PREVIEW: Veterans Nedved and Figo keen on classic showdown

By Alberto Cagliano Nov 20, 2008, 10:13 GMT

Rome - Aged 36 and with a 17-year career behind him, Juventus Turin veteran Pavel Nedved can't wait to take to the pitch Saturday for a Serie A showdown at Inter Milan.

Juve come to the Giuseppe Meazza stadium off five straight league wins, which have pushed them within three points of the leading champions after a dithering start to the season.

The Turin side also boosted their morale by securing the knockout stage of the Champions League with two defeats of Spanish giants Real Madrid.

'I'm glad to meet Inter now because we are in form,' the Czech midfielder Nedved said.

'We don't need to show anything to anyone. I don't want to hear about revenges. We play for the three points and to see who is the strongest.'

The game has always been one of the hottest in the Serie A, but tension has mounted since Inter in 2006 were awarded the title stripped from Juve for their involvement in a match-rigging scandal.

Juve notched a draw and an away win against Inter, but Nedved said he feels that his side 'are not the favourites to win the scudetto.

'But we will battle until the end and give a hard time to everybody. It would be important to win Saturday, but the important successes are those of May,' he said in reference to the end of the domestic and European season.

Inter's veteran Luis Figo, also 36 and like Nedved a Golden Ball winner, has a slighter chance to play having just recovered from injury.

'I say that Inter are the strongest team and they must always win at home, therefore also Saturday,' Figo said. 'And I agree with (coach Jose) Mourinho. It's better to tackle (Juve) after seven straight wins.

'I'm not saying they are relaxed, but had it been the other way round, they would have been more angry.'

There will be close attention to the weekend's top-billing game from AC Milan, who lie one point from the top and could profit from a slipup by Inter when they close the round of games late Sunday at troubled Torino.

The weekend's first game Saturday afternoon pits Fiorentina against Udinese, with both sides looking to rebound from defeats last weekend.

Napoli are well off despite a defeat at Atalanta and Sunday welcome Cagliari, Lazio host Genoa while Roma, away to Lecce, feel they are over a glum period after winning their city derby with Lazio.

Sampdoria welcome Catania, promoted Bologna host Palermo, Chievo entertain Siena and Reggina take on Atalanta.