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Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus icon makes big call ahead of Inter Milan clash
LUCIANO MOGGI claims Juventus’s legion of individual stars could prove the difference in their crunch clash with Inter Milan.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores penalty for Juventus
The former Juve general manager thinks the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo could prove too much for Luciano Spalletti’s side, who travel to the Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Ronaldo and Co. have led Juve to the top of Serie A once more and they already eight points clear as they look to secure their eighth consecutive Scudetto.
Inter know the game is must-win if they are to harbour any realistic hopes of ending the Juventus dominance in Italy.
And while Moggi makes his old side favourites, he is expecting Inter to prove tough opposition nonetheless.
”It will be a hard-fought challenge, no matter what it is,” he said.
“If we look at the standings and what has been done so far it is impossible not to say Juventus, but the challenge is in the balance, I think I can draw a tie.
“Inter focuses a lot on the team, on the collective, while Juventus has some individualities that can decide the match.
“Ronaldo on all, but also (Paulo) Dybala and (Mario) Mandzukic, they can hurt at any moment.
“The Nerazzurri defense, if they can stop them, Inter can come out unscathed from the stadium.”
Ronaldo, 33, has adapted well to life in Italy after his £100million move Juve from Real Madrid in the summer.
He has bagged 10 league goals and is the joint-top scorer in Serie A with Genoa’s Krzysztof Piatek.
He is set to line up alongside Mandzukic and Dyballa in a three-man attacks on Friday night.
Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri will have to make do without injured pair Sami Khedira and Andrea Barzagli.
However, former Liverpool midfielder Emre Can has recovered from injury and is back in contention.
Alex Sandro is still recovering from a knock and is unlikely to be risked.