Juve seek to ruffle Roma in title tilt

By Paul Virgo

ROME (Reuters) - Juventus will look to show AS Roma on Saturday (7:30 p.m. British time) they must watch their backs in the race to challenge leaders Inter Milan for the Serie A title.

Juve have been surprisingly competitive on their return to the top-flight after an enforced spell in Serie B for a match-fixing scandal, but their chances of winning the championship have receded in recent weeks as they fell 12 points behind Inter.

Finishing second and earning automatic qualification for the group stage of the Champions League appears a more attainable target.

Juventus, with 44 points from 22 games, would pull within one of second-placed Roma by beating them in Turin this weekend.

The media have billed the match as a battle between Roma's slick soccer and Juve's character and determination.

Roma defender Christian Panucci insists his side also have plenty of grit allied to their technical ability.

"They are ballsy, but we are pretty ballsy too," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Naturally, if they come in front of us at end, it means we have got something wrong".