Massimiliano Allegri said Salernitana are Juventus‘ ‘direct opponent’ this season and the Bianconeri could end up fighting for survival if they receive a new points penalty.
The Bianconeri have been docked 15 points for the current campaign due to financial irregularities and more clouds are on the horizon at the Allianz Stadium with a new investigation carried out by the FIGC Prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné concerning the so-called ‘salary manoeuvre.’
Chiné aims to prove Juventus paid salaries under the table during the peak of the COVID pandemic and Il Corriere dello Sport reported on Thursday that he would request a new 20-point deduction for the Old Lady.
Juventus have already announced an appeal against their 15-point penalty and are preparing for a potential second trial that could see them pushed further down in the table.
After a 1-0 win over Lazio in Coppa Italia on Thursday, Juventus boss Allegri said that the next Serie A game with Salernitana will see the Old Lady face a ‘direct opponent’ given that the Bianconeri only have two points more than the Granata in the table.
A few days earlier, after a 2-0 loss with Monza in Turin, Allegri had said that Juventus needed points to “avoid relegation” and this scenario will be even more likely if they receive a new penalty this season.
Juventus would be fighting for a Champions League placement without a 15-point deduction, but are now only 10 points above the drop zone in Serie A.
They would still have a chance to qualify for Europe League by winning the Coppa Italia and even for the Champions League if they lift the Europa League trophy.