Juve face Lecce threat

By Paolo Menicucci

The best attack in Serie A face the best defence today when US Lecce play host to leaders Juventus FC. Zdenek Zeman's side are joint fourth in the table, having scored 24 goals in eleven games, while Juve have conceded only four.

Narrow margin
In midweek, the Bianconeri beat ACF Fiorentina 1-0, the same margin by which they have won all four UEFA Champions League matches this season. Substitute Ruben Olivera scored the goal on Wednesday, and the Uruguayan could start on Sunday with Emerson struggling with a foot injury and Pavel Nedved suspended.

Attacking threat
Lecce, meanwhile, go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw at AC Siena which left Zeman far from satisfied. "I asked my players to defend after letting in eight goals in our previous two matches, but I didn't like the performance. We play well only when we attack," he said. "The Bianconeri are dominating the first part of the season and the only chance we have to stop them is by playing our usual attacking game." Juve have been warned.

Ancelotti claim
AC Milan are six points off the pace, in second place, after drawing 0-0 at Brescia Calcio on Wednesday. The defending champions entertain Siena and should welcome back Andriy Shevchenko from a slight thigh injury. The Ukrainian has provided more than half of Milan's goals this term - 13 out of 25. "Shevchenko is a great player but we are not dependent on him," coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We are a strong side. I am sure we can catch Juventus. If I wasn't, I would change jobs."

Udinese third
Udinese Calcio have crept into third place after three straight wins and they are at home to FC Messina Peloro. The other Sicilian side, US Città di Palermo, face UC Sampdoria, the visitors being without the injured Sergio Volpi and Francesco Flachi as well as suspended Fabio Bazzani.

Too many draws
FC Internazionale Milano, meanwhile, lie 13 points behind Juve in seventh position. They might be the division's only unbeaten team but they have won just two of eleven games. On Sunday they travel to Cagliari Calcio who have taken 13 from a possible 15 points at their Sant'Elia stadium.

Panucci dropped
Elsewhere, AS Roma make the trip to Reggina Calcio, and could restore Christian Panucci to the first-team squad after he was dropped for disciplinary reasons. S.S. Lazio are shorn of the suspended Massimo Oddo and Fernando Couto for the visit of Bologna FC.

Derby day
Parma FC, buoyed by their second seasonal win against Reggina in midweek, play AC Chievo Verona, while bottom club Atalanta BC have home advantage in their derby against Brescia Calcio. Another neighbourly squabble is the all-Tuscan affair between Fiorentina and AS Livorno Calcio.