Juventus vs FC Copenhagen preview - Conte wants league form in Europe
Posted Tuesday, November 26, 2013 by PA
Juventus coach Antonio Conte is desperate for his players to recreate their Serie A form in the crunch Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.
The Turin giants host the Danes in search of their first win in the competition this season after three draws and one defeat in Group B.
Those results have left Juve at the foot of the pool, seven points behind leaders Real Madrid.
The Italians are one point adrift of Galatasaray, who are second and are level on four points with FCK with two games remaining.
Their league form has been significantly better, with the defending champions one point clear at the top of Serie A after Sunday's 2-0 win at Livorno - their fifth straight win in the competition.
"My team is doing really well in Serie A," Conte said. "To have collected 34 points in 13 games is very positive.
"We hope to continue on this path and achieve something important at the end of the season.
"We hope we can take a good result on Wednesday.
"We are in an interesting situation in the Champions League as qualification is in our hands and we don't depend on anyone but ourselves.
"I see the team really motivated to do well and we will do all we can to progress to the next round."
The players know that failure to deliver on Wednesday could prove costly.
Juve end the group stages at Galatasaray on December 10.
"These three points are crucial," Juventus striker Fernando Llorente said. "We will try to give our best and hand a good performance."
The hosts welcome back defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Angelo Ogbonna, who missed Sunday's game through suspension.
Llorente will partner Carlos Tevez up front.
FCK, who held Juve to a 1-1 draw in the first game in Denmark, travel to Italy looking for their first victory on the road after defeats at Real Madrid and Galatasaray.
Stale Solbakken's men go into the encounter riding a six-match unbeaten run.
Sunday's 4-1 triumph over Viborg saw them climb to third in the Danish Super League.
FCK captain Lars Jacobsen has urged his team-mates to show the same fighting spirit they displayed against Galatasaray a fortnight ago.
The Danes took a surprise 1-0 home triumph over Galatasaray to record their first win of the competition.
"We have improved a lot after a poor start to the season and now we can look forward to the last two matches in the group," Jacobsen said.
"We need to show the same determination tomorrow as we displayed against Galatasaray."
Igor Vetokele, who struck twice on Sunday, will lead FCK forward.
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