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Serie A | Gameweek 21
Jan 27, 2019 at 7.30pm UK
 
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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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General view of Manchester United's Old Trafford taken August 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter Milan32265177176083
2AC Milan32216563372669
3Juventus331810547262164
4Bologna321611545252059
5Roma31167856352155
6Lazio33164134235752
7Atalanta BCAtalanta311561057362151
8Napoli321310950401049
9Torino32111293129245
10Fiorentina31128114336744
11Monza321110113441-743
12Genoa33912123540-539
13CagliariCagliari33711153656-2032
14Lecce32711142748-2132
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona32610163044-1428
16Udinese31416113047-1728
17Empoli3277182548-2328
18FrosinoneFrosinone3269174063-2327
19SassuoloSassuolo3268183962-2326
20Salernitana3229212668-4215


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