Legrottaglie sure of Juve's credentials

After helping his side keep yet another clean sheet to ensure that Juventus finished top of UEFA Champions League Group H, defender Nicola Legrottaglie insisted that his side are equipped go all the way to the final, so long as they sidestep a certain Spanish side in the next round. "I'd rather avoid Atlético Madrid," he confessed.

Crucial challenge
Wednesday night's goalless draw at home to FC BATE Borisov was enough for the Bianconeri to qualify for the next stage of the tournament as Group H winners and Legrottaglie was instrumental in helping Juve keep their third successive shut-out in the competition. The result could have been very different had Legrottaglie not denied BATE's marauding Vitali Rodionov with a superb recovering tackle early on in the match, but in the end the black-and-white rearguard held firm again for their fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

'Unbeaten'
"My conviction is that we are set up to do well in the Champions League," said the 32-year-old Legrottaglie, who signed for the Turin club in 2003. "I've said it from day one. This side can make life hard for anyone and up to now we've shown as much. We're still unbeaten, we've conceded the [joint] fewest goals of any team, we've played some great matches and we're happy. But it doesn't end here. This is just the starting point because we want to go all the way. Our aim is to reach the capital city in May and that's what we're fighting for."

'Maturity'
Along with Manchester United FC, Juve have the best defensive record in the tournament, having leaked just three goals; a feat all the more impressive for the welter of injuries that have afflicted the club this season. "At the start of the group stage nobody would have backed Juventus to finish as group winners. Perhaps not even us. But rising to this challenge means that this side has maturity and quality, despite having so many players out. How far we go in this tournament is completely up to us but the next stage will be different as we'll be playing two-legged cup ties. So we'll have to play even better than we have done so far, by conceding very few goals. The most important thing from now on is not to concede, especially at home."

Atlético worry
Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Olympique Lyonnais, Villarreal CF and Club Atlético de Madrid are among the Serie A side's possible future opponents but it is Javier Aguirre's side that holds the most fear for Legrottaglie when the draw is made on 19 December. "Personally I'd rather avoid Atlético Madrid and my preference would be to face Sporting in the next round."