What: Italian Serie A
Who: Juventus vs Inter
When: Saturday 3rd November, 2012, at 19:45 UK time
Where: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
Consolidating the Lead
The next edition of the Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter will prove to be a crucial match when it comes the 2012/13 Italian season. With 28 points after ten games, Juventus are still unbeaten in the league, a record they have managed to improve weekend after weekend. However, Inter are reborn under coach Andrea Stramaccioni, and will certainly prove to be a tough hurdle for Juventus to overcome on the night.
Juventus have certainly been Italy’s best side once more this term, winning all but one of their league games so far this season and conceding only five times, of which two only were let in on home soil – against Roma and Bologna. But despite their iron defence, defender Andrea Barzagli could not but express his uneasiness in facing Inter’s Diego Milito.
“I am afraid of Diego Milito. He is a complete striker, one of the strongest in Europe. He does not miss a thing”, stated the stopper, while praising Stramaccioni and his side: “Inter are a worthy threat. Stramaccioni a good coach, and I think it is right that a young trainer with good ideas is getting a chance.”
Important Win
After experimenting with several coaches following the aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s departure from the blue side of Milan, it looks as if president Massimo Moratti has finally found his winning formula in Stramaccioni. The former coach of Inter’s Primavera side looks to be a solid choice this season, with his side trailing champions Juventus by just four points.
Speaking after the win over Sampdoria, captain Javier Zanetti praised his team’s improvements, while stating that the side will go for the win in Turin.
“Saturday’s match is one that everyone will be up for. It will always be the Derby d’Italia. Second place is already an improvement and we hope to continue in this way. It is an important game for the standings for both teams and it would be lovely if we could win in Turin. It will be a lovely match and a difficult one, and we’re heading up there to go for it”, declared the club legend.
Being the best club on the road this season with five wins out of five, Inter’s streak will be up against Juventus’ unbeaten run. The visitors will be confident of halting the Bianconeri.
Recent form
Juventus:
FC Nordsjaelland 1-1 Juventus (23/10; Champions League)
Catania 0-1 Juventus (28/10; Serie A)
Juventus 2-1 Bologna (31/10; Serie A)
Inter:
Inter 1-0 Partizan Belgrade (25/10; Europa League)
Bologna 1-3 Inter (28/10; Serie A)
Inter 3-2 Sampdoria (31/10; Serie A)
Key absences
Juventus: None
Inter: Joel Obi (doubt); Philippe Coutinho; Cristian Chivu; Wesley Sneijder; Dejan Stankovic; MacDonald Mariga
Players to watch
Juventus – Andrea Pirlo: Adjectives can no longer describe Pirlo’s effect on this Juventus side. At the heart of AC Milan’s Scudetto win two seasons ago, it is no surprise that the midfielder shifted the tide in Juventus’ favour when he jumped ship. His side will be unstoppable should he be at his best.
Inter – Walter Samuel: He might no longer be the defensive shield that he was with Roma during the early 2000s, but Samuel will need to roll back the years should his side want to withstand Serie A’s best attacking unit.
Match Prediction
Inter have been impressive this term and facing Juventus in Italy’s most watched football match will certainly be a true test for Stramaccioni’s side. However, Juventus are still proving to be a step above all other teams in Serie A and should edge their foes in this feast. Juventus 2-1 Inter.
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