Juventus warm up for Parkhead lion's den with 2-0 win

Sunday 10 February 2013

Juventus director Pavel Nedved believes Saturday night's 2-0 victory over Fiorentina was the perfect way to prepare for the "lion's den" that awaits the Bianconeri in Glasgow.

Juve warmed up for a last-16 Champions League tie at Celtic by brushing Fiorentina aside with goals from Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri, a result that sent the Italian champions five points clear at the top of Serie A.

Nedved feels head coach Antonio Conte's men have what it takes to handle the daunting atmosphere that awaits them in Scotland.He told juventus.com: "I'm fully aware of the atmosphere that awaits us in Glasgow because I've been there and experienced it first hand."We'll be stepping into a lion's den and I don't think the team will need geeing up. We'll have to tough it out, but we have shown that we're ready."He added: "We are very satisfied with how the team approached the match. Fiorentina play a great style of football, they have a more than capable coach and a dangerous team."But we really wanted the three points and played well to get them. It was a great test of character and everyone worked towards the same goal."In January, we had a slight dip in form but you can't be at the top of your game over the course of a whole season. Now we're in form and ready for Europe."Vucinic was relatively unopposed as he rifled the ball home in the 20th minute but there was a touch of the bizarre about Matri's effort four minutes before the break."My boot fell off just before the goal because someone had trodden on the back of my foot," the former Cagliari striker said. "I scored in my socks."Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Montella could have no complaints as La Viola failed to really threaten their hosts across 90 minutes.At the end of a third consecutive away defeat, he told Gazzetta.it: "Juve showed that they were superior."We always try to play a good game but we struggled a bit more than normal. Juve gave us a lot of trouble when we were trying to start moves."We will do better next time."

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Juventus warm up for Parkhead lion's den with 2-0 win

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