Juve boss Allegri thinks Roma will be hungry after Leverkusen loss

Juventus and Roma are involved in the battle for Champions League qualification in Serie A and, after the latter’s defeat in Europe, Massimiliano Allegri expects to face a side hungry to bounce back.

Roma, who lost their Europa League semi-final first leg 2-0 to German champions Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, are fifth in the league standings after one win in three league games.

“We will find an angry Roma from Thursday who want to get back to fighting for the top-four positions and we will need a good game from our side,” Allegri told his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game in Rome.

“Roma are strong, they are doing very well. It will be a fascinating game, but difficult and complicated.”

Juventus are third despite their dramatic decline in the second half of the season and victory on Sunday would secure their Champions League place.

Allegri’s side lost once in the first half of the campaign, but have suffered four defeats in the second part and are on a run of one win in eight league matches.

“In the first half we scored 46 points, in the second half we didn’t manage to do what we did in the first round, we have done much worse,” Allegri said.

“We are close to the goal, and we need to stay focused.

“Until we have mathematical certainty, we need to be careful. Football always gives you surprises.”

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— JuventusFC