Toure still makes Juventus favourites to finish top of Group A
Published:Despite Manchester City currently topping Group A of the Europa League, Yaya Toure is in no doubts that Juventus are still the favourites to finish at the head of the group.
While City were securing a 2-0 win in Salzburg, Juventus were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Lech Poznan, with defender Giorgio Chiellini scoring a brace.
Juventus have also not made the brightest start to the Serie A season under new coach Luigi Del Neri, but Toure feels that the size and history of the club alone make them the team to beat in Group A.
He said: “I still feel Juventus are the favourites. They are a very big team and for that reason alone they deserve some respect.
“Our aim is to win the group. We need to concentrate and work hard to achieve it.”
Manchester City are 4/7 to top Group A after the opening round of fixtures, with Juventus next at 8/5.
Juventus’ last serious assault on a European competition came in 2003 when they lost on penalties in the final of the Champions League to fellow Italians AC Milan.
And their first European fixture that season heralded a draw, in Feyernoord.
They bounced back that season by thumping Dinamo Kiev 5-0 in their next fixture, which may make Manchester City concerned as they face Juventus in their next Group A game.
Juventus have now drawn their last two games 3-3 and a repeat in their next Serie A outing away at Udinese is 50/1.
They are 6/4 to win, while Udinese are 9/5 to leave Del Neri still in search of his first league victory of the season.
Manchester City are 5/1 to win the Europa League and Juventus can be backed at 16/1. See the whole Europa League match betting market.
