Juve coach Conte issues title warning
Juventus coach Antonio Conte has warned Serie A leaders AC Milan they will have to "spit blood" to win the Scudetto this season.
The Turin giants capitalized on Milan's 1-1 draw against Catania last weekend with a 3-0 triumph over Napoli to cut the gap to the Rossoneri to just two points.
"We have to continue to look ahead," Conte told Gazzetta dello Sport. "AC Milan will need to sweat each Sunday for the Scudetto and they will have to spit blood until the end.
"This is a crucial time in the season and I don't want any relaxation from my players. We have to give everything we have in our remaining eight games.
"If a team does finish above us in the standings then we will be the first to applaud them, but so far no-one has been able to beat us."
Juventus travel to Sicily to face Palermo on Saturday.
Milan, meanwhile, will attempt to get over the disappointment of their Champions League exit when they host relegation strugglers Fiorentina this weekend.
The Rossoneri lost 3-1 at Barcelona on Tuesday night to bow out of the competition in the quarter-finals.
Lazio are third in the standings and welcome European hopefuls Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico needing a win to hold onto the final Champions League qualifying spot.
The Biancoceleste are three points clear of Napoli.
Udinese are level on 48 points with Napoli and take on Parma at the Friuli stadium desperate to rediscover their winning touch.
The Bianconeri have won just one of their last nine league games.
Roma expect to maintain their push for a top-three finish when they take on Lecce at the Via del Mare stadium.
The Giallorossi trail four points below city rivals Lazio.
Inter Milan are one spot and three points below Roma after last weekend's 5-4 triumph over Genoa, a result which gave Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni a winning debut.
The Nerazzurri square off against Cagliari in Trieste.
Victory on Saturday against Catania would see Chievo all but assure their Serie A status.
The men from Verona have collected 39 points in 30 games but take on a Catania side riding an eight-match unbeaten run.
Relegation-threatened Novara are at home this weekend and host a Genoa side that fell 5-4 at Inter last time out.
That led to the sacking of Pasquale Marino and the return of coach Alberto Malesani.
Genoa were 10th when Malesani was dismissed in December and are now 16th, two places above the relegation zone.
Siena have lost just one of their last six league games and make the journey to Bergamo to face Atalanta looking to take a giant step towards safety.
Cesena, meanwhile, remain rooted at the foot of the standings, 14 points behind Fiorentina, who hold the last position of safety.
They are winless since January 15 and host Bologna this weekend.