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Juve were without several key players, including midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, last week but ran out 4-0 winners after French teenager Paul Pogba hit two superb goals.
With title rivals Napoli and Lazio both being held, Juve stretched their lead and are favourites to do so again against a Genoa side which has just replaced sacked coach Gigi Del Neri with Davide Ballardini.
Del Neri was axed late on Sunday as the north-west coast side returned to the relegation zone following a 2-0 home defeat to minnows Catania.
Juventus on Thursday confirmed the signing of Spain international striker Fernando Llorente, who will arrive at the club on July 1 on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao.
“He’s a great player and he’ll strengthen our team but we shouldn’t forget about our current strikers who are just as good,” said Juve midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini.
Although Pirlo is set to watch from the sidelines, alongside injured striker Mirko Vucinic, midfielder Pogba is in scintillating form, meaning Ballardini could face a baptism of fire on what is his his second spell with Genoa.
Giaccherini, meanwhile, added: “I scored against them (Genoa) earlier in the season, but that’s in the past. I am staying focused on the present and on Saturday’s game. We have to win, and try to extend our lead at the top.”
Last week’s draw in Fiorentina was the first time Napoli had failed to take all three points in the league since mid-December.
Parma host Napoli without defender Cristian Zaccardo, who is now an AC Milan player after joining the Rossoneri in an exchange deal which took Djamel Mesbah the other way.
Napoli’s Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani is the league’s top scorer on 17 goals, but Parma midfielder Marco Marchionni warned: “When we face the big teams we always give a little more, and maybe we need this at this time.”
Lazio’s 1-1 draw with Juventus in the first leg semi-final of the Italian Cup in midweek was their second in a week after they were held 2-2 by Palermo last Sunday. And although Vladimir Petkovic’s title-chasers are unbeaten in their last 15 games, they will look to get back to winning ways in the likely absence of German striker Miroslav Klose. — AFP.
Online Reporter