![\"\"](\"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/102952Ronaldo-on-bench-as-Juve-warm-up-for-Atletico-against-Frosinone-B-300x194.jpg\")
Sports desk: Cristiano Ronaldo is set for a rare start on the bench as Juventus host struggling Frosinone on Friday looking to pull 14 points clear in Serie A with an eye towards next week\u2019s Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\nSports desk: Cristiano Ronaldo is set for a rare start on the bench as Juventus host struggling Frosinone on Friday looking to pull 14 points clear in Serie A with an eye towards next week\u2019s Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n
Portuguese star Ronaldo brought his tally to 20 goals for Juventus in all competitions last weekend in a 3-0 win over Sassuolo.<\/p>\n
But the 34-year-old will start on the bench for just the second time this season before the former Real Madrid player returns to the Spanish capital next week.<\/p>\n
Paulo Dybala returns to the starting line-up, forming an attacking trident alongside Mario Mandzukic and Federico Bernardeschi.<\/p>\n
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri\u2019s defensive problems have been eased with trio Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini back training.<\/p>\n
Juventus captain Chiellini is expected to return on Friday.<\/p>\n
Second-placed Napoli dropped points last weekend with a goalless draw against Fiorentina and face a potentially tricky test at home against Torino.<\/p>\n
Walter Mazzarri\u2019s Torino are four points off the Europa League places.<\/p>\n
Napoli will be without midfielder Marek Hamsik for the first time since the former skipper having sealed his move to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.<\/p>\n
Lorenzo Insigne takes on the captain\u2019s role and insisted motivation remained high despite Juventus\u2019 charge towards an eighth consecutive league title.<\/p>\n
\u201cJuventus haven\u2019t sapped our motivation, we knew it would be hard to keep up with them,\u201d said Insigne.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know they\u2019re a great team, but we\u2019re no worse than them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe championship is still long. We left some points on the road that we deserved, but we certainly do not give up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013 Inter in turmoil \u2013<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, third-placed Inter Milan, nine points behind Napoli, are in turmoil as they host Sampdoria days after stripping star forward Mauro Icardi of the captain\u2019s armband.<\/p>\n
Icardi\u2019s contractual situation, with his current deal expiring in 2021, has become an increasingly divisive issue between club bosses and the player\u2019s wife Wanda Nara, who is also his agent.<\/p>\n
The Argentina forward hit back by refusing to travel for their Europa League round of 32 first-leg game at Rapid Vienna on Thursday and is uncertain to play against his former club Sampdoria, who are ninth, on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a difficult and painful decision because we know his worth,\u201d said Inter coach Luciano Spalletti.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was done exclusively for the good of Inter. There are some things concerning the player that had to be sorted.\u201d<\/p>\n
The uncertainty over Icardi, who scored 29 Serie A goals last season, could prove problematic as Spalletti tries to secure Champions League football next season.<\/p>\n
Inter are just four points ahead of city rivals AC Milan who travel to Atalanta.<\/p>\n
Atalanta, Roma and Lazio are all one point behind AC Milan.<\/p>\n
The clash in Bergamo will be one for fourth place, the final Champions League berth, which Roma will also be targeting at home against Bologna, and Lazio at Genoa.<\/p>\n
Roma claimed a 2-1 Champions League last 16, first-leg win over Porto on Tuesday with teenage star Nicolo Zaniolo scoring both goals.<\/p>\n
Fixtures (all times GMT)<\/p>\n
Friday<\/p>\n
Juventus v Frosinone (1930)<\/p>\n
Saturday<\/p>\n
Cagliari v Parma (1700), Atalanta v AC Milan (1930)<\/p>\n
Sunday<\/p>\n
SPAL v Fiorentina (1130), Empoli v Sassuolo, Genoa v Lazio, Udinese v Chievo (all 1500), Inter Milan v Sampdoria (1700), Napoli v Torino (1930)<\/p>\n
Monday<\/p>\n
Roma v Bologna (1930)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sports desk: Cristiano Ronaldo is set for a rare start on the bench as Juventus host struggling Frosinone on Friday looking to pull 14 points clear in Serie A with an eye towards next week\u2019s Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid. Portuguese star Ronaldo brought his tally to 20 goals for Juventus in all competitions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":52679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n