Mission Improbable For Chievo As They Duel For Top Spot With Juve
MILAN, Sept 14 (AFP)
Chievo take on mission improbable Saturday evening when they travel to Turin to play Juventus for a match where victory will earn either side outright top spot in the Italian first division.
The David versus Goliath cliche for once is an apt one as the tiny visitors from Verona, who last June were promoted to the top flight for the first time, take a tilt at the giants from Turin, who have won the Italian championship a record 25 times.
Going into Saturday's match both are level on six points - the only two teams to win both their first two matches.
But if the bookies are to be believed there will only be one winner Saturday with Juve even-money to win and Chievo an 11-1 long shot. Even a draw is worth a flutter at 5-1.
Chievo attracted less than 10,000 fans to their first ever home Serie A game against Bologna last week but that was a big improvement on the 2,500 who saw them clinch promotion to the top flight last season.
The Verona-based minnows come from a tiny quarter in the north-west of the city which has only 2900 inhabitants. The sale of 4500 season tickets shows the word is beginning to spread, however.
Juve, meanwhile, claim the number of hits on their website and other factors prove they are the biggest club on the planet although England's Manchester United or Spain's Real Madrid to name but two might dispute that.
Juve midfielder and Italian international Alessio Tacchinardi warned the 'bianconeri' (white and blacks) would not take Chievo for granted. "We must go out on to the field as if it were a Cup Final," said Tacchinardi. "It may be an unusual match for a table-topping match but it is truly a big match.
Chievo have been brilliant in their two games so far, their players are running like madmen and flying on the wings of enthusiasm."
Chievo president Luca Campedelli, at 33 the youngest in Serie A, admits he is just enjoying being in the public limelight for the first time since taking over the club at the age of 24 when his father died.
"It's a clash of the two top teams but that's only because we have only played two matches. We must keep our feet on the ground," warned Campedelli. "I hope we are not hammered at Turin. If we play as we know how to we can put on a good show."
AC Milan lead a host of clubs in third place on four points and they travel north to Udinese on Sunday evening with new Turkish signing Umit Davala poised to make a debut.
Inter Milan, also on four points, host Venezia at the San Siro. It is unlikely that Brazilian Ronaldo will be picked for what would be his first competitive match for 17 months with Argentinian coach Hector Cuper eager not to put his precious asset in the firing line prematurely.
The misfiring Roman clubs, both winless domestically and losers in Europe this week, hope to get back on the right track against newly-promoted opposition.
Champions AS Roma visit Piacenza while Lazio host Torino at the Olympic Stadium.
Lazio coach Dino Zoff is already reading in the papers that defeat against Torino or in the Champions League against Nantes of France will see him replaced, with former AC Milan boss Alberto Zaccheroni the favoured candidate.
Lecce travel to Brescia while Bologna host near neighbours Parma. Crisis club Fiorentina host Atalanta of Bergamo in a meeting between two of the three clubs yet to record a point, the other being Venezia.
Verona, who like city cousins Chievo have started well, host Perugia at the Stadio Bentegodi.
Fixtures (13:00 GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Juventus v Chievo (18:30 GMT)
Sunday: Bologna v Parma, Brescia v Lecce, Fiorentina v Atalanta, Inter Milan v Venezia, Lazio v Torino, Piacenza v AS Roma, Verona v Perugia, Udinese v AC Milan (18:30 GMT)
