Juve, important against AC Milan A test of our quality

The first meeting with one of the big names in their new stadium for Conte's team, who are first after the matches against Parma, Siena, Bologna and Catania. Last season Gattuso scored the winner in Turin and stretched the gap between them to 20 points: Juve must show that they have reduced the gap at least on the technical side

The match against AC Milan on Sunday night will be crucial for Juventus. Not just because of their league positions: Juve are on top and the Rossoneri are reigning champions not to mention the bookies' favourites. But there's more to it than that.

Gattuso scoring in Turin last season. Ansa

past fixtures — The last time they met in Turin in 2011 still has to be cancelled from memory, the last time they played in the Stadio Olimpico: one of the Bianconeri's most painful memories from last season's disastrous run. It ended up 1-0 for AC Milan with a Gattuso goal. But it was such an embarrassingly weak display by the Old Lady: who for the length of the 90 minutes didn't manage to worry goalkeeper Abbiati at all. At the end of the match the gap between the two had increased to 20 points, on account of their ninth league defeat and their third on the trot in what was then Delneri's Juve. All AC Milan had to do to take home the three points was the bare minimum. The match ended with the fans chanting Luciano Moggi's name and one banner which read: "Winning isn't important at Juventus, it's the only thing that counts" as it was hastily rolled up in despair.

test — Not that August's Trofeo Berlusconi went any better for Juve, which had since been taken over by Conte. The Bianconeri had fielded their strongest team; AC Milan had to play their reserves, without Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, as well as Pato and Robinho, who won't be there on Sunday either. The first half was all one way for AC Milan, then Juve, because of the number of substitutions allowed in a friendly, managed to catch up slightly with the form they have been showing with this new Juve 2011-12 and this was their first match. It finished 2-1. But AC Milan's showed they had the same superiority as they did at the end of the previous season.

Milos Krasic, scored, but didn't shine at Catania. Ansa

gaps to fill — That's all there is to Juventus v AC Milan in the eyes of Juve. They need the points but there's still a long way to go till the end of the season. It'll be more important for Pirlo, the great former-Milanista, who would love to show that this juve can take them on and that the difference in quality is nearer to what it used to be. That this Juve can match them - more than with the proverbial tenacity - but technically and showing they can be challengers for the title. Some problems still persist, today as they did then. They haven't been able to decide: Chiellini in the centre or left back? Juve still haven't managed to find a suitably effective left winger, and they don't look so good in the centre of midfield: They have conceded 3 goals in 4 games against teams which on paper should be in the relegation battle. Prandelli guaranteed for Chiellini today: "He's a sure thing," said the Italy coach. No matter what position he plays. There are even more doubts about the external players in midfield. Krasic today is still looking for that lost identity from Week 28 in last year's Serie A. At the time the mystery object was Martinez, now it's Elia, both of whom are being crushed by exorbitant market values. Before there were no first-choice strikers, now between Vucinic, Matri, Del Piero and Quagliarella we still have to see who is capable giving the Bianconeri that kick they need to get started.

Andrea Pirlo taking a free-kick against Catania. Ansa

points for — There are problems, but there are also positive aspects. Juve will play this match in their best condition: the squad are almost all fully fit (apart from Iaquinta), while AC Milan are still devastated by injury problems. They had a rest in midweek, while AC Milan suffered a lot in the Champions League. They are super-confident because, like Udinese they are looking down on everybody else from the top spot, because of their "soft" fixture list. They have a splendid new stadium, the Juventus stadium, which will be sold out and on top of that they are bursting with enthusiasm. They have Pirlo in the driving seat which means a lot. They have a coach who knows what a winning mentality means and what daily bread is, which at Juve has been instilled into the history of this club. Now it's all up to Lichtsteiner, Vidal and Vucinic who all cost double figures of millions of Euro to show they have adopted the Bianconeri mentality and that Juve can be considered challengers for that Scudetto. What better test could there be than to beat the reigning champions?

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