Max Allegri hopes for “a spectacular encounter” between Roma and Juventus, but told critics to calm down.

It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.

“I hope it will be a spectacular encounter. Over the last couple of years it has been one of the most important games in Serie A,” said the Coach in his Press conference.

Max Allegri hopes for “a spectacular encounter” between Roma and Juventus, but told critics to calm down.

It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.

“I hope it will be a spectacular encounter. Over the last couple of years it has been one of the most important games in Serie A,” said the Coach in his Press conference.

“I hope there will be no incidents of violence, that we see a great game with intensity, technique and above all quality.

“Roma did very well over the market and reinforced, while above all they are determined to make up for last season. They have everything it takes to win the Scudetto, as do Juventus, Inter, Milan and Napoli.

“As things stand, I’d say Roma and Juve are the main contenders for the Scudetto.”

Juventus lost the opening round to Udinese, but have never started a campaign with two consecutive defeats.

“People said after the Super Cup in Shanghai that Juventus were like cannibals, that we’d crush everything in our path and win everything. After one Serie A game, suddenly we’re treated like flops. That’s not right.

“This team had quality a few weeks ago and the quality is still there. It requires patience and balance.

“We experienced the last week with bitterness and anger inside, which is normal after a defeat like that. Results influence mood and attitude, that is without doubt the case.

“Tomorrow we must play good football and, regardless of the result, be aware that Juventus are a team with everything it takes to win the title once again and go through the Champions League group phase.

“Nothing in football can be taken for granted. We must work to put us in the right condition to succeed and that has to be done with balance. There are moments when a game can turn one way or another, but over the course of the campaign the strongest side wins out.

“I have never seen a team win the title when being weaker than the runners-up.”

Juan Guillermo Cuadrado arrived on loan from Chelsea, so where will he feature for Juventus?

“Cuadrado is a player with mainly attacking qualities, so whether he plays wide, near the box or as a trequartista matters little. He needs to be involved in the play, he’s very talented and useful to this squad.”

There were reports Paul Pogba would be moved into the Andrea Pirlo role, but instead Allegri confirmed Padoin during injuries to Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio.

“I think Simone Padoin will play tomorrow. I have players with specific characteristics and right now the only one who can play in front of the defence is Padoin.

“I tested out others to take away my doubts, but they’d all be gambles. It is more logical to stick with Padoin.

“He had a decent game against Udinese, we had about 20 shots on goal and held over 67 per cent of possession with an infinite number of corners. Udinese had one shot on goal and won, but that’s football. We cannot judge the entire performance only on the result.

“Alex Sandro is behind the others and has only been with us for five days. Paulo Dybala will start, so you are all happy to put that in your headlines! Cuadrado will be on the bench, as he too only just got here.

“We will target the objectives that are in the Juventus DNA. We have Serie A, a difficult but not impossible Champions League group and a squad able to face all those competitions, including the Coppa Italia.”

Julian Draxler is expected to join from Schalke 04, as negotiations continue ahead of transfer deadline day.

“A Coach must make the most of the characteristics of the players put at his disposal by the club. The market is strange, as nobody thought Coman would leave or that certain other players wouldn’t arrive.

“The important thing is to keep the technical and quality level of the team high, as that is crucial for Serie A and above all the Champions League.”

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