Juventus vs. AC Milan: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream, TV Info
Two giants going in different directions will meet on Saturday when Juventus takes on AC Milan in Turin.
Date: Saturday, February 7
Time: 8:45 local time, 7:45 GMT, 2:45 EST
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Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin
TV Info: BT Sport 1 (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Preamble
Juventus is right where it wants to be at this point in the season—seven points up on their nearest pursuers for the title. The cushion over Roma will allow them to give some critical players rest as the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie with Borussia Dortmund moves closer. Given the fact that Jurgen Klopp will not have the same luxury while battling to keep his team out of the Bundesliga's relegation zone, the gap Juve has opened up in the league could prove a critical advantage indeed.
That advantage could have been nine, but injuries and suspensions forced Massimiliano Allegri back to the 3-5-2 formation on Sunday against Udinese. Allegri has yet to prove that he can make that formation move as effectively as his predecessor Antonio Conte, and Juve looked flat in a scoreless draw. With Claudio Marchisio back from suspension and Arturo Vidal hopefully healthy, Allegri will likely look to return to the 4-3-1-2 that he has installed to great effect since November.
Allegri's former team isn't where they want to be. Milan has a few more points now than they did at this stage a year ago, but so far 2014-15 hasn't been the immediate bounce-back they were hoping for under new coach Filippo Inzaghi.
The Milan legend and rookie coach has faced criticism at times for squad selection, but poor upper management is the real reason Milan has scuffled the last two years. Of particular concern has been the defense, which has been flat-out bad since the sale of Thiago Silva in 2012.
Milan acquired three new defenders during the transfer window and will hope that Salvatore Bocchetti, Luca Antonelli and Gabriel Paletta mesh in time to hold Carlos Tevez and Co. in their tracks and pick up a surprise point.
They fell 3-2 in their last trip to the Juventus Stadium a year ago, but that scoreline is somewhat misleading. Juve didn't fire on all cylinders that night but still dominated much of the game, especially in the second half. Sulley Muntari made the score respectable in the 90th minute, but it was mere window dressing.
Both of Milan's previous trips to Turin since the palatial new ground opened were shutout losses. In 2011 Claudio Marchisio scored two goals within five minutes of the whistle to sink the Rossoneri and announce Antonio Conte's first Juve side as a true challenger. A year later an Arturo Vidal penalty was the difference in a 1-0 game. Milan has also visited Turin in the Coppa Italia two of the last three seasons, both times being eliminated after extra time.
Form Lines
| Juventus | AC Milan |
| D 0-0 @ Udinese | W 3-1 vs. Parma |
| W 1-0 @ Parma (Coppa Italia) | L 1-0 vs. Lazio (Coppa Italia) |
| W 2-0 vs. Chievo | L 3-1 @ Lazio |
| W 4-0 vs. Verona | L 1-0 vs. Atalanta |
| W 6-1 vs. Verona (Coppa Italia) | W 2-1 vs. Sassuolo (Coppa Italia) |
Predicted Fomations
| Juventus | AC Milan |
| Buffon | Lopez |
| Caceres Bonucci Chiellini Evra | Antonelli Rami Paletta Bocchetti |
| Marchisio Pirlo Pogba | De Jong Montolivo Poli |
| Vidal | Honda Menez Cerci |
| Tevez Morata |
Players to Watch
Carlos Tevez has been the engine of Juve's attack all year long. According to WhoScored.com, he leads the league with 13 goals and has chipped in six assists along the way. He's also chipped in three more in the Champions League and scored a brace in the Supercoppa Italiana—although Juve's eventual shootout loss can be attributed to his getting too fancy when given the chance to give his team an early lead.
The Argentine international has been a true wonder to watch this season. Antonio Conte had always given him some freedom to roam sideline to sideline in the attacking third, but Allegri has doubled that leeway. The change in formation has also been a boon to him.
He can either roam the entire field looking to draw defenders to him and find lanes for midfield runners in the form of Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal or stay just above the box to latch onto passes. His dribbling ability—something possessed by no other Juve forward since their title run began—can create goals out of nothing, whether he's in traffic in the box or slaloming his way through half the field.
Of all the players Juve can put on the field, he's become the one all teams must be sure to account for.
On the visiting side, attention must be paid to Alessio Cerci. Cerci was one of the best players on the field on Sunday against Parma. He assisted on Jeremy Menez's second goal, put two shots on target and made three key passes.
Juve's defense is the one of the best in Europe this year, but they have displayed a minor weakness against pacey wing play.
Cerci has the pace and technique to cause problems for Juve's defense. His likely defensive matchup will be Martin Caceres, who has only just returned from a leg injury—an injury he aggravated in similar circumstances against Roma in October.
Cerci won't have a true target man to cross to on Saturday. New acquisition Mattia Destro is suspended for yellow-card accumulation, so Inzaghi may be forced to revert to a 4-3-3 with Jeremy Menez as a false nine.
Key Battle
Expect Gabriel Paletta to make his Milan debut immediately, and expect him to tangle with Carlos Tevez.
The best way to keep Juve out is to stop Tevez and let the rest of the team beat you. There are, of course, a plethora of players on Juve's roster who can do just that, but if Tevez is firing on all cylinders, it makes players like Pogba, Vidal and Marchisio that much more dangerous.
Paletta was probably the best center-back in Serie A last season. He's been out for much of the year with injury, and came to Milan on deadline day from cash-strapped Parma. His return six weeks ago saw the Crusaders' defensive performances improve dramatically. Though he's not anywhere near Thiago Silva's league in terms of talent, he's easily the best center-back the team has had since they sold the Brazilian to PSG three summers ago.
The last time he and Tevez went toe-to-toe, however, the Juve man struck twice and ended a long Parma unbeaten run.
If Paletta manages to neutralize Tevez this time, Milan will have a better chance of catching Juve on the counter. If Tevez manages to best him, Juve could open a big lead very quickly.
Odds (according to Odds Shark)
Juventus win: 4/15
Milan win: 10/1
Draw: 4/1
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