Milan game will be our form indicator: Juventus' Evra

Juventus defender Patrice Evra believes their big Serie A game against traditional rivals AC Milan on November 21 will show how far the Italian football champions have improved after a slow start to their title defence.

The former AS Monaco and Manchester United player on Sunday scored in the 3-1 win against Empoli to help Juventus record back-to-back Serie A wins for the first time this season. They moved to the seventh spot with 18 points -- nine behind league leaders Fiorentina.

The French international now turned his attentions to the challenges that lie ahead beyond the impending international break.

"Getting back to the top of the table and closing the gap on our rivals is all about focusing on each game as it comes. Our next match against Milan (on November 21) will show if we're really back to form," Evra told the club's website on Sunday.

"Let's not look at the table, the important thing is to work hard for each other and do the jersey justice. If we continue to do that then we'll soon start to see the real Juventus," the 34-year-old added.

"We had to win (Sunday) and produce a professional performance this afternoon and now we need to make sure we continue in the same vein and with the same good spirit in the games to come."

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri also agreed with Evra and said that his wards must keep their feet on the ground.

"We need to work on our game, but we'll look at things positively. We're now seventh in the league with plenty of catching up to do," the Italian tactician said.

"But we enter the international break on the back of two straight league wins and a hard-fought draw away in the Champions League."