Ranieri's Juve ready to give everything

Claudio Ranieri says Juventus will "exceed their limits" to overturn the first-leg deficit against Chelsea FC, doing whatever it takes to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of their visitors.

'European force'
Ranieri's side were beaten by an early Didier Drogba strike two weeks ago and, after giving Chelsea a stern test during an eventful second half at Stamford Bridge, the Juventus coach has promised more of the same at the Stadio Olimpico. "I have some great players at this club," said the 57-year-old, who was Chelsea's manager between 2000 and 2004. "And they know that they are playing for a great club. Juve are an international club who have been a force in Europe over the years. The players sometimes feel the weight of the shirt but they also know that they have what it takes to win at this level. These players are ready to give their all to get the result they need."

Nedvěd influence
The Bianconeri beat city rivals Torino FC 1-0 on Saturday, their third successive Serie A win and a result all the more impressive given the catalogue of injuries that continues to dog their season. Mohamed Sissoko became the latest victim, fracturing a bone in his right foot after he was introduced with six minutes remaining. He follows Cristiano Zanetti (thigh), Mauro Camoranesi (rib) and Nicola Legrottaglie (knee) on to the sidelines, with Marco Marchionni possibly joining them there as he struggles with a muscular problem. Ranieri can at least welcome back Pavel Nedvěd, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, having dropped the trio to the bench for the Derby Della Mole. Nedvěd eventually came on as a late substitute to set up Giorgio Chiellini's 80th-minute headed winner.

Essien return
Nedvěd and Del Piero are survivors of the last Juve team to lose a UEFA Champions League match at home, a record that stretches back five formidable years and 16 games. To underline just how long ago that was – when RC Deportivo La Coruña beat the Bianconeri at this stage of the 2003/04 campaign, Ranieri was Chelsea manager. Yet his old side arrive in Italy in high spirits after extending their 100 per cent record under manager Guus Hiddink to six matches with Saturday's FA Cup victory at Coventry City FC; their morale being further lifted by Michael Essien's appearance as a second-half substitute, his first game in six months. Ricardo Carvalho (hamstring) and Nicolas Anelka (foot) are also close to comebacks, softening the blow after Paulo Ferreira was ruled out for the season when he tore a cruciate ligament last week.

Attack-minded
Hiddink is confident his charges can build on their 1-0 lead in Turin. "It was important for us to keep a clean sheet at home, but if we only work on not conceding and not taking the initiative, we will have problems," he warned. "It is in the character of the team to attack and whenever possible we will because if we just defend we're asking for trouble. When you reach the knockout rounds at this level it is always very close and the match can go either way. We have players here that can take us all the way."