Bonucci: ‘Italy players are brothers, but tonight we don’t know each other’

Leonardo Bonucci warns when marking his fellow Italy internationals Giacomo Raspadori, Domenico Berardi and Gianluca Scamacca, all friendship and mutual respect is put to one side during Sassuolo-Juventus.

The two clubs face off this evening at the Mapei Stadium in Serie A.

It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT). You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

Serie A Liveblog: Sassuolo vs. Juventus

The Neroverdi already beat the Old Lady 2-1 in Turin back in October, but have only one victory on home turf that was achieved in 2015.

“We have seen that Sassuolo put something extra into their games against the big clubs, as well as their natural technique. We need to therefore give something more to get the better of them,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

A victory here would put Juventus within a point of struggling Napoli in third place, as well as create a comfortable buffer from Roma in fifth.

“We need to pick up points, to be a team, which is what we have proved during great performances. With a great performance, the result almost always comes along too.

“We could go third or maintain fourth place, the fact remains we came here to get three points.”

Bonucci will be up against his fellow Italy internationals Raspadori, Berardi and Scamacca.

“We’ve not spoken in the last few days. I respect them very much, we are brothers forever after winning the European Championship together, but tonight we don’t know each other, we are only adversaries on the pitch.”