Prediction: Juventus vs Lazio

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

With all eyes falling on Turning this weekend, Juventus will welcome Lazio to town for a heavyweight showdown on Saturday afternoon.

Juventus

Starting with the hosts, while Juventus might still be dealing with a string of financial issues behind the scenes in Turin, the Old Lady are in the midst of an early-season flurry. Last seen heading into September’s international break with a routine 2-0 victory away at Empoli, the Italian heavyweights should find the mood in their camp at a recent high. Opening the 2023/24 campaign with a stellar performance on the road as they cruised their way to a 3-0 romp against Udinese, it is no secret that Massimiliano Allegri’s men have their sights set on clinching a crucial Champions League return this time around. Putting seven points on the board from their opening three Serie A appearances, Saturday’s hosts have also found some much-needed defensive resolve. Shipping just a single strike on their three-match unbeaten start, Juventus will be desperate to lay down a heavyweight marker in front of their own supporters this weekend.

Team News

Shockingly testing positive for testosterone this week and at the heart of a major scandal, Juventus will be without French superstar Paul Pogba on Saturday afternoon.

Making his return from a knock this month after featuring for Poland while on international duties, ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny should return between the sticks here. However, still dealing with a long-term knee injury, 30-year-old Mattia De Sciglio remains on the sidelines.

Lazio

As for the visitors, heading into September’s international break with what was a crucial boost on their travels, Lazio will now be hoping to find some Serie A stability. Eventually claiming a 2-1 victory away at defending Italian champions Napoli, that eye-catching performance drew a line under their back-to-back defeats. Opening the 2023/24 campaign with respective losses against Lecce and Genoa, Maurizio Sarri’s side are struggling to match a similar level that saw them claim a stellar silver medal finish last season. However, despite facing a stern challenge when they travel to Turin this weekend, the one-time Chelsea boss should take some solace from Lazio’s continued success on the road. Including that blockbuster 2-1 win away at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium last time out, Saturday’s guests have won three of their previous four Serie A away fixtures continuing on from last season.

Team News

Finding the net while away with Italy this month, attacking talisman Ciro Immobile will spearhead Lazio’s charge on Saturday afternoon. Likewise, notching his first Serie A strike against Napoli earlier in the month following his summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt, Daichi Kamada will join Luis Alberto in midfield.

Although ex-Chelsea star Pedro might have returned from a minor knock, the 36-year-old will likely have to settle for a spot on Sarri’s bench in Turin.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met back on April 8th, Lazio picked up a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
• However, that is the only victory that Saturday’s guests have collected against Juventus from their previous eight meetings across all competitions.
• The Old Lady have won five of their previous six meetings against Lazio in Turin – a run that stems back to October 2017.
• Continuing on from last season, the Eagles have won three of their previous four Serie A showdowns on the road.
• Extending on from the summer interval, Juventus have recorded just a pair of clean sheet from their previous eight Serie A appearances in Turin.

Conclusion

Mustering seven points from their opening three Serie A appearances and really impressing since returning from the summer break, Juventus will be desperate to lay down another marker here. However, with the Eagles making a stunning return to winning ways prior to the international break as they romped to a 2-1 victory away at defending champions Napoli, Sarri’s side should also be excited by their most recent showdown against the Old Lady. Watching Lazio land a lively 2-1 win when they welcomed Saturday’s hosts to the Stadio Olimpico back on April 8th, we could be treated to another enjoyable affair this weekend. It should be noted, with eight of their previous 11 meetings finishing with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome in Turin.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Olympusbet