Ranieri backs Inter to test leader Juve

Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri insists history will be the last thing on his mind when he takes on his former club Juventus on Saturday at the San Siro (live on Fox Soccer, 2:30 p.m. ET).

Ranieri guided Juventus for two seasons before being sacked in May 2009.

He then had successful spells with Parma and Roma.

"It's going to be a normal game like any other," Ranieri said in Friday's press conference. "The game against Juventus is worth three important points but nothing else. Just because it's my former club does mean this encounter changes something from an emotional standpoint."

Last season's runner-up, Inter has struggled in attack and defence this term and head into the contest with just two wins in eight games.

Inter was held to a 1-1 draw at Atalanta on Wednesday and is 16th in the standings, two points above the relegation zone.

Ranieri is concerned about the number of penalties being given against his side.

Inter have conceded five spot kicks in only eight games this season, with the latest prompting chief executive Ernesto Paolillo to say Italy's governing body should impose more checks on referees.

Ranieri says, ''With this average at the end of the season we would have conceded 25 and so the trend has to change. In past seasons only Parma and Roma have conceded the same number of penalties in eight matches. I'm sure referees will be more careful.''

nter again conceded a last-minute penalty against Atalanta, but it was saved by goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi, to keep the score at 1-1.

"We will play this game without thinking about the standings," Ranieri added. "I am convinced that, late in the season, we will be high up in the table and fighting for the scudetto, regardless of tomorrow's results."

In contrast, Juve are the only unbeaten side in the league and have an eight-point advantage over Inter.

Juve, coached by Antonio Conte, beat Fiorentina 2-1 on Tuesday to take over sole leadership of Serie A.

"Conte is doing a great job," Ranieri said.

"Juve want to return to be a top club and, because they don't play in Europe, they are able to focus all of their attention on the league.

"We are a big club but we have endured a difficult start and now we must get results in order to recover."

Inter, who hosts Lille on Wednesday in the Champions League, are without goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

The Brazilian sustained a muscular injury in midweek and Castellazzi will take his place in goal.

Argentina striker Diego Milito will drop to the bench with Giampaolo Pazzini and Mauro Zarate set to lead Inter's attack.

Conte looks set to name an unchanged side to the one that beat Fiorentina.