Juventus Vs Torino

In preparation for this weekend’s Turin derby, Juventus is aiming to extend its winning streak over Torino, with Saturday’s matchup offering a chance to secure a remarkable 19th straight unbeaten result in the Derby della Mole. The Bianconeri are eager to bounce back after a disappointing Champions League draw with Lille earlier in the week, where Dusan Vlahovic scored his 50th Juventus goal by converting a penalty after a controversial fall by Lille’s Francisco Conceicao. The 1-1 draw means Juve is now just two points from the top eight in their Champions League group, leaving hope alive for direct qualification to the last 16.

Despite Juve’s resilient European form, they’re currently sixth in Serie A, having faced inconsistent results over recent games. In the prior month’s Derby d’Italia, Thiago Motta’s squad overcame a two-goal deficit to draw 4-4 with Inter Milan, and they displayed similar resilience against newly-promoted Parma, battling back from 0-2 and 1-2 to secure another point. Last week, they stabilized with a 2-0 victory over Udinese, standing as Serie A’s only unbeaten team this season but recording more draws than wins across 11 games.

Juventus holds Italy’s longest unbeaten streak across the top leagues, avoiding defeat in 19 consecutive Serie A games since April, with 12 draws during this stretch and 12 clean sheets. However, their last goalless derby clash with Torino in 2022 ended a previous winning sequence against their city rivals.

Historically, Torino has struggled in the Derby della Mole, losing 13 of their last 18 away league encounters with Juventus and failing to secure a single win. Recent performances suggest that Torino may continue to face difficulty in the upcoming derby, as they head into Saturday’s match after a narrow 1-0 loss to Fiorentina and a run of three consecutive defeats. After a promising start under coach Paolo Vanoli, Torino’s form has faltered, leading to a slide in the league standings. Alongside five defeats from their last six league games, Torino’s exit from the Coppa Italia has put additional pressure on Vanoli.

Adding to Torino’s struggles, the team has experienced a drop in offensive output, particularly after captain and leading scorer Duvan Zapata suffered a season-ending injury. Their recent losses have been marked by a lack of scoring, highlighting their current challenge in the final third. Still, the Granata remain hopeful that a solid performance against their formidable city rivals could reignite their season after an overall respectable start, finishing just outside the top half of Serie A after 11 matches.

With Juve’s busy match schedule, Motta is expected to make adjustments to his lineup for the derby. Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and young full-back Nicolo Savona could see more minutes as they look to make an impact from the bench. Defensive reinforcements include Danilo, back after serving a UEFA suspension, though the team will be without Bremer for the rest of the season due to a recent injury.

Among Torino’s injury concerns, Brazilian international Douglas Luiz has recovered in time for the derby, though Nico Gonzalez (thigh) and Arkadiusz Milik (knee) are still sidelined. Additionally, Scotland striker Che Adams will face a late fitness test after sustaining a thigh strain against Fiorentina, leaving Torino uncertain about his availability for Saturday’s match.