Buffon: ‘Juventus not obliged to win, expect entertaining Milan match’ | OneFootball

Gigi Buffon insists Juventus ‘are not obliged to win’ in their first season under new coach Thiago Motta, but he hopes the game with Milan can be ‘just as entertaining’ as Inter-Juve.

The Bianconeri are two points off Serie A leaders Napoli, one behind a group of teams including Inter, Atalanta, Fiorentina and Lazio, as the Scudetto race is wide open in Italy.

“We are seeing a fascinating campaign with surprises that have made this start to the season even more special,” Buffon told Sky Sport Italia at the presentation of the Kings League.

“We hope this kind of balance can last as long as possible, because that passion is also feeding interest in the league.”

Former Juventus and Parma goalkeeper Buffon is now the delegation chief of Luciano Spalletti’s Italy squad, but cannot help casting his eye over the fortunes of his old club.

Buffon looking forward to Milan-Juventus

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 27: Thiago Motta, Head Coach of Juventus, interacts with his players Danilo and Nicolo Fagioli during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 27, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It has been said that Napoli under Antonio Conte and Juve with Thiago Motta are considered the favourites in their relaunch to stop Inter retaining the title, but the goalkeeper sees it differently.

“Thiago Motta is doing very well considering it’s his first year with the Bianconeri. At least for this season, Juventus are not obliged to win, so they are doing very well.”

Juventus and Milan go head-to-head at San Siro on Saturday in Serie A Week 13, just a few weeks after the thrilling 4-4 draw between Juve and Inter here.

“I expect it to be a very good game between two teams who play open and attacking football. I hope that it will be just as entertaining and as good an advert for Serie A as Inter-Juventus was.” Buffon was on the touchline at San Siro on Sunday when Italy were beaten 3-1 by France in the Nations League.

“It is disappointing, because considering all we’ve done since September, we deserved to take first place in the group, but this is life, you fall down, get back up, do it again and again. I think we emerge with more belief, because all three France goals were from set plays, we certainly were not dominated by France.”