Serie A preview: Juve seek return to summit

Juventus can move back to the top of the Serie A table when they travel to Parma on Wednesday.

In one of two midweek fixtures that were postponed a fortnight ago due to adverse weather, Antonio Conte’s side can leapfrog table-toppers AC Milan with a victory at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Juventus have made an outstanding start to the season, avoiding defeat in every one of their 24 league and cup fixtures this season.

That means they have not lost on the road in the Serie A since May 2011, with five wins and five draws coming from their travels this term.

Coincidentally, their last loss came at the hands of Parma who won 1-0 thanks to Sebastian Giovinco’s second-half strike.

Despite sitting 13th on the table, Parma’s home form has been impressive this season, with just two losses from 10 fixtures.

They have scored three goals in each of their past three home matches with Giovinco their standout performer this campaign with nine goals from 15 league appearances.

They have the equal-best attacking record of any side in the top half but they have shipped 34 goals, which is in stark contrast to Juventus’ miserly defence.

The success of Conte’s side has come largely thanks to their ability to keep clean sheets, with Juve having not conceded in 11 of their 21 league fixtures.

They have only let through 13 goals for the season and the likes of Giovinco and French forward Jonathan Biabiany will have to be at the top of their game if Parma want to pull off an upset.

Parma have only beaten Juventus three times at home in the Serie A, but they have won three of the past four meetings between the two sides and will be quietly confident of pulling off an upset.

In Wednesday’s other fixture, 15th-placed Atalanta host Genoa in Bergamo.

Genoa were brought back to earth by Catania in their last fixture as they suffered a 4-0 thumping on the back of successive 3-2 wins against Napoli and Lazio.

But they will still feel confident travelling to an Atalanta side who have just won twice in the league at home since September.

Genoa’s last eight games in all competitions have seen 42 goals scored at an average of 5.25 per game and despite sitting ninth, they possess the equal-worst defence in the league.

That means goals are expected when the two sides clash in a match that could prove pivotal in Atalanta’s hopes of getting away from the relegation zone, with a win potentially lifting them as high as 12th.