After an excellent start to the season with back-to-back wins over Empoli and Lazio, topping the Serie A scoring charts in the process, Chievo boss Rolando Maran was quietly confident in his side’s abilities to get a positive result at the home of the champions as he spoke to the media today.

As the Gialloblu approach Saturday night’s clash with Juventus (20.45 CEST kick off), Maran hopes that his charges will not be daunted by their opponents while keeping the same belief and boldness that has made them the early pacesetters in Serie A.

He began “We aren’t the favourites but that doesn’t mean we’ll go to Juventus Stadium just to defend. They’re a great side but we’ll look to be proactive and play our own game on Saturday. We’ve had a great start but we won’t be getting ahead of ourselves.”

Having finalised his team’s tactical plans behind closed doors at the club’s training ground, the former Chievo defender would not be drawn on showing his hand prematurely as he warned journalists gathered in Verona “not to ask (him) for a starting lineup.”

The contrasting league positions of Juve and their visitors has been one of the surprises of a fascinating start to the new campaign and the Chievo coach expects the Bianconeri to make up the ground on their rivals soon enough.

“If you’d told me that Juve would be where they are in the table after two games, I’d have laughed, the world has turned on its head. It’s been a freak start to the season, but they have the right spirit in their squad to claw back the difference on their rivals.”

The fine form of front three Riccardo Meggiorini, Valter Birsa and Alberto Paloschi, scorers of all seven of the Verona outfit’s goals so far this season, along with the last minute arrival of midfielder Giampiero Pinzi from Udinese have however filled Maran’s men with the confidence that they can add to their points tally in Turin.

source, juventus.com

Founded in 1929, making their Serie A bow in 2001, Chievo have emerged in the last 15 years as a reliable figure in Italian football, appearing in 12 of the last 14 editions of the competition since their historic promotion from Serie B in 2000/01.

Gialloblu fans will no doubt be hoping that their team’s impressive start to the campaign, winning both of their opening fixtures, can emulate the performances of the celebrated  side of the early noughties.

The Verona based outfit burst onto the top-flight scene with real intent. During a memorable five-year spell at the turn of the century, Chievo finished in the top seven on three occasions between 2001/02 and 2005/06, twice narrowly missing out on Champions League football.