On Sunday evening at 20:45 Italian time (3:45 AM Beijing time on the 13th), in the 16th round of Serie A, Juventus will face Lazio at the Olympic Stadium in Turin. This match holds special significance for Del Neri, as Lazio's head coach Edy Reja is a close friend of his. "Edy is my good friend and an excellent coach. He has built a very combative team, bringing everyone together. In this regard, we have similar qualities; otherwise, we wouldn't be such close friends. He has achieved good results, and it's clear that in football, if you are well-prepared and passionate, you can achieve important goals."
Regarding the starting lineup, Del Neri confirmed that Marchisio will return to the starting eleven, and he still needs to choose between Motta and Sorensen for the right-back position. "Grygera isn't ready yet; three days of training isn't enough. I think he might not even sit on the bench. As for the forward line, Quagliarella and Aquilani are doing well now, so they will start. Del Piero has proven that he is always prepared to play, and for me, he is a guarantee."
Speaking of Lazio, they are undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of the season. Few would have thought that this team, which struggled for relegation last season, would make such a strong comeback this year. "They have an important tactical system and pay great attention to their opponents' style of play. This is their strength; sometimes, even if they concede a few goals, they have the ability to turn things around. Tomorrow, we must play a perfect game, leaving nothing to chance, and strive for victory. I hope it will be a good match where both sides prove that their rankings are deserved. It will be a challenge, with two excellent teams and two close friends giving their all until the end."
On Saturday afternoon at 14:00, Coach Del Neri attended the routine pre-match press conference at the Vinovo training ground. Lazio currently leads Juventus by 3 points and ranks second, making the importance of this match undeniable. "I don't think the match against Lazio is a turning point in the season. Psychologically, it's an important game, but the league has just begun."