important match," said Buffon, whose crucial saves helped his team clinch three points at the weekend.

"Not so much because of the points as it is early days in the campaign. However, this game should give my team an indication of where we are.

"At Genoa we will need to give a convincing performance and win in order to grow in self-belief."

Genoa have lost just two encounters at the Ferraris stadium this year, their last a 1-0 defeat to Lazio in April.

Moreover, they edged Juve 3-2 in their last meeting in Liguria.

The Grifoni go into the clash looking to bounce back from a surprising 3-1 defeat at Chievo Verona that marked their first slip of the campaign after three straight wins.

"Genoa is a great team," said Buffon.

"They are fearful especially when they play at home because they have a great atmosphere and the team feeds on that.

"But we cannot be intimidated."

Brazilian forward Amauri, who has failed to strike the back of the net in the last seven months, is set to partner in-form Vincenzo Iaquinta in Juve's attacking line.

Genoa defender Emiliano Moretti knows he and his team-mates will be made to work by a side that has scored at least a goal in each of their last 21 games.

"We know we face an unbeaten team," said Moretti, who briefly played at Juventus.

"But we will go out on the pitch with the same spirit as always, that of a team that wants to impose its own play."

That, however, was not what Gian Piero Gasperini's men did at Chievo.

"It wasn't our best game," admitted Moretti."But the good thing about playing every three days is that you get a chance to turn the page and bounce back."

The Grifoni will again be without suspended defender Domenico Criscito and injured midfielder Ivan Juric.

Gasperini is set to confirm attacking trio Hernan Crespo, Rodrigo Palacio and Giuseppe Sculli against the Bianconeri.