Juventus play host to fierce rivals Torino in the highly anticipated Derby della Mole on Sunday evening, knowing a win for the Bianconeri will maintain their lead in the Serie A standings.
Both teams will be desperate for the three points, but for obviously different reasons as they are situated at opposite ends of the table.
The home side are the undisputed favourites as they sit comfortably at the summit of the table on 31 points, three points ahead of second placed Roma.
Juventus have been in flying form since their 1-0 shock loss away to Genoa back in October, triumphant in their previous three domestic outings, which included impressive victories against Parma and Lazio, beating them 7-0 and 3-0 respectively.
Stark contrast to Torino’s underwhelming campaign as they have inevitably struggled, due to the departures of Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile over the summer.
The visitors have accumulated just 12 points and lie precariously in 15th spot. However, the lacklustre performances could be attributed to the midweek travel the side has endured competing in the Europa League after a 20 year absence. Something which has certainly been difficult to manage for coach Giampiero Ventura, given the obvious lack of depth when compared to a wealthier club.
Last weekend’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Sassuolo only rubbed salt further into the wounds of the traveling side.
The corresponding fixture last season, saw the Bianconeri edge pass the Toro defeating them 1-0 courtesy of a first half goal from Carlos Tevez. And incredibly, Torino haven’t scored in this fixture – in Serie A – for 12 years, and haven’t won it since a 3-2 win in 1995.
Juve will be without defenders Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres, as well as Kwadwo Asamoah, while Simone Padoin will miss the game due picking up a suspension after being sent off against Lazio last week. Former Torino man Angelo Ogbonna also remains doubtful for the match, but could feature after straining his hamstring.
For Torino, the Granata will have to do without youngster Marco Benassi, and midfielders Ruben Perez and Migjen Basha.
Expected Starting XIs
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pereyra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba, Vidal; Tevez, Llorente
Torino: Gillet; Maksimovic, Glik, Moretti; Peres, Vives, Gazzi, Darmian; El Kaddouri, Farnerud, Quagliarella
