The Bianconeri’s struggles have not spread
to their Champions League form, but the
Argentine wants to see the continental
performances to carry over to the Serie A
Paulo Dybala has seen enough from
Juventus’ Champions League exploits to
suggest a fifth consecutive Serie A title is
not out of their reach, despite a woeful
start to the season, with a fine chance to
kickstart the Scudetto hunt arriving with
Bologna in Turin on Sunday.
A solitary win from Juve’s first six games
has done little to suggest that Italy’s
dominant team of the past four seasons
will be able to recapture their former
glories, but Massimiliano Allegri’s new-look
squad has impressed on the continent.
Victories over Manchester City and Sevilla
have left Juve top of a hotly contested
Champions League group and a run of one
defeat in 25 league fixtures against
Sunday’s opponents will be further cause
for optimism.
Former Palermo forward Dybala has not
seen much difference in the side’s
performances in domestic and continental
action, so expects a title challenge to
remain at the forefront of their ambitions.
He told Premium Sport: “I do not think
that there is a difference in our
performances in Serie A to those in the
Champions League.
“In Europe, teams play more open and
allow more space. In Serie A, all teams are
closed. In the 1-1 draw against Frosinone,
we gave away the ball and they scored.
-
“The Scudetto is still a possible target
because we are Juventus and we always
fight to win. We did not start well but we
will fight until the end.”
Dybala has only started in four of his eight
Juve appearances since joining from
Palermo in pre-season, but is the
champions’ top scorer with three goals in
all competitions.
He added: “I played a good game against
Sevilla, but I also played well in the Super
Cup against Lazio when I came on.
“I fought together with the team until the
end and settled on the pitch very well.”
Summer signing Sami Khedira made his
debut against Sevilla in midweek, boosting
a Juve midfield that is still searching for its
best form since being shorn of Arturo Vidal
and Andrea Pirlo, as well as injury victim
Claudio Marchisio, although the latter is
reportedly in line for a return this
weekend.
Stephan Lichtsteiner is sidelined by a
respiratory illness, although Chelsea
loanee Juan Cuadrado has impressed in
his place on the right flank. Martin Caceres
has been suspended by the club after
being caught drink-driving this week and
Mario Mandzukic remains out with a thigh
injury.
Former Juve winger Emanuele Giaccherini
will not return to Juventus Stadium this
weekend, as Bologna’s on-loan Sunderland
man has a thigh problem.
It is another headache for Delio Rossi, with
Bologna having lost five of their six games
this term. High-profile summer signing
Mattia Destro is yet to find the net since
arriving, but Rossi insisted this week that
the Italy international “is not the problem”.
