Serie A Week 21 – 22 Jan 2017 (11.30 UK)
Juventus – Lazio
Juventus Stadium
Juventus vs Lazio Preview
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Juventus will be looking to bounce back from a shock defeat to Fiorentina, as Lazio test their European ambitions.
The Bianconeri produced a lacklustre display in their previous outing in Florence and found themselves 2-0 down early in the second half with Nikola Kalinic and Milan Badelj handing the hosts the advantage. Despite Gonzalo Higuain getting a goal back before the hour mark, the reigning champions failed to build on it, despite a late flurry of chances.
As a result, Allegri’s men hold a narrow one-point lead over Roma at the top of the table, albeit with a game in hand.
Although Juventus still have some margin for error, this upcoming fixture could prove to be crucial in the context of the season, with the side yet to find their best form.
To put things into perspective, the side have already lost four matches halfway through this season, having only suffered five losses in the top-flight last term. “The truth is we know full well that we aren’t as solid as we were last season and we’ve been saying that even during the run of victories,” Chiellini said.
Alex Sandro and Stefano Sturaro are suspended, but Stephan Lichtsteiner returns to the fold. Allegri should shift back to a four-man defence with Kwadwo Asamoah filling in at left-back.
Lazio, on the other hand, head into the clash with confidence after a resilient fightback from behind to claim a narrow 2-1 victory over Atalanta.
The Biancocelesti, who are currently in fifth place, have won four of their last five games with Simone Inzaghi’s men undefeated since the turn of the year. It’s five out of six if you include the Coppa Italia, as they saw off Genoa 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Nevertheless, the 40-year-old Coach claims that his side are currently under-achieving. “Usually this many points have us even higher, but the other teams are doing really well too. I am sure we can do better, but the difficult part of the season starts now.”
Lazio have lost only four games this season and they were all to big clubs – Juventus, Roma, Milan and Inter. There’s a complex there against the giants of Italian football, especially the Bianconeri. They’ve lost their last eight consecutive meetings with Juve, home and away in all competition, scraping a 1-1 draw at the Olimpico in January 2014.
Keep an eye on: Andrea Barzagli (Juventus) – A series of injuries to Juve’s own ‘BBC’ of Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini have seen the rusty defence concede 16 goals already this season. An inspired performance will be needed by the veteran defender if the Bianconeri are to return to winning ways.
Form Guide: Juventus (L W W W W) Lazio (W W L W W)
Last season: Juventus 3-0 Lazio
Stat fact: The Bianconeri have won their last five league games against Lazio without conceding a goal – they have never won six in a row against the Biancocelesti.
Juventus (probable): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci; Asamoah, Khedira, Marchisio, Rincon, Pjanic; Dybala, Higuain
Suspended: Sturaro, Alex Sandro
Lazio (probable): Marchetti; Bastos, De Vrij, Wallace; Felipe Anderson, Parolo, Biglia, Radu, Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto; Immobile
Predict: Juventus win the match
