Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri warned the battle for the Scudetto was not over even if the champions can pull four points clear after Wednesday’s Serie A game against Atalanta.
Napoli lost 4-2 at home to AS Roma eight days ago and were held by Inter Milan last weekend allowing Juventus to overtake Maurizio Sarri’s side on the top of Serie A.
“If we win tomorrow the championship is absolutely not over,” insisted Allegri as Juventus — unbeaten in the league since November 19 — target a seventh straight title.
“The numbers speak for themselves. Napoli are still there, have 70 points and can get to 100. That means we need to be aiming above the 100-point mark.”
Juventus have 71 points and can break their record of 102 points for a season achieved under Allegri’s predecessor Antonio Conte in 2014.
“I don’t care about the records,” said Allegri.
“If they tell me that only 81 points to win the Scudetto are happy.”
“Right now Juventus have won nothing yet, but we have an Italian Cup final to play and right now we’re leading the League against a Napoli I have to compliment because they’re having a great season, otherwise the league would be over.”
AS Roma are third 14 points behind Napoli.
Atalanta, in eighth, are six points off the European places but are coming off last weekend’s win at Bologna and have had good results this season with wins over AS Roma and AC Milan and holding Napoli, Lazio and Juventus in Bergamo.
Wednesday’s game replaces the February 25 tie which was snowed off in Turin.
“We’ve been in the lead for only a few days so we have to be good at not giving up the bone,” said Allegri.
“We have to take a step at a time, there is still a direct clash with Napoli, many difficult matches remain, until the end Napoli will be there to fight.
“For us it will be difficult: we will have the Champions League quarter-finals and we also hope for the semi-finals.” –Agence France-Presse
