Juventus will be looking to make it three wins from their three matches at the start of the 2019-20 Serie A campaign when they travel to Fiorentina on Saturday afternoon.
The Italian champions have beaten Parma and Napoli this season to collect six points, while Fiorentina have lost to Napoli and Genoa during a disappointing start to the campaign.
Match preview
© Reuters
Last season proved to be Fiorentina's worst Serie A campaign since 2004-05 as they ended in 16th position. It was a poor end to the season in terms of results, and those issues have continued into the new term.
Fiorentina are actually without a win in Serie A since the middle of February, which will be a huge concern ahead of a home game against the best team that Italy has to offer.
La Viola opened their 2019-20 campaign with a 4-3 home defeat to Napoli, before suffering a 2-1 loss at Genoa before the international break. Manager Vincenzo Montella will be feeling the pressure, even this early in the season as he is yet to earn a league victory since returning for a second spell in charge.
Fiorentina have lost each of their last four Serie A matches against Juve, but they did record a 2-1 home victory over the Turin giants in January 2017. The visitors are certainly the favourites to triumph this weekend, although Maurizio Sarri's side have shown some weaknesses in the early stages of the season.
It is an important period of the season for the club as they now face four league games in relatively quick succession, travelling to Atalanta BC in their next fixture before hosting Sampdoria and heading to AC Milan in their final two league matches of September.
© Reuters
It has been business as usual for Juve at the start of the 2019-20 campaign, although they only just edged past Parma in their first league fixture before the incredible clash with Napoli before the international break.
Carlo Ancelotti's side recovered from a 3-0 deficit to level the scores at 3-3 in the 81st minute, only for Juve to snatch all three points at the death when Kalidou Koulibaly found the back of his own net.
The Italian champions face a trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. Sarri's team cannot afford to take this game for granted, though, even against a Fiorentina outfit seriously out of form.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be feeling good about himself following another spectacular international break with Portugal, but the long-term injury to Giorgio Chiellini could end up costing the Italian giants. Chiellini's absence places huge pressure on Matthijs de Ligt, who looked a touch shaky against Napoli.
Fiorentina are winless in their last 12 home games in the top flight, however, and it would be a huge surprise if the Old Lady, who clinched an eighth straight Serie A title last season, did not put another three points on the board at the Stadio Artemio Franchi this weekend.
Fiorentina form: LL
Juventus form: WW
Team News
© Reuters
Franck Ribery is in line to make his full debut for Fiorentina, and the experienced Frenchman could be joined in the final third by Kevin-Prince Boateng and Federico Chiesa.
There has been speculation that Montella could decide to bench captain German Pezzella in favour of Erick Pulgar - and bring in an additional midfielder - although it remains to be seen whether that alteration occurs as it would be a big call to make.
Elsewhere, Dalbert Henrique could come into the side at left-back after featuring off the bench in the defeat at Genoa last time out, while Milan Badelj and Gaetano Castrovilli will both start in midfield.
As for Juve, an injury to Mattia De Sciglio is expected to see Danilo start at right-back, but it could otherwise be the same XI that took to the field against Napoli before the international break.
Sarri has admitted that Aaron Ramsey is still behind his teammates in terms of fitness, meaning that the Wales international is likely to start on the bench alongside fellow free arrival Adrien Rabiot.
As a result, Blaise Matuidi and Sami Khedira should both retain their spots in the XI behind a front three of Douglas Costa, Gonzalo Higuain and Ronaldo.
Fiorentina possible starting lineup: Dragowski; Lirola, Pezzella, Milenkovic, Dalbert; Pulgar, Badelj, Castrovilli; Chiesa, Boateng, Ribery
Juventus possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, Sandro; Matuidi, Pjanic, Khedira; Costa, Higuain, Ronaldo
We say: Fiorentina 0-2 Juventus
Fiorentina will break their winless run at some point, and it would be some treat for their fans if that occurred this weekend. Juve will be fired-up to triumph, however, and we fancy the visitors to claim a 2-0 win.
No Data Analysis info
