Diego losing Scudetto hope

Juventus midfielder Diego concedes that the team must go on a long winning run if they are to challenge for this season's Scudetto. A 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Sunday has left Juve eight points adrift of league leaders Inter, a gap that it will be difficult to close.

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Diego: Juve must improve.

The defeat for Ciro Ferrara's men came hot on the heels of a midweek Champions League reverse to Bordeaux.

"We played badly, were not able to show our play and lost three points which could have been useful for us in terms of the league," Diego told Juve's official website.

"We cannot afford to lose anymore games and hope that Inter slip up."

The two teams meet in Turin this week, and the Brazilian has stressed the importance of getting it right.

"Our next match is a direct tussle with Inter and we have to work hard this week to correct our errors and get on the pitch to play differently.

"The result against Cagliari has made it very difficult for us to win the Scudetto. We have to start a new phase against Inter."

Meanwhile, Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini is likely to have to wear a face mask to protect a broken nose in Saturday's home clash with Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

The Italy centre back suffered the injury in the defeat at Cagliari and underwent successful surgery on Monday, Juve said in a statement.

He will return to full training on Thursday with Juve desperate to have one of their top defenders fit after a bad run.