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Attendance: 60,000
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Serie A | Gameweek 21
Jan 27, 2019 at 7.30pm UK
 
Juventus logo

1-2

Can (59' og.)
FT(HT: 0-0)
Cancelo (74'), Ronaldo (88' pen.)

Martin Caceres closing in on Juventus return

Martin Caceres closing in on Juventus return
© Reuters
Caceres has already had two spells as a Juve player.

Massimiliano Allegri insists Martin Caceres is "not a quick fix" for the Juventus back-line as the Uruguayan defender finalises his return to Turin.

Caceres, 31, has already played for the Bianconeri across two previous spells and this weekend looks set to make it three by switching from Sunday's Serie A opponents Lazio.

The clash in Rome will come too soon for the former Barcelona and Southampton player but Juve boss Allegri is just relieved to have another experienced centre-back lined up as Medhi Benatia nears the exit.

"Martin Caceres is not a quick fix, but someone we really need, because Benatia has asked to leave. Caceres is good and he knows how things work here," said Allegri at his pre-match press conference.

"I know Caceres can offer a lot to Juve. He's a player who's always ready, and he's already had to learn the language and get to know the atmosphere.

"Caceres can play in the middle and even does well at full-back. He's a positive lad and that's really important – I'm happy."

Morocco international Benatia has struggled for game time at Allianz Stadium this season and, despite being linked with Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester United, looks likely to move to Qatar.

Allegri added: "Benatia has made a choice and the club have evaluated and accepted his request. It makes no sense to keep hold of a player against their will. He's had some great years here."

Juan Cuadrado, Andrea Barzagli and Mario Mandzukic are unavailable through injury while Allegri will assess Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic before the game at the Stadio Olimpico.

The gap in midfield means Emre Can should feature, with Allegri saying of the former Liverpool player: "Can needs to improve when it comes to covering the defence, but that's only a matter of more training.

"He gives us a lot of coverage in that role and he's improved when it comes to intercepting moves."

Lazio are 24 points but only five places behind the leaders and striker Ciro Immobile hopes fortune will shine on the Biancocelesti on Sunday evening.

"Juventus are very strong but there will be a lot of people supporting us at the Olimpico," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "In recent years we've managed to beat Juve.

"We'll try to work even harder and hopefully we'll enjoy a little bit of good luck, too."

Adam Marusic and Italy defender Francesco Acerbi are suspended.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter Milan33218472324071
2Napoli33218452252771
3Atalanta BCAtalanta33197766303664
4Bologna331612552371560
5Juventus321514349301959
6Roma33169848321657
7Lazio32168853431056
8Fiorentina32158949321753
9AC Milan331491051381351
10Torino32913103637-140
11Udinese32117143646-1040
12Como33109144348-539
13Genoa32912112938-939
14Hellas VeronaHellas Verona3395193060-3032
15CagliariCagliari3279163247-1530
16Parma32513143751-1428
17Lecce3368192355-3226
18VeneziaVenezia33413162746-1925
19Empoli33413162652-2625
20Monza3329222557-3215


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