Verdict: Juventus win
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
Looking to extend their 100% start to the new Serie A campaign, defending champions Juventus will make the trip to a struggling Fiorentina on Saturday afternoon.
Fiorentina
Starting with Saturday’s hosts, after only just avoiding an embarrassing relegation last season and holding just a three-point buffer to help extend their Serie A status, Fiorentina appear to have started where they left off in May. Putting in yet another worrying display in their 2-1 loss away at Genoa prior to the international break, Head Coach Vincenzo Montella has increased pressure on his role at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Also shipping four in their opening weekend defeat against Napoli, the former Italian giants are one of just three sides yet to get off the mark. On a remarkable run of form that has seen them now fail to win any of their last 16 matches against Serie A opposition, a run that stems back to the 24th of February, it will undoubtedly be their form on home soil giving Montella the biggest headache. Fiorentina have yet to record a single victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in 2019 and have also failed to find the net in five of their last six matches in Firenze.
Team News
Fiorentina will be without both Marco Benassi and Pedro.
Juventus
As for the visitors, marching towards their eighth consecutive domestic crown last season, Juventus are unsurprisingly once again tipped to reclaim their Serie A title. Picking up a dramatic 4-3 win over Napoli prior to the international break, the Old Lady have opened the new campaign with back-to-back victories and are one of just three sides to hold a 100% start. Turning to former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri over the summer, one of the biggest issues that the 60-year-old needs to resolve is his sides previously struggles outside of Turin. Remarkably, the European giants have won just one of their previous five Serie A matches on the road. However, one man to watch out for this weekend will once again be five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. Finding the net against Napoli last week, the Portuguese icon bagged 21 goals last season and should be confident of extending that run this weekend.
Team News
The trio of Mattia De Sciglio, Giorgio Chiellini, Matia Perin have all been ruled out for Saturday’s Matchup.
Key Factors to Consider
- Fiorentina have failed to win any of their last 16 Serie A appearances.
- Juventus are one of just three teams to open the 2019/2020 campaign with back-to-back victories.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in back-to-back matches for club and country.
- Saturday’s hosts have failed to score in five of their last six matches on home soil.
- Juventus have won each of their last four matches against Fiorentina.
Conclusion
With Fiorentina still drastically struggling at the start of the new campaign and now losing back-to-back appearances, the mood in their camp remains at a worrying low and Saturday could prove to be another extremely long afternoon. Now on a run of form that has seen them fail to win any of their last 16 Serie A matches and Juventus once again setting down an early marker in Italy’s top-tier, we’re backing a comfortable afternoon for the defending champions.
Verdict: Juventus win
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
