One of Serie A’s biggest derbies takes centre stage today when Torino visit Juventus Stadium with the unlikely hope of denting the Old Lady’s bid for a successful title defence.
‘Il Grande Torino’ were once one of Italy’s biggest teams and their history hangs over the city, no more so than at the Superga hill where virtually the entire team was wiped out in a plane crash in May 1949.
Juve are unbeaten against Torino in the sides’ last 12 games and on home soil have chalked up 33 wins, 18 draws and 16 defeats over the years.
Indeed the last time Torino beat the Bianconeri was in 1995, when the visitors took all three points in a 2-1 win at the Delle Alpi stadium.
Juve, however, have injury worries over midfielder Arturo Vidal and defender Martin Caceres, with Vidal a doubt and Caceres ruled out.
Juve are also sweating on the fitness of one of their three defenders, Giorgio Chiellini, who missed a disastrous trip to the San Siro last week with a calf injury.
He may start on the bench, and a week after a 1-0 reverse to Milan, only their second of the season, some believe Juve could be there for the taking.
“Torino have to treat this like a World Cup final,” said former Torino player Paolo Pulici, who scored the most number of goals against Juve in previous derbies.
“In this kind of game motivation, belief and desire will be key. That’s the only way to get one over on such a strong and complete side as Juventus.”
An unlikely Juve defeat would be applauded by Napoli, who are right back in the title chase thanks to a recent resurgence and are at home to Pescara.
They are unbeaten this month in all competitions and have scored 14 goals in their past six games thanks largely to the efforts of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Lorenzo Insigne.
With Goran Pandev reportedly still not fully recovered from an ankle injury, Insigne is likely to start against his former club in what should be a memorable game for the Italy U-21 player.
While on loan at Pescara last season, Insigne helped their promotion bid by scoring 18 goals in 37 Serie B appearances. This season Pescara prop up the table with 11 points and only three wins from 14.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, face an attacking injury crisis before they host Sampdoria in tomorrow’s late match.
The Viola have climbed to a deserved third in the table, on the same 28 points as Inter in fourth, thanks a solid run of games this month. However, their come-from-behind 2-2 draw away to Torino last week exacted a toll.
Luca Toni is still suffering from the effects of a clash of heads while fellow strike partner Stevan Jovetic is still sidelined with a calf injury.
Adding to the list of absentees is striker Adem Ljajic, who will be out for up to three weeks with a thigh knock, and Alberto Aquilani, who picked up an injury in training in midweek.
It means Fiorentina should line up with Mounir El Hamdaoui and Haris Seferovic.
Inter, meanwhile, will be expected to keep the pace with both Juve and Napoli when they host Palermo at the San Siro.
Martin Caceres, of Juve, boots the ball upfield against Milan. Caceres is out of today’s derby against Torino because of an injury.
Fixtures
Serie A
Played Yesterday
Catania 1
Legrottaglie 11
Milan 3
El Shaarawy 53, 90, Boateng 56
Ht: 1-0. Att: 14,000
Red Card: Barrientos (C) 49; Boateng (M) 90.
Playing Today
Juventus Vs Torino 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna Vs Atalanta
Fiorentina Vs Sampdoria20.45
Genoa Vs Chievo
Inter Vs Palermo
Lazio Vs Parma
Napoli Vs Pescara12.30
Siena Vs Roma
Udinese Vs Cagliari
Standings: Juventus 32; Napoli 30; Fiorentina, Inter 28; Lazio 26; Roma 23; Milan 21; Parma 20; Catania 19; Atalanta (-2) 18; Sampdoria (-1), Udinese, Cagliari 16; Torino (-1) 15; Palermo 14; Genoa, Chievo 12; Siena (-6), Bologna, Pescara 11.
Serie B
Playing Today – 15.00
Bari Vs Sassuolo
Brescia Vs Verona
Empoli Vs Spezia
Juve Stabia Vs Cittadella
Lanciano Vs Cesena
Livorno Vs Grosseto
Modena Vs Novara
Padova Vs Ascoli
Pro Vercelli Vs Vicenza18.00
Varese Vs Ternana
Monday
Reggina Vs Crotone20.45
Standings: Sassuolo 38; Livorno 35; Verona 32; Padova (-2) 25; Juve Stabia 24; Brescia, Varese (-1) 23; Modena (-2) 22; Cittadella, Empoli (-1) 21; Spezia 20; Bari (-7), Ternana 18; Crotone (-2), Vicenza, Ascoli (-1) 17; Cesena 15; Reggina (-3) 14; Lanciano 13; Pro Vercelli 11; Novara (-4) 10; Grosseto (-6) 8.