Juventus visit struggling Reggina on Saturday looking to stretch their lead over AC Milan to eight points ahead of the defending champions' potentially tricky home match against Roma a day later.

Juve have taken 25 points from their nine matches played and on Wednesday they clinched a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 1-0 win at Bayern Munich, their fourth successive victory.

"Whoever wants to win the title will have to take it off Juve," said Lippi, who left them in the summer to take charge of the national team but was unable to end his tenure with a trophy.

"Fabio Capello's team have a determination that I know very well having lived in that atmosphere.

"This spirit has been strengthened because they won nothing last season and now they are desperate to make up for it.

"And I also know that when those players have it in their minds to do something, you can rest assured they will be successful."

Former Juventus midfielder Michel Platini believes his former club are better equipped than their rivals to handle an arduous season that has been made even more difficult by the expansion of Serie A from 18 to 20 clubs.

"The depth of Juve's squad will prove decisive," said the Frenchman, who scored 68 goals in 147 league games for Juventus.

"They have excellent reserves, so the team is always competitive regardless of injuries and suspension."

Milan were beaten 2-1 away to Barcelona on Tuesday but are still on course for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League, unlike Sunday's opponents Roma who were all but eliminated after their draw against Bayer Leverkusen.

Third-placed Lecce, thumped 4-0 away to Fiorentina last week, will be looking to make amends at home to Udinese on Sunday.

Messina, who ended a run of three consecutive defeats by beating local rivals Reggina last Sunday to climb to fourth spot, visit Bologna.

Inter Milan are happy to be able to focus on the league for a while after reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to a goalless draw with Valencia.

Having drawn seven of their nine matches, Inter are lagging 12 points behind Juventus and need to start winning if they are to keep alive their dreams of claiming their first title since 1989.

"Now we can concentrate all our efforts on climbing the table," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini.

Atalanta, anchored to the bottom and the only club in Serie A without a win, entertain Sampdoria in Bergamo.

FIXTURES
(all 1400 GMT kickoff unless stated)
Saturday: Brescia v Chievo (1700), Reggina v Juventus
Sunday: AC Milan v Roma (1930), Atalanta v Sampdoria, Bologna v Messina, Cagliari v Livorno, Fiorentina v Inter Milan, Lazio v Siena, Lecce v Udinese, Palermo v Parma