Juve Look To Get Back On Form
MILAN, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Juventus look to get back on the victory trail after some disappointing performances when they face Torino in the Turin derby on Sunday (kick off 1400 BST).
Juve got off to a flying start to the season with three straight wins in Serie A but a draw at Lecce and home defeat to Roma have brought Marcello Lippi's side down to earth.
Draws away to Rosenborg and Porto in the Champions League - the latter a particularly uninspiring performance from Juve last Wednesday - have lead many critics to review their claim that Lippi's side are stronger this year despite the absence of Zinedine Zidane.
Lippi believes after the changes of personnel in the summer and the need to rotate his squad due to the pressures of the Champions League, it will take another month for his team to find their best.
'We have been without players due to suspensions and injuries and we have also had to rotate people. I think we probably need another five or six games before we can see what we are really capable of,' he said.
And Lippi warned that the derby offers its own particular dangers.
'We know what happens in derbies, they are games where the weaker team can find extra motivation and aggression. The players know they need to be fully concentrated and aggressive throughout,' added the Juve coach.
Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids and Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero are suspended while utility man Alessandro Birindelli is injured.
French striker David Trezeguet hopes to have recovered from his twisted knee in time for Sunday's game but if he fails to make it then Chilean Marcelo Salas will partner Alessandro Del Piero in attack.
Promoted Torino have yet to win this season and have just two points from their opening five games to leave them second-last. They will give a debut to French midfielder Benoit Cauet, who has joined them from Inter Milan.
OTHER MATCHES (league positions in parentheses)
Playing Saturday
LAZIO (15) v ATALANTA (16) (1400 GMT)
Lazio's injury problems are easing with Dutch defender Jaap Stam, Paolo Negro, Dino Baggio and Czech winger Karel Poborsky all available.
Lazio, still seeking their first win, will certainly expect to achieve it against Atalanta, one place below the Romans in 16th.
PERUGIA (14) v AS ROMA (6) (1930 BST)
Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta and Brazilian defender Antonio Zago are both suspended for champions Roma with Francesco Totti facing a late fitness test.
Vincenzo Montella will return to the Roma attack as they face a Perugia side on a high after their 3-1 win over Milan.
Playing Sunday 1400 GMT unless stated
BRESCIA (9) v CHIEVO VERONA (2)
Former Barcelona captain Pep Guardiola could make his debut for Brescia, whose coach Carlo Mazzone starts a five match ban from the bench.
Chievo have captain and defender Massimo D'Angelo suspended as they look to continue their dream start to life in Serie A.
LECCE (10) v FIORENTINA (12)
Enrico Chiesa's lengthy absence after a knee operation means that Yugoslav Predrag Mijatovic could be handed a chance to stake a claim for a regular role in attack.
Fiorentina have never won in the nine league games they have played at Lecce.
AC MILAN (4) v VENEZIA (18)
After a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Perugia, victory is obligatory for Milan against Venezia, bottom of the league without a point.
Former Bologna coach Sergio Buso takes charge of the Venice side for the first time following the midweek sacking of Cesare Prandelli.
PARMA (11) v PIACENZA (8)
Both sides will be at full strength as Parma look to get their season going while Piacenza aim to maintain an impressive start.
Italy Under 21 defender Matteo Ferrari looks likely to keep his place ahead of fit-again Argentine Nestor Sensini.
VERONA (7) v BOLOGNA (5)
Both teams have made good starts to the season but Bologna will be forced to field a weakened side with Giuseppe Signori, Tomas Locatelli and Giacomo Cipriani all injured and midfielder Fabio Pecchia suspended.
UDINESE (13) INTER MILAN (1) (1930 BST)
Udinese coach Roy Hodgson faces his old club Inter for the first time but he is without suspended strikers Roberto Muzzi and David Pizzaro.
Portuguese winger Sergio Conceicao is ruled out for leaders Inter who welcome back Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba.
