#serie-a

#serie-a

Weston McKennie is thrilled to be playing a more advanced role for Juventus, who are preparing to face Sassuolo in Serie A on Tuesday. Juventus are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak in the competition, but failed to make it four wins on the bounce last time out in a 1-1 draw with Lecce. McKennie scored Juve's equaliser in that match, but Jonathan David missed a second-half penalty that ultimately could have sealed all three points.

"The way I've always seen football, as a player and as a coach, talks and controversies are external to the game and bring nothing," he said. "They don't affect the final result; they are useless. They have little impact, except at a media level, and have nothing to do with this sport. "Personally, I laugh when there's too much talk about things that have nothing to do with reality; they actually make me focus even more on my work."

Lens extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Toulouse on Friday evening. Toulouse were reduced to 10 men after just 23 minutes when Emersonn was sent off before Lens cruised to a comfortable win thanks to goals from Wesley Said, Adrien Thomasson and Ismaelo Ganiou. The result moves Pierre Sage's side four points clear of champions PSG, who can cut the gap to just one point with a win over Paris FC on Sunday.

Cruising their way to a routine 3-0 romp away at Lecce, the former Arsenal skipper has seen his squad gain a string of plaudits from across the continent. Getting New Year's Day underway sat in the European spots, the Lombardy-based outfit also know that they could move within touching distance of the Champions League places this weekend. Signing off November with a 2-0 win against Sassuolo, Como have also gained a real reputation for their continued dominance on home soil.