Juventus vs Sassuolo - Massimiliano Allegri focuses Juventus minds on Sassuolo test

Massimiliano Allegri will pick a Juventus team he believes can definitely take three points off Sassuolo - even though a tricky Champions League meeting with Sevilla looms large.

The reigning Serie A champions have won the first two games of what they hope will be a fifth defence of the Scudetto and beating ambitious Sassuolo could cement their status as early leaders.

The Neroverdi are not to be underestimated, however. Promoted in 2013, Sassuolo finished sixth last season and stormed through Europa League qualifying to reach the group stages.

Sevilla - the winners of that trophy three times on the spin since 2014 - present a difficult challenge for Allegri's Bianconeri but he will not let his players ease off in the league on Saturday afternoon.

"Before we start worrying about Sevilla, we need to think about Sassuolo, who have started well and their pre-season preparations began before ours," Allegri told a pre-match press conference.

"Sassuolo have realised what everyone dreams of doing in Italian football.

"For us this will be an important match and we have to take all three points."

Turning his thoughts to team selection with the two ties in mind, the Juventus boss added: "Juan Cuadrado will be available and Stephan Lichtsteiner will play. Dani Alves will not.

"Claudio Marchisio is recovering well and should be back with us soon.

"Gonzalo Higuain has every chance of featuring against Sassuolo tomorrow."

Also hoping to feature is Miralem Pjanic, the Bosnian midfielder Juventus recruited from Roma in the summer, while Allegri will hope Domenico Berardi is ruled out of contention for Sassuolo.

The roving forward, Sassuolo's all-time top scorer, suffered a knee injury during the match against Pescara and is touch-and-go heading into the weekend.

The Emilia-Romagna club are still smarting over the Lega's decision to award a 3-0 walkover victory to Pescara following that game, with Sassuolo accused of failing to register Antonino Ragusa.

Sassuolo won their opening fixture 1-0 at Palermo and sit 13th in the fledgling standings.