Juve still has work to do in Serie A

Lecce, Italy – Juventus reached the winter break in Serie A unbeaten, yet looking up at AC Milan in the standings.

Although the gap is only goal differential as Milan holds a three-goal cushion in that category, Juve's first-half success proved it will take an even better second half to end a title drought that dates back to 2003.

Juve did win back-to-back titles in 2005-06, but those were later stripped, as the club was hit by a match-fixing scandal that eventually led to its demotion to Serie B.

After posting nine wins and seven ties through the opening part of the season, Juve visits Lecce on Sunday as the league returns from its short break.

Manager Antonio Conte has not made a lot of noise through the early stages of the transfer window, but forward Marco Borriello was acquired on loan from Roma to boost an attack that already had the third-most goals in the league.

Borriello had 17 goals in all competitions for Roma last season, but was not a huge factor for the club this season.

Juve wrapped up its training with a 7-1 win over Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, but Conte knows "it will be different on Sunday in Lecce."

Although the last tune-up for Serie A was not a test, Juventus' Alessandro Del Piero believed the team had a solid break.

"The overall assessment of this mid-season training camp," Del Piero said, "is more than positive."

Juve has nine wins and three draws in 15 trips to Lecce, and three points will be the target this weekend.

AC Milan visits Atalanta on Sunday unbeaten in 11 straight, with nine wins in that stretch. Massimiliano Allegri's club downed French side PSG on Wednesday, 1-0, to prepare for the restart, and will be tough in the second half.

"I saw a team ready to get back to work with their heads in the right place and concentrating hard," Allegri said.

Alexandre Pato scored the lone goal against PSG, and although he is rumored to be a target for PSG, Milan looks set to keep the Brazilian.

Third-place Udinese puts its five-game undefeated streak on the line Sunday at home against Cesena, while Inter Milan hosts Parma in search of its fifth win in a row in one of two matches Saturday.

Napoli could debut Chile forward Eduardo Vargas, its winter addition, when it visits Palermo on Sunday.

Also Saturday, Siena hosts fourth-place Lazio. Also Sunday, Roma hosts Chievo, Bologna hosts Catania, Cagliari hosts Genoa, and Novara hosts Fiorentina.