Vidal demands final Juventus push

Posted Sunday, May 06, 2012 by ESPN

Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal has warned his team-mates they cannot afford to make any further mistakes if they are to clinch the Scudetto.

The Bianconeri will be crowned Italian champions if they win against Cagliari on Sunday in Trieste and closest rivals AC Milan fall at Inter Milan.

Juve saw their lead cut to one point at the top of the standings with two games remaining after Milan won 2-0 over Atalanta on Wednesday and they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Lecce.

"We cannot make any more mistakes," Vidal said.

"We are anxious about Sunday's game and we want to prove to everyone that we are the strongest team."

Antonio Conte's Juve are two games away from joining Perugia and Milan as the only sides in the history of Serie A to go an entire season undefeated.

The Bianconeri have the best defensive line in the competition with 19 goals given away in 36 games.

Sunday's game will be played at the Nereo Rocco stadium as Cagliari are playing their home games in Trieste rather than Sardinia because of a dispute with the local council related to the renovations of the Sant' Elia stadium.

The hosts have nothing to play for except pride as, despite Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Genoa, results elsewhere ensured Cagliari are now mathematically safe.

Massimo Ficcadenti's men have won just one of their last six games and lie 14th in the standings.

"We have achieved our aim which was to defend our Serie A status," Cagliari defender Lorenzo Ariaudo said.

"Now we go into the game against Juventus without pressure.

"We will nevertheless have a lot of motivation to beat Juventus.

"They are unbeaten and have proved to be a very strong team, but we will try."

Conte will have all of his players available with the exception of defender Paolo De Ceglie, who sustained a muscular injury in midweek and is out for the rest of the season.

Cagliari defender Alessandro Agostini must serve a one-match ban.