Juventus vs AS Roma 23/12/18

23 December 2018

Saturday’s Serie A action concludes with a heavyweight clash at the Allianz Stadium as Juventus prepare to take on AS Roma.

Topping the league table with an eight-point lead over second-placed Napoli, the reigning champions remain the only unbeaten team (W15, D1) in the Italian top flight. The Bianconeri boast an almost perfect home record (W7, D1) having secured three consecutive home wins following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Genoa. Massimiliano Allegri’s players have racked up a seven-game winning Serie A run, keeping a clean sheet in their last five league outings. Their tally of just eight goals conceded is a league’s best record, as no team kept more clean sheets than Juventus (9) this term. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo and his fellow teammates have scored a minimum of two goals per match in six out of eight home league meetings, hitting the back of the net in all of their 11 home encounters across all competitions.

The visitors, on the other hand, are going through a turbulent period that has seen them securing just one win in their previous six competitive games. A tight 3-2 win over Genoa last weekend has brought Roma’s five-game winless run to an end, but it was the tenth consecutive match in which they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet. Indifferent road form (W2, D2, L3) has seen the Giallorossi struggling to get all three points on their last four road trips, as Eusebio Di Francesco’s men played out three draws while losing once in the process. Roma’s road encounters have been far from entertaining, with six of their eight away games in Serie A producing under 2.5 goals. Furthermore, La Lupa have lost all of their previous eight H2H meetings with Juventus in Turin, failing to hit the back of the net six times during the run.

Provisional line-up – Juventus:

Gk: Szczesny Defense: Alex Sandro – Bonucci – Chiellini – Mattia de Sciglio Midfield: Emre Can – Pjanic – Matuidi Attack: Dybala – Mandzukic – Cristiano Ronaldo

Provisional line-up – AS Roma:

Gk: Olsen Defense: Kolarov – Juan Jesus – Fazio – Manolas – Florenzi Midfield: N’Zonzi – Cristante – Zaniolo Attack: Justin Kluivert – Cengiz Under