Juventus are set to host local rivals Torino at the Allianz Stadium in the upcoming Derby della Mole on Saturday.
The Bianconeri currently occupy the fourth position in Serie A, having accumulated 14 points from their seven matches this season. In their recent outing, Juventus played out a goalless draw against Atalanta. On the other hand, Torino faced Hellas Verona and played to a goalless draw, extending their winless streak to three matches (two draws and one loss), positioning them in 10th place with nine points.
Despite being in fourth place, Juventus have displayed inconsistency this season and are eager to secure their second victory in the last four games. The Old Ladies have a remarkable record of keeping seven clean sheets in their last 12 league matches, dating back to last season. Their defensive prowess places them at the top of the clean sheet standings, tied only with Napoli.
While the style of football may not be exhilarating, Massimiliano Allegri’s primary objective of revitalizing Juventus and potentially contending for the Scudetto after a tumultuous couple of years remains unwavering.
Despite facing significant disruptions over the summer, the Bianconeri have impressively amassed 14 points from their seven games this season. However, fans have expressed some reservations about the team’s conservative style of play.
Torino’s coach, Ivan Juric, has frequently faced criticism for his defensive and controlling tactics during his tenure. While his style of play is aesthetically pleasing, Torino have struggled with goal-scoring issues, firmly positioning them in mid-table with little hope of breaking into the top seven and earning European qualification.
As they enter the weekend, Torino sit in tenth place after seven matches in the 2023/24 Serie A season. They have recorded two wins, three draws, and two defeats, but their scoring struggles are evident, with only six goals scored. Their most recent match ended in a goalless draw against Juric’s former team, Hellas Verona.
The Granata’s have now failed to find the back of the net in three of their first seven matches, with their last goal coming from Duvan Zapata’s late strike against Roma nearly two weeks ago. However, their defensive discipline under Juric is notable, as they have faced only 68 shots so far, making them the third-lowest tally in Serie A this season.
Juventus will unlikely need a flurry of goals to secure victory against Torino, given the Granata’s limited scoring output this season. Only six teams have scored fewer goals than Juric’s side in their seven games played. Hence, there’s no doubt the odds will considerably be in Juventus’ favor when the two clubs face off.
Much like last season, Torino’s strength lies in their ability to limit their opponents’ offensive output. They have already kept three clean sheets this season and will aim to frustrate their hosts on Saturday. Given Juventus’ occasional misfiring in the current season, another defensive masterclass from Juric’s side could lead to a low-scoring game and potentially even an upset.
JUVENTUS VS. TORINO MATCH DETAILS
- Venue: Allianz Stadium
- Location: Turin, Italy
- Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
- Kick-off Time: 12:00 PM ET, 17:00 BST
- Referee: Antonio Rapuano
- Juventus tickets are still on sale for the game
JUVENTUS VS. TORINO MATCH STATS AND HEAD-TO-HEAD
Both teams have scored in two of Juventus’ last three home matches.
Juventus have opened the scoring in their last two Serie A home matches.
Torino have scored in two of their previous three away Serie A matches.
When playing at home, Juventus have not lost to Torino in their last 19 encounters.
Juventus have not lost in any of their last five home matches.
Juventus are unbeaten in their last 16 Serie A matches against Torino, with 12 wins and four draws.
The most common result in matches between Juventus and Torino is 1-0, with 10 matches ending with this result.
In the last 40 meetings, Juventus have won 28 times, there have been 9 draws, and Torino FC have won 3 times. The goal difference favors Juventus at 80-31.
Torino’s last away win against Juventus was in 1995.
Last season, Juventus won both games against Torino, with a 4-2 victory at home and a 1-0 win away.
JUVENTUS VS. TORINO TEAM NEWS
Juventus’ star striker Dusan Vlahovic is dealing with a lingering back problem, making him a major doubt for the match.
Arkadiusz Milik, who was recovering from a calf injury, is likely to return in time for the game while Italian striker, Moise Kean remains on standby as a potential replacement in the forward position.
Federico Chiesa, who has been highly influential against Torino in the past, is expected to be in the starting lineup.
Unfortunately, Alex Sandro, Paul Pogba, and Mattia De Sciglio are all unavailable.
Despite previous muscular issues, Bremer is set to feature at the heart of Juventus’ defense.
Torino have a growing list of absentees, including Brandon Soppy (hamstring) and Saba Sazonov (foot), who recently joined the injury list.
Alessandro Buongiorno, Mergim Vojvoda, and Koffi Djidji are also unavailable for the upcoming match.
Considering Pietro Pellegri’s fitness struggles and Antonio Sanabria’s form, Duvan Zapata, a summer signing for Torino, is anticipated to take the lead in the team’s forward line during the upcoming Derby della Mole on Saturday. Zapata boasts a noteworthy record against Juventus, having scored six Serie A goals against them in the past including two at Allianz Stadium making him a key figure to watch in this upcoming Derby della Mole.
JUVENTUS VS. TORINO PREDICTED LINE-UP
Juventus predicted line-up (3-5-2): Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Mcennie, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Cambiaso; Vlahovic, Chiesa
Torino predicted line up (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Schuurs, Sazonov, Rodriguez; Bellanova, Tameze, Ricci, Lazaro; Radonjic, Vlasic; Zapata
JUVENTUS VS. TORINO PREDICTION
The ‘Derby della Mole’ has historically been a rather one-sided city rivalry in European football over the last five decades, and this upcoming clash might not be any different.
Under the management of Allegri, Juventus tend to adopt a defensive stance, which is likely to be the case again in a high-stakes match like this. Torino have only managed to score six goals in seven matches this season, hinting at the potential for a less-than-thrilling encounter.
Both Torino and Juventus rank high in terms of clean sheets in Serie A this season, with an emphasis on tactical discipline and organization from their respective coaches. Hence, a low-scoring affair is expected on Saturday, and in such instances, Juventus usually come out on top. While Torino might find a way to breach Juventus’ defense, it’s unlikely to prevent them from conceding at the other end.
