Stakes high for Juventus this weekend

May 2nd, 2000
SportsServer

By Trevor Huggins

MILAN  - Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti may not be a gambler, but his team will be playing double or quits for the Italian league title this weekend against Parma.

Victory would leave it at worst two points clear of Lazio with just one more match to play, at Perugia. At best, it could be crowned champion on Sunday afternoon if Lazio failed to win at Bologna.

But the consequences of defeat in Turin do not bear thinking about for the Delle Alpi stadium faithful: Lazio could unexpectedly find itself atop the table with only Reggina to beat at home.

The arithmetic is all too simple after Juventus' shock defeat to Verona last weekend, as star striker Alessandro Del Piero is the first to recognize.

"We can't afford to make any more mistakes," he told reporters.

"Sunday is going to be a special day, and it could go either way. We could be champions or we could be overtaken."

Veteran defender Ciro Ferrara was already whipping up his teammates, saying: "We're going to have to put on a great performance against Parma."

Ancelotti himself is stoic despite the team's latest setback, saying: "The championship didn't end in Verona - but then, we knew it wouldn't."

Ancelotti has frequently been putting on a brave face since March 25.

That morning, his team was nine points clear and strolling toward the club's 26th league title. Since then, it has lost three and won three, while Lazio has caught up by winning five and drawing one.

And Juventus can expect no favors on Sunday from a Parma side that has its own agenda for the last two matches of the millennium season.

Two consecutive 0-0 draws have seen Parma slip from third to fifth place - jeopardizing its chances of the European Champions League next season.

Parma needs points if it is not to be left behind by AC Milan and Inter, and coach Alberto Malesani is convinced his men can rise to the occasion.

"For us, it will be like a Champions League final and for them too - because they want to win the title," he said. "All Italy will have their eyes on us ... but we're confident."

Parma's Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso, the Serie A's top scorer last season with Udinese but plagued with injuries this season, was also upbeat.

"We're still hoping for a place in the Champions League," he said. "In Turin, we're going to enjoy ourselves.

"And it's a lucky ground for me - I often score goals there."

Ancelotti may not be a gambler, but there are enough people who think Lazio is clearly worth a flutter; the club's share price soared by 20 percent on Tuesday morning, when the markets re-opened after the holiday weekend.
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