Prediction: Juventus vs Fiorentina

Verdict: Juventus to win

Best odds: 1.78

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Juventus will host Fiorentina in a match that features a long-standing rivalry sparked by controversial player transfers. Over 40,000 fans will watch the game at Turin’s Allianz Stadium as they cheer on their team to triumph over their opponents.

Juventus

Following a recent slump in form, Milan has surpassed Massimo Allegri’s team in the Serie A rankings despite Juventus’ stellar start which made them one of the favourites to win the Scudetto, keeping them well close behind champions Inter for a considerable amount of the season. Juve are no longer guaranteed a top-four finish at the end of the season after just one victory in the previous nine games. AS Roma, Bologna and Atalanta are closing the gap in what seems to unfold as a tight race with an explosive finale.

Moreover, the lack of Juventus’ strikers’ accuracy in front of the opposition box who failed to score in the last two Serie A games led to winning only one point in the matches against Genoa and Lazio, leading to a further drop in the standings.

However, Juventus displayed recovery signs in the midweek’s first leg of the Italian Cup semi-final, beating Lazio 2-0 at home, taking an important step towards the competition’s grand final. Thanks to Allegri’s tactical master plan executed by his players, Juve scored on the break, despite Lazio’s clear domination.

Juventus must regain its beginning-of-the-season form to avoid finishing outside the European Cup qualification spots, considering the infernal schedule with tricky fixtures against tough opponents like: AS Roma, Lazio, Bologna and Milan.

Team News

Centre forward Arkadiusz Milik is working hard on his adductor injury sustained in March. Still, the Polish ace can play against Fiorentina after the medical staff gave him the all-clear. His services are especially needed in light of Juventus’s recent subpar attacking performances in Serie A.

After scoring in the Cup home match against Lazio, Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic, the attacking tandem, are back on track. Nevertheless, after being sent off during stoppage time in the Genoa game, the Serbian attacker is suspended against Fiorentina.

Fiorentina

Fiorentina are having a good season overall. The team took an important step towards the Italian Cup final after the first-leg win against Atalanta. However, the Serie A displays have been disappointing lately, sending the team to mid-table positions, with slim chances of qualifying for any European competition.

The visitors’ only available ticket to play in Europe next term seems to be via Coppa d’Italia. However, with a difficult 2nd leg at Atalanta and a looming final showdown against Juventus or Lazio, even this path seems rather unlikely.

Albeit an incredible game at the Artemio Franchi against Milan, a 2-1 home loss appears to have been a turning point in the championship fight for a top 6 finish, possibly ending La Viola’s ongoing consecutive presence in Europe. Even though Vincenzo Italiano’s team dominated the match against Milan, the visiting team’s experience ultimately prevailed, as they delivered the game-winning strike after a counterattack finished by Portuguese sensation Rafael Leao.

This Serie A season, Fiorentina has only four wins of its fourteen away games, showing a lack of improvement from last term. Even worse, the hosts who are qualified for the Conference League quarterfinals, won only a pair from their previous six away games.

Team News

Fiorentina can line up the best players against Juventus hoping to replicate the midweek Cup win against Atalanta. Vincenzo Italiano will use a more defensive lineup, hoping to get Juventus on the break and get the first win from the last seven outings.

Key factors to consider

• Juventus lost momentum in Serie A following a string of disappointing results that saw Massimiliano Allegri’s team dropping to 3rd place in the standings.
• The Old Lady has one step in the Cup final, following a convincing first leg 2-0 home win against Lazio
• Juve won all of their last three encounters with Fiorentina held at Allianz Stadium
• Fiorentina is having an inconsistent season with many results below expectations, leaving the Viola team 10th in Serie A with no real prospects to finish in the top 6
• The visitors will face top sides in the coming weeks, with difficult tests against Roma, Milan, Bologna and Atalanta at the end of this term

Conclusion

Given both teams’ recent performances, Juventus has the best opportunity to defeat Fiorentina right from the outset. Although both clubs displayed hints of a midweek comeback after winning their Italian Cup games respectively, Juventus is strong enough to get all the points at stake.

Verdict: Juventus to win

Best odds: 1.78

Bookmaker: ZetBet