Ferrara backed by Juventus

Ferrara backed by Juventus

Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc has stressed the Bianconeri must put their Champions League heartbreak behind them and concentrate on the league.

The Turin giants were dumped out of European football's elite club competition by Bayern Munich this week in a 4-1 humiliation at home and will have to settle for Europa League football in the new year.

Ciro Ferrara's side, who had beaten Inter Milan 2-1 in the build-up to the Bayern game, will look to make amends when they travel to Bari on Saturday.

"It's a big disappointment but we must look ahead," said Blanc on the club's official website, www.juventus.it.

"Against Bayern we played badly.

"We are disappointed because we had other aims this season but the strength of a team is also seen by the support of the fans in this difficult time.

"In any case, our project remains strong and I obviously back Ferrara, who will continue as coach."

Inter, meanwhile, progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Rubin Kazan.

The Nerazzurri, who are four points clear of AC Milan at the top of Serie A, will make the short journey to Bergamo to face Atalanta.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho and Atalanta boss Antonio Conte will have to watch the game from the stands as both are serving one-match touchline bans.

The Nerazzurri will not be at full strength with Walter Samuel and Sulley Muntari suspended and Dejan Stankovic out injured.

AC Milan will look to keep up the pressure on Inter by winning against Palermo at the San Siro this weekend.

The Rossoneri drew 1-1 at FC Zurich to ensure a place in the Champions League last 16 but need to win in order to defend their second position in the standings.

AC Milan are one point clear of third-placed Juventus.

Chievo can expect a battle when they host Fiorentina.

The Viola became the only Italian side to win their Champions League group with a victory over Liverpool this week.

Cesare Prandelli's men are one point behind fourth-placed Parma, who take on 15th-placed Bologna.

Udinese will be without pivotal striker Antonio Di Natale for Sunday's match at bottom side Siena.

Di Natale, who leads the scoring charts in Serie A with 11 goals, was slapped with a two-match ban for insulting the referee during Udinese's 2-1 loss to Bologna in the last round.

Roma will go after their fourth straight Serie A win when they take on Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa.

The Giallorossi are sixth in the standings and are level on 24 points with eighth-placed Samp.

Strugglers Lazio fell 1-0 to city rivals Roma last weekend and will try to bounce back against Genoa.

The Biancoceleste have failed to win since August 30 and are one point clear of the drop zone.

Meanwhile, Sunday's game against Livorno will mark the first game in charge for new Catania coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

He replaced Gianluca Atzori, who was sacked by the Sicilian club this week

Catania are 19th in the standings, three points behind Livorno.