Torino vs Juventus - Juventus looking to end 2016 on high

Posted Saturday, December 10, 2016 by PA

Juventus defender Alex Sandro says his side need no reminding over the importance of their upcoming fixtures as the Serie A leaders look to end 2016 on a high.

Juve face city rivals Torino on Sunday knowing a victory would extend their lead at the summit to seven points ahead of Monday's meeting between nearest challengers Roma and AC Milan in the capital.

Massimiliano Allegri's men then play host to Roma next weekend before finishing the year with a league trip to Crotone and the Italian Supercup clash with Milan in Qatar.

Sandro said on his club's website: "Everyone in the dressing room is looking forward to taking on Torino in the derby, not to mention Roma the following week and Milan in the Supercup final.

"We'll need to be at our very best and play like a proper Juventus side to get the results that we want. We need no reminding of the importance of this little run of fixtures and as ever, our target can't be anything other than three victories."

First up for Juve is this weekend's Turin derby, and midfielder Stefano Sturaro is eagerly looking forward to that clash.

He said: "The derby is always a great occasion and it's the kind of fixture that I prefer, one that gets the fans' hearts racing.

"Even as a supporter, I loved the feeling of excitement before a big game and now that I'm a player, I feel it more intensely."

Juventus start the fixture as firm favourites having won five of their last six league matches.

But seventh-placed Torino had won four successive games in all competitions before last weekend's 2-0 setback at Sampdoria.

Midfielder Sturaro said: "We'll be coming up against a very strong Torino side that has improved a lot since last season.

"Form goes out of the window in derbies so we must make sure we play the game we want to play straight from kick-off."

Torino boss Sinisa Mihajlovic knows the quality of Juve - but was keen to praise the qualities of his own players in the build-up to the contest.

He explained: "Juventus are the strongest team and they have many quality players. We'll have to play a great match.

"But they too will have to worry about us because we have quality. We must always play like men, giving everything, and with intensity, ambition and courage."

Mihajlovic was asked how important the contributions of Torino's leading goalscorer Andrea Belotti - nicknamed the Rooster - and Juve's free-scoring marksman Gonzalo Higuain would be at his pre-match press conference.

The 47-year-old said: "Higuain is very strong and I'm keeping the Rooster - but both teams have other quality players who can settle the game with one strike. But I am convinced teams win matches, not individuals."