Massimiliano Allegri warned Torino will be preparing for the match of their lifetime against Juventus in Saturday s Serie A clash.
After opening their campaign without a win in four league games, Juve finally picked up a victory against Spezia before defeating Sampdoria to string together back-to-back 3-2 triumphs.
Federico Chiesa then inspired Juve against Chelsea as he fired in the fastest second-half goal in Champions League history, claiming a 1-0 win as Allegri s resurgent players continue to turn around their season around.
However, the Bianconeri have conceded in each of their last 20 top-flight games – only conceding more consecutively in 1955 (21) – and Allegri warned that local rivals Torino could prove tougher opponents than Chelsea.
For Torino this will be like the match of a lifetime, Allegri told Friday s pre-match news conference ahead of the key away match.
It s the derby and they re preparing for it to the maximum. It will be even more difficult than Wednesday.
On paper, we have five fewer points than expected. We have to recover them at every step.
On Saturday we have to improve our position in the table a bit more. The Derby della Mole is the perfect opportunity, also with the fans returning to the stadium.
Still with this feeling!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
Juventus have lost only one of their last 30 Serie A meetings with Torino, but the pair meet on the same number of points (eight) for the first time since October 2015.
Despite earning a well-deserved three points against Chelsea on Wednesday, Allegri is expecting Torino to provide a different challenge.
On Wednesday night we felt the closeness of the stadium that had great enthusiasm and passion, he continued. It filled me with joy, both for the team and for the atmosphere.
Against Chelsea, the game went well in a certain way. We have another one on Saturday. We will have to be good at finding spaces.
[Ivan] Juric has given great quality to Torino. They re a team that gives away very little. We will have to be switched on and give as good as we get.
Let s try to bring home a win in order to go into the international break in the best possible way. Let s make the most of the positive energy of the moment.
