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MILAN. — Juventus will look to a possible slip-up by closest challengers Roma at Fiorentina as the Turin giants begin the countdown to claiming a third consecutive Italian Serie A soccer title.
Roma’s faint hopes of a first Scudetto since 2001 were kept in check on Monday when Juventus restored their eight-point lead at the top with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Udinese.

Antonio Conte’s Juve side would be forgiven for hoping Roma, who on Thursday failed in their bid to reduce a three-match ban handed down to top scorer Mattia Destro, concede defeat away at a Fiorentina side which still has a mathematical chance of challenging third-placed Napoli for the league’s final Champions League place.

Such a scenario would put Juve, who host Bologna, 11 points ahead with four games remaining and allow the title party preparations to begin.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia, however, has refused to throw in the towel: “We’re playing in Florence and on paper it’s a difficult match, while Juve look like they have it easier.
“But you never know . . . just when it seems there can be no more surprises, that’s when they happen. As long as there is life, there is hope.”

Garcia’s comments on Wednesday came a day before the club’s appeal against Destro’s three-match ban was rejected.

The 23-year-old striker had bagged a hat-trick during Roma’s 3-1 win at Cagliari on April 6 but, after escaping punishment for striking Cagliari defender Davide Astori from behind, fell victim to trial by television following a request by the disciplinary commission of the federation.

Destro will now return to league action only in time for Juventus’s visit to Roma on May 9 for the penultimate match of their season — by which time the Turin giants could already have secured the title.

Fixtures
Today: Atalanta v Verona, Catania v Sampdoria, Chievo v Sassuolo, Genoa v Cagliari, Lazio v Torino, Milan v Livorno, Parma v Inter, Udinese v Napoli (all 3pm), Juventus v Bologna (6:30pm), Fiorentina v Roma (9pm). — AFP.