PRE MATCH: JUVENTUS VS PARMA

Currently at the epicenter of the storm ripping through football's elite, Juventus host relegation-bound Parma on Wednesday, with their top-four place in jeopardy after a costly weekend defeat.

Losing to close rivals, Atalanta, on Sunday served as a prelude to breaking news of their club's central role in the new European Super League, so Juve's players must now focus on matters at hand against Serie A's 19th-placed side.

Having contrived to lose against a club that last tasted league success versus Juventus back in February 2001 at the weekend, coach Andrea Pirlo would justifiably have expected questions about his long-term - and even immediate - future to dominate the Italian sports media on Monday.

However, the Bianconeri's 1-0 defeat to an Atalanta side that subsequently moved above them in the table was all but forgotten when news of their president Andrea Agnelli'sleading a breakaway league for Europe's 'top' clubs emerged.

As one of 12 clubs agreeing to join the posited European Super League, Juve declared that they would also leave the European Club Association, with Agnelli stepping down as the organization's president.

Whatever their future, on-field affairs have been troubled too, as qualification for next season's Champions League - should they ultimately deign to participate - is in real jeopardy, with Napoli and Lazio lurking close behind Pirlo's fourth-placed side.

With the Coppa Italia final still to be played against Atalanta next month, there remains much on the table heading into the run-in, but Juventus have now won just three of their last six league games after crashing out of Europe against Porto.