Serie A Preview: Torino vs Juventus – Team News, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino forms the backdrop for the 162nd Serie A edition of the famous Derby della Mole between Torino and Juventus. Sunday’s showdown in Turin won’t change much for the mid-table hosts, but it could decide the fate of their more esteemed visitors.

Sitting 12th in the standings after a 2-1 defeat at Cagliari in the penultimate round, Torino will have to settle for a second consecutive bottom-half finish irrespective of the outcome of this clash. However, the Granata are expected to take the field heavily motivated to spoil their eternal rivals’ Champions League ambitions.

Despite having nothing but pride left to play for, Torino could still play a massive role in the fiercely contested race for a top-four finish. Vying for a place in next season’s Champions League, Juventus trail fourth-placed Roma by two points following a disheartening 2-0 home loss to Fiorentina last time out.

Therefore, their top-four destiny is completely out of their hands, as they need either Milan or Roma to drop points on the final day. More importantly, Luciano Spalletti’s underperforming side must hold up their end of the bargain in this ‘make or break’ clash if they’re to sneak their way back into the top four right at the death.

Match Preview

Torino

Torino’s late-season slump has seen them lose two of their last three league games (W1), having previously suffered just one defeat in six Serie A outings (W3, D2). Nonetheless, they should still head into proceedings in high spirits, especially after rebuilding their home fortress under the tutelage of Roberto D’Aversa.

Now unbeaten in five consecutive home league games (W4, D1), the Granata will be out to score at least twice in six top-flight matches at this stadium for the first time since 1992. Interestingly, the only blemish on this near-flawless run was a 2-2 draw against newly crowned champions Inter last month, highlighting the magnitude of the task awaiting Juventus on Sunday.

However, D’Aversa’s charges have notoriously struggled against the division’s elite teams, securing just two home wins against pre-round top-half sides this season (D1, L6). That’s not the only reason for concern, as Torino have won just one of their 41 competitive meetings with Juventus since December 1995 (D11, L29).

Juventus

Despite their long-standing dominance in this match-up, Juventus cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Indeed, they’ve shared the spoils with Torino in three of their last four Serie A encounters (W1), including a tepid 0-0 draw in November’s reverse fixture at the Allianz Stadium. Adding to this sentiment, the visitors head into this season-defining clash in dire form.

In addition to the abovementioned loss to Fiorentina, Juventus have gone winless in two of their last four league outings (W1, D2, L1). As such, it’s fair to say that they’ve been the architects of their own demise, allowing Milan and Roma to leapfrog them in the standings when it mattered most. As a result, there’s no margin for error here.

However, Juventus can take confidence from winning six of their nine away league matches against sides starting this round in the bottom half of the table (D2, L1). Furthermore, they’re currently on a five-game unbeaten road run in Serie A (W3, D2), keeping clean sheets against Atalanta and Milan in that promising-looking sequence.

Team News

Torino will be without long-term absentees Zakaria Aboukhlal, Ardian Ismajli, and Tino Anjorin. On a more positive note, Lithuanian midfielder Gvidas Gineitis returns from suspension and could dislodge Cagliari loanee Matteo Prati from the starting lineup. Veteran striker Duvan Zapata is expected to lead the line, supported by the likes of Giovanni Simeone and Nikola Vlasic.

Meanwhile, with Arkadiusz Milik and Juan Cabal starting on the bench against Fiorentina last weekend, Juventus will make this crosstown trip at full strength. Despite having a second-half goal disallowed by VAR, Dusan Vlahovic remains the frontrunner to spearhead the Bianconeri attack ahead of the misfiring duo, Lois Openda and Jonathan David.

Torino vs Juventus Potential Starting Lineups

Torino (3-4-2-1): Paleari; Ebosse, Coco, Marianucci; Pedersen, Ilkhan, Gineitis, Obrador; Vlasic, Simeone; Zapata.

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Koopmeiners; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; Vlahovic.

Torino vs Juventus Prediction

This derby has all the makings of a ‘must-win’ clash for Juventus, but given their rough patch, it’s hard to put it past Torino to defy their dreadful record in this fixture. We wouldn’t go as far as to back the Granata for the win, yet it’s not impossible to envisage another share of the spoils.