Allegri hopeful of Dybala recovery
Paulo Dybala could still face Barcelona on Thursday (AEST) despite sustaining an injury, according to Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Massimiliano Allegri is optimistic Juventus striker Paulo Dybala will be fit to face Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday (AEST) after he sustained an ankle injury in Saturday's win at Pescara.
Dybala scored twice as Juve downed Barca 3-0 in their quarter-final, first leg, but a knock in Serie A action has his participation in the return fixture in doubt.
However, speaking after the 2-0 league victory at Stadio Adriatico, in which Gonzalo Higuain scored twice, Allegri was hopeful Dybala would recover in time to travel to Camp Nou.
"Dybala took a blow, there is a distortion," the Juve coach said. "But, with four days to recuperate before Barcelona, you have to be optimistic."
Juve is now eight points clear of second-placed Roma, with Luciano Spalletti's men held by Atalanta, but Allegri insists the title race is not over as he turns his attention towards Barca.
"We have to get to 91 points — Roma can do 90," he said. "Now we have to think about Wednesday [ Thursday AEST, against Barca].
"Compliments are nice, but it takes more balance in football. We must not get excited or depressed."
Despite the comfortable win over bottom-of-the-table Pescara, Allegri was disappointed that his side did not build on its half-time lead after the interval.
"Juve deserved to win," he said. "In the second half, we wasted some time. We had plenty of space in front of us and we were not good at exploiting it.
"When we had possession of the ball, we had to do better."
