Torino vs. Juventus: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream & TV Info
In a week where they have secured passage to the last four of the Champions League, Juventus face another difficult test as they take on cross-town rivals Torino.
They may be once again part of the continental elite, but their neighbours will be hoping to earn local bragging rights when the latest edition of the Turin derby kicks off this Sunday.
Currently sitting in seventh place in Serie A, Giampiero Ventura’s side have enjoyed another fruitful campaign, reaching the knockout stage of the Europa League where they eliminated Athletic Bilbao. The Granata have also recorded league victories over Sampdoria and Inter, managing to hold AS Roma to a 1-1 draw earlier this month.
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Wing-backs Bruno Peres and Matteo Darmian provide serious quality out wide, with the talent of the latter discussed in this previous column. Above all, the team is built upon impressive organisation and tactical discipline, and Massimiliano Allegri’s men will need to be at their best to overcome such a resolute opponent.
The Bianconeri emerged with a slender 2-1 triumph at Juventus Stadium earlier this season, needing a stunning last-minute goal from Andrea Pirlo to separate the two sides. It was a moment of genius and a strike that underlined the absolute quality that runs through the reigning Italian champions and sees them enter this weekend’s fixtures some 15 points clear of the division's other teams.
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2015
Time: 3 p.m. CET (2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. EDT)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
TV Info: ESPN (U.K.), BeInSports (U.S.)
Live Stream: BeInSport Connect (U.S.)
Form Lines
Last five domestic results:
Predicted Lineups
Torino: (3-5-2): Padelli; Bovo, Glik, Moretti; Peres, Vives, Gazzi, El Kaddouri, Darmian; Quagliarella, Lopez
Juventus: (4-3-2-1): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, Padoin; Vidal, Pirlo, Sturaro; Pereyra, Tevez; Morata
Player to Watch
Fabio Quagliarella will need little introduction to Juventus fans, the striker having worn the black-and-white stripes from 2010 until his departure last summer. His return to Torino—the club where his career began—has been a fruitful one, having already netted 12 goals this term.
The 32-year-old was vital to the Bianconeri in his first campaign, remaining a solid contributor until the arrivals of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente saw him become understandably marginalised.
He would nevertheless relish the opportunity to score against his former team-mates and show that he remains and effective player, no matter the opposition. With Torino’s midfield extremely defence-orientated, it will almost certainly be left to Quagliarella to make a difference, just as Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile were last year.
Key Battle
Torino will enter this clash as huge underdogs, and their hopes will arguably hinge on the ability of Kamil Glik to get the better of Carlos Tevez. The Granata captain has enjoyed a fine season at the heart of his side’s defence and is undoubtedly their emotional leader on the field.
Dangerous at set pieces, every Torino corner is greeted with chants of "Glik, Glik, Glik!" from supporters hoping he can get his head to the ball first. But the Poland international will have much greater concerns at the other end of the pitch, with Juve’s No. 10 in stellar form.
Tevez has weighed in with 26 goals and eight assists this term, the extra freedom afforded to him by Allegri clearly paying huge dividends. Having delivered on almost every occasion this season, the Argentinian will look to add to his derby-winning strike last February as the city rivals clash once again.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home win: 107/25
Away win: 100/149
Draw: 267/100
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