Fiorentina at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday evening.
The home side endured a difficult start to the season, but have refound their form in recent weeks, winning five games in a row and currently sit just six points off the top of the table.
The Viola are one of four teams that stand between the Bianconeri and the summit having enjoyed a positive start to the season under new coach Paulo Sousa.
Juventus have had a mixed week. Despite defeat at Sevilla in the Champions League the Bianconeri progressed to the last 16, and will discover their next opponents the day after this game. Fiorentina’s Europa League win on Thursday evening also took them through to the knockout stages as their season assumes a familiar look.
These two big beasts of Serie A history have met 152 times before with Juventus holding the advantage over their Florentine visitors, winning 70 of those encounters. That figure is even more pronounced in Turin, with the Viola having won just six times at the home of the Bianconeri, who have emerged victorious on 51 occasions.
Neither side carries any suspensions into Sunday evening’s clash, though Massimiliano Allegri’s midfield will be shaped by injuries to Sami Khedira, Hernanes and Roberto Pereyra, none of whom will be fit in time to play. Paulo Sousa’s only concern is over Jakub Blaszczykowski with the Pole set to miss his seventh game since joining the Viola.
Giuseppe Rossi played all 90 minutes of the Viola’s victory against Belenenses on Thursday, but is likely to drop to the bench, with nine-goal Ivan Kalinic set to keep his place in Fiorentina’s attack.
Form Guide: Juventus (W-W-W-W-W) Fiorentina (W-W-D-D-W)
Expected Starting XIs:
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Mandzukic, Dybala.
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Bernardeschi, Badelj, Vecino, Alonso; Borja Valero, Ilicic; Kalinic.
Infographic from www.sporticos.com
