Rome, Oct 26 (DPA) The ambitions of Juventus to be Inter Milan’s most serious opponents face a serious test Wednesday as they welcome Sampdoria in a midweek round of the Italian Serie A.
With Inter leading the way on 22 points and playing at home to Palermo, Juve need a win to keep the defending champions in their sights and not worsen their current four-point deficit.

Juve’s task, however, won’t be easy in view of the impressive game that Samp displayed in a 4-1 crushing of Bologna to remain within two points of Inter after nine games.

Juve at the weekend beat Siena 1-0 to return to winning ways after three draws and a defeat, but again their game lacked precision.

Ciro Ferrara’s side lost momentum after a sparkling four-win start to the season, but the coach displayed optimism after the win at Siena and noted that “it’s normal that Juve must keep improving.”

Things for Juve will certainly be tough against Samp, who beat Inter 1-0 in late September, but then stumbled with two draws.

Samp’s fans are mad about Antonio Cassano, who is widely considered the best playmaker in the league, with the notable exception of Italy coach Marcello Lippi.

“Cassano is not the only one to impress,” Samp coach Luigi Delneri said. “The whole team are doing well, although he is the undisputed leader.”

An entertaining game should be guaranteed at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, but there should be good action also at the Giuseppe Meazza, where Palermo are set to show no respect for the leaders.

“Inter are Inter, but they will find a tough Palermo who will sell their life dearly,” the Sicily side’s president Maurizio Zamparini said.

Another tough game is scheduled in Naples between Napoli and AC Milan, lying joint-fourth on 15 points next to Palermo and Fiorentina, who play at Genoa.

Parma and Bari play a promoted-sides showdown as they lie safe on 14 points, Chievo welcome lowly Catania, Lazio host Cagliari and Udinese welcome Roma.

In the lower reaches, Bologna take on tail-enders Siena and Livorno tackle Atalanta.