IULIANO: ROMA HOLD NO FEAR FOR ME
"Batistuta doesn't trouble me that much," said Iuliano to the official Juventus website. "The only time I do not sleep is when I'm ill."
Iuliano has established himself as an automatic choice for both club and country since arriving at Juventus from Salernitana in 1996.
And after a short injury lay off the 27-year-old defender is enthusiastic for his showdown with the most potent strike-force in Italian football.
The match will put Iuliano in direct opposition with his international team-mates Marco Delvecchio, Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella but it is the Argentine Gabriel Batistuta that holds the greatest threat according to Iuliano.
"Batistuta can change the course of a game with a piece of magic," said the Bianconeri star. "But I do not mind, the bigger the reputation the more worked up I become."
Juve will arrive at the Olympic Stadium supported by more fans than usual. A defeat for the Bianconeri would see Roma extend their gap to nine points and only Atalanta in a position to close it to six points if they can beat Inter on Saturday.
And none of those chasing pack will relish the prospect of starting the New Year so far behind the leaders.
