PREVIEW: Leaders Juventus are stronger than they admit to be

By Alberto Cagliano Feb 9, 2012, 9:31 GMT

Rome - It is getting harder for Juventus coach Antonio Conte to maintain that AC Milan remain the favourites in the race for the Serie A title.

The view makes even less sense now that the league leaders have also beaten Milan in their stadium, 2-1 on Wednesday in a first-leg semi-final of the Italian Cup.

Conte completely reshuffled his team for the cup game and fielded three newcomers from the January market against injury-plagued Milan, but lost practically nothing in terms of grit and organization.

'Despite changing eight of the men who played at the weekend, I liked the spirit, the enthusiasm, the attitude of the team, the grit they showed,' Conte said.

'Of course there is a lot to improve and we will try to do it.'

A weak spot for the unbeaten Bianconeri has been their dithering against lower-rated teams - a scoreless home draw to Siena being the latest example.

Despite their nine draws from 21 games, unbeaten Juve lead the standings on 45 points, one point ahead of Milan and with a game in hand.

Juve next visit struggling Bologna on Sunday, the day after Milan face a tough away game to third-place Udinese.

The Rossoneri need to recover from a 2-0 defeat at Lazio and a home draw to Napoli, but have Antonio Cassano, Pato and Kevin-Prince Boateng injured, plus Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marc van Bommel suspended.

But defiant coach Massimiliano Allegri said he is not worried.

'I know the strength of my team,' he said. 'There are many injured. We must stay calm, keep working and we will get better.

'(Qualification for) the cup final is not lost yet (a second-leg semi is set for late March) and we are one point behind in the league, (where) we have a direct clash (on February 25).'

The 23rd round of games unusually starts late Thursday with Lazio welcoming Cesena at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, where rugby takes the stage Saturday as Italy tackle England in the Six Nations Championship.

Napoli, who on Thursday play the other cup semi-final with Siena, host Chievo on Monday, when Siena are at home to Roma.

Cagliari play Palermo late Saturday and on Sunday Inter look to recover from a 4-0 whitewash at Roma as they welcome bottom side Novara. Catania v Genoa, Parma v Fiorentina and Atalanta v Lecce complete the Sunday schedule.