Juventus putting Champions League return to one side ahead of Empoli trip

Pressure mounting on Allegri as Bianconeri seek Serie A improvement

Juventus boss Max Allegri is adamant that his team are not looking ahead to their Champions League last-16 second leg against Porto when they travel to Empoli in Serie A on Saturday.

The Bianconeri were thrashed 3-0 in the first leg in Portugal, leaving them with a mountain to climb if they are to progress to the quarter-finals. However, Allegri is refusing to throw in the towel, and he has told his players to focus on the task at hand.

"We have to think about Empoli first," Allegri said at a press conference on Friday. "The Champions League is important, but we can't afford to lose any more ground in Serie A. We need to win tomorrow, and then we can start to think about Porto."

Juventus are currently fifth in Serie A, 10 points behind leaders AC Milan. They have won just two of their last six league games, and they are in danger of missing out on a top-four finish. Allegri knows that he needs to improve his team's form quickly, starting with the trip to Empoli.

"We need to be more consistent in our performances," Allegri added. "We have played well in some games, but we have also been disappointing in others. We need to find a way to win more games, and we need to do it quickly."

Empoli are 14th in Serie A, but they have won their last two games. They will be a tough test for Juventus, but Allegri is confident that his team can get the win.

"They are a good team, but we are Juventus," Allegri said. "We need to show our quality and get the three points."