Buffon : Pirlo decisive than Ibra ..

Gianluigi Buffon says that the Italian playmaker has been more vital for Juventus this season than Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been for AC Milan, as the two sides prepare to lock horns on Saturday. Buffon: Pirlo has been more decisive than Ibrahimovic this season The 34-year-old custodian says that the midfielder has played a key role for Juventus during 2011-12, while stressing that Saturday's match is not decisive for the Scudetto race. Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has hailed Andrea Pirlo's impact on the team. The 32-year-old midfielder signed for Juve in the summer after a decade at AC Milan and has played a leading role in the club's rise of form as they trail the Rossoneri in second place by just one point. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who will miss Saturday's match against Juventus through suspension, is Milan's top Serie A scorer with 15 goals, but Buffon had special words of praise for his team-mate. "Pirlo has been more decisive than Ibrahimovic this season," Buffon told La Stampa. "Ibra has certainly kept his incisiveness, helping Milan to keep the same level from last season. "Pirlo has balanced the gap between Milan and Juventus. "Was Pirlo a gift from Milan? I do not think so. He wanted to come here and seize a new challenge." The Italy international then admitted that he is thrilled to see Juventus challenging for the Scudetto again after the club's disappointing results in recent seasons. "It is really satisfying, although this season has been a bit different: Inter have struggled and Napoli have the Champions League handicap, which has narrowed down the Scudetto race to Milan and Juventus. "But it is a big surprise, because at the beginning no one thought this could happen. "This is good for Serie A, otherwise Milan would win it hands down." The 34-year-old keeper then stated that he does not believed that the outcome of Saturday's match will determine the Serie A champion. "It is too soon," Buffon noted. "If we win, I do not think we will be closer to the Scudetto. "And the same thing can be said about Milan, if we lose."