Serie A preview: Juventus grapple with form slump

The pressure is on Juventus’ forwards to score more goals after the Turin-based club slipped two points behind AC Milan on Wednesday.

Juventus drew 1-1 in Bologna mid-week, their 13th draw from 26 games, missing the chance to move top of the Serie A table.

Despite being still unbeaten, Antonio Conte’s men are in danger of missing out on the Serie A title, having drawn half their games so far this season.

Juventus have only scored 39 goals this season, equal with sixth-placed Roma and ninth-placed Palermo and 14 less than league-leaders Milan.

Alessandro Matri is Juventus’ only striker to have reached 10 goals for the season, with Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Del Piero having scored just six goals between them.

Conte’s side travel to Genoa on Sunday for their next match, while Milan host Lecce in what should be a comfortable match for the league-leaders.

Milan were given a scare by Arsenal on Tuesday, with the London-based club going within a goal of forcing extra-time in their Champions Leg round-of-16 clash.

But Massimiliano Allegri’s team should have little trouble against relegation-threatened Lecce, who are 18th on the table.

Siena sit above Lecce, outside the relegation zone, and have a chance to increase their two-point gap over the club from the south-east, when they take on lowly Cesena on Sunday.

Cesena have not won in eight matches.

In other games on Sunday, Lazio host Bologna, Fiorentina travel to Catania, Atalanta take on Parma and bottom-club Novara host Udinese.

The action starts on Friday when Chievo Verona host an Inter Milan side desperate to end a nine-match winless streak, while Napoli face Cagliari.

And on Saturday, Roma will travel to Sicily to play Palermo.