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Juventus logo
Serie A
Apr 18, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Lazio logo

2-0

Tevez (17'), Bonucci (28')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Juventus vs. Lazio

Sports Mole previews this weekend's top-of-the-table Serie A clash between Juventus and Lazio in Turin.

The top two teams in Italy will meet in Turin this weekend as league leaders Juventus take on in-form Lazio.

With a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A the Bianconeri are unlikely to be caught, but a win for the visitors would help them to further strengthen their grip on a Champions League place.



Juventus

AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 2, 2013© Getty Images

There are just eight games left to play in Serie A this season and for a long time Juventus have been in cruise control on their way to a fourth successive title.

However, their 20-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end last weekend, as they fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at bottom-of-the-league Parma.

Massimiliano Allegri did rest a number of key players for that match in preparation for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Monaco and with big names like Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez back, they secured a 1-0 victory.

The second leg of that tie will take place at the Stade Louis II next Wednesday, but against Lazio there will be no players left out as they face the only team with a slim chance of catching them at the top.

It would take a disastrous collapse for them to lose their commanding lead, but a second straight league defeat would certainly offer hope to Lazio and even third-placed Roma that the title is still up for grabs.

Recent form in Serie A: DWWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWLW



Lazio

Bologna manager Stefano Pioli on the touchline during the match against Atalanta on November 10, 2013© Getty Images

At the start of the season, there were some who felt that Lazio could challenge for a place in Europe, but very few would have predicted the position that they are in now.

They have been in scintillating form in recent months and an eight-game winning run has lifted them up to second place in the table.

To make things even sweeter for the club's fans, they are now above their city rivals Roma and they could be set to record their highest Serie A finish since they won the league 15 years ago.

A combination of brilliant attacking play and a number of fine defensive displays have been the key to their unbeaten streak and they have bagged 21 goals in those eight games, while conceding just twice.

The forward trio of Felipe Anderson, Antonio Candreva and Miroslav Klose have been scoring for fun and all three players found the back of the net last weekend as they romped to a 4-0 win over Empoli.

Recent form in Serie A: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW



Team News

Juventus' Spanish foward Fernando Llorente (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Juventus at San Siro stadium in Milan on March 2, 2014© Getty Images

Angelo Ogbonna is suspended for Juventus after picking up a booking at Parma last weekend, while long-term absentees Paul Pogba, Kwadwo Asamoah and Martin Caceres are still missing.

There are reports that Fernando Llorente will start up front, while Allegri is expected to revert to a 3-5-2 formation.

Lazio have been dealt a double injury blow, as first-team regulars Stefan de Vrij and Marco Parolo have both been ruled out.

Luis Pedro Cavanda and Diego Novaretti are banned and will also miss the trip to Turin.

However, the Biancocelesti will be able to call upon the services of Dusan Basta and Mauricio, who were suspended last weekend.

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Barzagli, Evra, Vidal, Pirlo, Pereyra, Tevez, Llorente

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Berisha, Basta, Cana, Mauricio, Lulic, Biglia, Cataldi, Mauri, Candreva, Anderson, Klose



Head To Head

In this season's reverse fixture, it was Juventus who claimed the points, as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Bianconeri have a wonderful recent record against Lazio and they have lost just once in their previous 15 meetings.

This is not the last time that these clubs will meet this season, as they will face off in the Coppa Italia final on June 7.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Juventus 1-1 Lazio

Juventus may have one eye on their Champions League trip to Monaco, but they won't be taking Lazio lightly, especially after last week's upset at Parma. The visitors are on an exceptional run of form and although their winning streak may come to an end in Turin, we think that they will have enough quality to claim a point to further their European aspirations.



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Juventus' midfielder Andrea Pirlo celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final football match Juventus vs Olympique Lyonnais, on April 10, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli128221991026
2Atalanta BCAtalanta1281331151625
3Fiorentina1274125101525
4Inter Milan1274126141225
5Lazio1281325141125
6Juventus126602171424
7AC Milan115332014618
8Bologna114611513218
9Udinese125161518-316
10Empoli12363910-115
11Torino124261518-314
12Roma123451417-313
13Parma122641618-212
14Hellas VeronaHellas Verona124081727-1012
15Como122461323-1010
16CagliariCagliari122461222-1010
17Genoa12246922-1310
18Lecce12237521-169
19Monza121561015-58
20VeneziaVenezia122281121-108


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