Juventus
Juventus, who kick-started their campaign with a 3-0 win over promoted Como last week, are the only side who kept their points tally at a maximum over the opening two match days of the Italian top flight and lead the standings with six points.
It has been a tough few years for Juventus fans who have grown used to success but new manager Thiago Motta has set about revitalising the squad with the aim of bringing the good times back and restoring the club's reputation at home and abroad.
Juventus have appointed Thiago Motta as their new head coach to replace Massimiliano Allegri, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.
Juventus sacked coach Massimiliano Allegri over his behaviour during and after this week's Coppa Italia final in which he was sent off, the Italian Serie A club said on Friday.
Atalanta will face record 14-times winners Juventus in the final on May 15 in Rome after Massimiliano Allegri's side qualified with a 3-2 aggregate win over Lazio despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg of their semi-final on Tuesday.
A late own goal by defender Alberto Dossena salvaged a 2-2 draw for Juventus at lowly Cagliari in Serie A on Friday after the hosts went two goals up in the first half thanks to penalties.
Juventus booked a spot in their fifth consecutive Coppa Italia semi-finals after an Arkadiusz Milik hat-trick helped them earn a 4-0 win over promoted Serie A side Frosinone on Thursday.
The Serie A season reaches the midway point this weekend and while no trophy is up for grabs just yet either Inter Milan or Juventus can claim the title of winter champions.
Massimiliano Allegri's side are second on 37 points behind Inter Milan, who visit Lazio on Sunday. Genoa are 14th with 16 points, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Inter still lead the way in what is increasingly looking like a two-horse race for the title, with Juventus, two points behind, now matching them stride for stride.
Juventus's Federico Gatti scored a stoppage-time winner in a frantic finale to secure a 2-1 victory at Monza on Friday that propelled them top of Serie A.
Juventus are aiming to finish in Serie A's top four and talk of a title tilt is premature, manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Thursday.
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri said his team must maintain a realistic approach as they try to finish in the top four this season despite the opportunity to claim provisional top spot in Serie A with a home win over Hellas Verona on Saturday.
The 26-year-old will play for the Ligue 1 side having returned from a loan spell at Chelsea last season.
Juventus will not play in Europe next season after being banned over breaches of UEFA's Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play rules, while Premier League side Chelsea will pay 10 million euros for submitting incomplete financial information, Europe's soccer governing body said on Friday.
The 35-year-old arrives in Milan after an eight-year spell at Juventus, which ended at the end of June when his contract expired.
Europa League kings Sevilla ignored the heavy rain and the pressure of the Italian crowd at a packed Allianz Stadium to dominate the game and looked well on course continue their bid for a record-extending seventh title before Gatti's last-gasp effort left the tie evenly poised.
They will meet Sevilla in the semi-finals, with the Italians at home first on May 11 before the return leg in Spain on May 18, after the Spanish side knocked out Manchester United 5-2 on aggregate.
Juventus took a small step towards the last four of the Europa League as Federico Gatti's second-half goal secured the hosts a 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.
The Tribuna Sud section of Juve's Allianz Stadium will be closed for their game against Napoli on April 23 after racist chants were heard coming from that area during the 1-1 first leg draw against Inter.
