Juventus

Europe: UEFA Champions League (Round of 16)

Tranquility returned to the Juventus Stadium this week as the Bianconeri put a bad fortnight behind them with positive moves both on and off the pitch. Two disappointing results saw Juve's lead at the top of Serie A cut to just three points but a 4-0 victory over Udinese, and draws for Lazio and Napoli, sees Antonio Conte's men widen the gap to five points. The news that followed Saturday's result gave the Juve faithful further reason to cheer as long-serving goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon extended his contract by two years. A record signing from Parma in 2001, the World Cup-winner expressed his delight as his new deal during a televised press conference. "When I arrived at Juve my only concern was whether or not I could cut it at this level," he said. "I hope to play for as long as I'm able and I'm ready to give my all. We'd originally talked about a one-year renewal but Juve made the counter-offer of a two-year deal." Buffon has won Serie A five times with the Turin giants - despite the 2005 and 2006 titles being revoked - as well finishing as a Champions League runner-up to AC Milan in 2003. When asked about his favourite save from an 18-year career, he joked: "The next one. I'm hoping I don't have to make many. But the best I've made up to now was the one against Zidane in the World Cup final." Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini, Simone Pepe and Nicklas Bendtner are all missing through injury, with Leonardo Bonucci struggling for fitness. Juve have emerged victorious from this fixture on four of the last five occasions, with Genoa failing to claim all three points in Turin since 1991, Czech striker Tomas Skuhravy scoring the only goal of a 1-0 win.