Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is playing down the favourites tag that has been placed on his team ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Monaco in Turin.
The Italian giants, who defeated Borussia Dortmund 5-1 on aggregate in the previous round, are aiming to go all the way in the competition.
"This quarter-final will be decided in 180 minutes just as the last 16 were," Allegri told the Italian press. "Everyone sees us as favourites but football is proof that the games must be won on the pitch."
Juve received a wake-up call on Saturday when they fell in a major upset to Serie A bottom side Parma.
Allegri did rest several starters in Parma but their loss was just their second of the league season although it came just several days after one of their most impressive triumphs, a 3-0 win at Fiorentina that earned them a place in the Coppa Italia final.
"We hope this can give us a positive shake-up," Allegri said. "We would have preferred to have prepared for this game on the back of a win but we weren't up for it.
"We deserved to lose at Parma, but losing hurts."
The defeat to Parma is unlikely to damage their title hopes as Juve are 12 points clear of Lazio at the top of the standings.
Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli as well as strikers Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata were all rested at the weekend but are expected to start against Monaco.
The hosts will also be bolstered by the return of midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who has recovered from a calf injury.
Juve have been European champions twice, yet they have not reached the semi-finals of the competition since the 2002-03 campaign.
They have reason to be confident as they have never lost at home to French opponents, while Monaco have never prevailed in Italy.
The Bianconeri are unbeaten at home in their last 11 European games, taking three wins from a possible four in Turin this season.
Monaco last reached the semi-finals of the competition 11 years ago.
The Monaco-based outfit, who knocked out Arsenal in the previous round, travel to Turin seeking a third-straight away victory in the competition.
Leonardo Jardim's men go into the encounter on the back of Friday's 3-0 league win at Caen which extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to eight games.
Monaco are currently third in Ligue 1, four points adrift of league leaders Paris St Germain.
"Winning before the Champions League game will give the players and fans confidence," Jardim said on his club's official website.
Les Rouges et Blancs will be without Ivorian striker Lacina Traore, who is out injured.
Juve are without the services of injured French midfielder Paul Pogba, who will also miss the return leg on April 22.
Source: PA-WIRE
