SA - Football - Italy - Serie A

Probable starting eleven:

Juventus:
Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Padoin, Pogba, Vidal, Peluso; Tevez, Quagliarella

Sassuolo:
Pegolo; Antei, Bianco, Acerbi; Gazzola, Magnanelli, Marrone, Longhi; Missiroli, Zaza, Floro Flores

I expect a low scoring match here. The key reason for my pick is Juventus. As You probably know, they were eliminated from Champions League after lost to Galatasaray in Istanbul. However, that match could be described as chaotic. The game was interrupted by snowfall and was finished next day. Juve succumbed to a late Wesley Sneijder goal that meant elimination from the competition. I believe the players are tired and, more important, very disappointed. In addition, the coach Antonio Conte has Andrea Pirlo sidelined through injury, while Claudio Marchisio is suspended.

But Juventus are not a team that play efficient matches. The last three games in Serie A have finished with Under 2. 5 goals. The Old Lady beat Bologna with 2:0 (06. 12), Udinese with 1:0 (01. 12) and Livorno with 2:0 (24. 11). Even more, the goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon kept a seventh consecutive clean sheet to go over 600 minutes without receiving a goal in the league.

Sassuolo have no win on the last two games in Serie A. Three players are unavailable for this match - Domenico Berardi is suspended, while Emaunele Terranova and Aladje Gomes are injured.

Considering the previously mentioned reasons, I expect Under 2. 5 goals.

15/12/2013 10:21, read 3409 times