Juve look to regain dominance
Beating AC Milan 2-1 Wednesday in the Italian cup restored the morale of Serie A leaders Juventus after an embarrassing league defeat to lowly Sampdoria.
The champions, who crashed 2-1 last weekend against 10-man Sampdoria to see Lazio move to within five points, now face a trip to in-form Parma on Sunday.
Coming off three straight wins and sitting eighth as the season begins its second half, Parma are the only side still unbeaten on home turf.
Coach Roberto Donadoni said he wants his men not to think about Juve's recent slip-up and expects a tough game at the Ennio Tardini.
"Beside the strategy we will use, it will be important to tackle the game with ferocious determination," the former Italian national team coach said.
"The formation matters little. If the team is determined to play a certain kind of game, then I am afraid of nothing."
Juve coach Antonio Conte savoured qualification for the cup semifinals, which he said was "a strong response from my players, also from those who have rarely played."
In Parma, Conte will again need some reserves as internationals Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio remain sidelined, while others need to recover from the extra-time match against Milan.
Chasers Lazio, who will meet Juve in the cup semis later this month, are at home to Atalanta while third-place Napoli host Palermo.
Recovery is expected from fourth-place Fiorentina, who visit Udinese after losing 2-0 at home to promoted Pescara.
The newcomers won three of their last four outings and play late Saturday at struggling Inter Milan, another big club who lost when the league resumed from a two-week break.
A 3-0 defeat at Udinese last Sunday confirmed the Nerazzurri's bad spell, with just two wins from eight games since beating Juve 3-1 in early November.
Bologna and Chievo open the 20th round on Saturday, Torino v Siena, Cagliari v Genoa and Catania v Roma are set for Sunday, and Sampdoria host Milan late Sunday.
