Verdict: Juventus win
Best Odds: 17/20
Bookmaker: Bet365
After hitting seven in their last match, the Bianconeri head to Florence to face Fiorentina as they continue to battle for Europa League football come the end of the season.
Fiorentina
After finishing in eighth place last season, Fiorentina currently find themselves flirting with mid-table. Having beaten Bologna 2-1 away in their last outing, Stefano Pioli’s side currently sit in 11th position and are hoping that a late push in the second half of the season could secure them a Europa League spot come May. Already chasing down a seven-point deficit on sixth place Sampdoria, Viola’s win last weekend ended their five-match winless run. Only winning one of their last seven matchups against the defending champions, Pioli’s Fiorentina side will be looking to shore up their defensive issues, they have now failed to keep a single clean sheet in their last seven matches.
Team News
Viola manager Stefano Pioli will be without Simone Lo Faso, who is out with Flu. Vincent Laurini is out with a foot injury and won’t be up for selection.
Juventus
For the defending Serie A champions, Juve put on a dominant display last weekend, putting seven past Sassuolo at the Allianz Arena. Sat second in the table, Massimiliano Allegri’s side are only a single point off Napoli who currently sit in top spot. Currently on a ten-match winning run in all competitions, Bianconeri have now not lost a single matchup in their last 15 outings, a run stemming back to November 2017. Although Italian international Gonzalo Higuain may have stole the headlines with a second-half hat-trick last weekend, it has been defensively where Juventus have been at their strongest. The Turin based club have kept a clean sheet in their last six consecutive games and have now only conceded one goal in their last 16 appearances.
Team News
Max Allegri is missing center back Benedikt Howedes and winger Juan Cuadrado due to injuries. Attacking midfield man Paulo Dybala is very close to a return, but with a date with Spurs looming, look for him to be saved for that fixture. One man set to miss both ties is center midfielder Blaise Matuidi due to a thigh injury picked up in the win over Sassuolo.
Key Factors to Consider
- Fiorentina have won only three of their last 32 against Juventus (17 draws, 12 defeats).
- The Bianconeri have won 30 out of 78 games played in Florence, with 21 draws and 27 Fiorentina wins.
- Juve have the most cleansheets this season with 14.
- Seven substitutes have scored for La Viola after coming on, more than any other team.
- Giovanni Simone has scored the most headed goals this season (four)
Conclusion
With Napoli playing Lazio in Serie A this weekend, this looks a great opportunity for Juventus to climb to the top spot given the Partenopei can lose some points in that encounter. The Bianconeri have won the league for last six consecutive years and will be hoping to do the same this year. So they will be fully motivated to take maximum points against the Viola side. Juventus will enter the contest as firm favourites.
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