Juventus is set to host city rivals Torino in Saturday’s much-anticipated Turin derby, looking to extend their impressive dominance over their neighbors. With an 18-game unbeaten streak in the Derby della Mole, Juve aims for a record 19th straight match without defeat against Torino, while also aiming to bounce back after a midweek European draw.
Read also: UCL Live! Lille vs Juventus Players Rating (5th November, 2024)
Match Preview
In their latest Champions League outing, Juventus earned a hard-fought draw against Lille. Dusan Vlahovic reached his 50-goal milestone for the club by netting a penalty after Francisco Conceicao drew a foul. While Juventus managed just a single point, they remain within reach of the competition’s top eight, maintaining a competitive position in their group. However, Juve’s recent Serie A form has been inconsistent, as they sit in sixth place in the standings, trailing behind the leading pack.
Thiago Motta’s side has faced recent challenges in Serie A, including a 4-4 thriller against Inter Milan and a comeback draw with Parma. Despite these draws, Juventus remains Italy’s only unbeaten team, with a record of five wins and six draws in 11 league games. This extends a formidable 19-game unbeaten run in Serie A dating back to April. They have managed to keep 12 clean sheets in that span, though a 0-0 draw with Torino last season ended their winning streak in the derby for the first time since 2022.
Torino’s Challenge
Torino, meanwhile, has struggled to pose a threat in recent Turin derbies, failing to win any of their last 18 away matches against Juventus, with 13 ending in defeat. Coming off a 1-0 loss to Fiorentina, Torino has now suffered three consecutive league defeats. While manager Paolo Vanoli received praise early in his tenure, his side’s recent slide in form has sparked concerns. They have lost five of their last six Serie A matches and were also eliminated from the Coppa Italia. Adding to their struggles, Torino’s offensive power has diminished significantly following the season-ending injury to captain and top scorer Duvan Zapata.
However, Torino remains in the top half of Serie A and hopes to rally against their biggest rivals on Saturday. With just 11 games played, they could still turn their season around by raising their game in the derby.
Team News
Juventus is expected to make several changes following a packed schedule, with Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and young Nicolo Savona all pushing for starting roles. Juventus will be without Brazilian defender Bremer, who is out for the season, but Danilo returns after serving a UEFA suspension. Another Brazilian, Douglas Luiz, is back from injury, though Nico Gonzalez (thigh) and Arkadiusz Milik (knee) remain sidelined.
Torino, on the other hand, faces a fitness concern over Che Adams, who sustained a thigh strain in the loss to Fiorentina. If he misses out, young forward Alieu Njie may partner Antonio Sanabria in attack. Torino will also be without long-term absentees Duvan Zapata and Perr Schuurs, though Ivan Ilic could make his first start since returning from injury.
Predicted Lineups:
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli; Conceicao, McKennie, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
Torino: Milinkovic-Savic; Coco, Maripan, Masina; Pedersen, Ilic, Ricci, Vlasic, Lazaro; Njie, Sanabria
Juventus’s strong defense has allowed the fewest shots in Serie A this season, while Torino has conceded the most, indicating a likely advantage for Juve in the derby. Expect the hosts to continue their dominance with a solid defensive display against a struggling Torino side.
