Prediction: Juventus vs Lecce

Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo to score & Juventus to score over 2.5 goals 

Best Odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: Bet365

Making a much-needed return to winning ways earlier in the week, Juventus will welcome relegation scrappers Lecce to an empty Allianz on Friday night.

Juventus

Starting with the hosts, picking up a 2-0 win away at Bologna on Monday night, Juventus are a side still fully trying to recover from last week’s Coppa Italia heartbreak. Watching Napoli lift the cup thanks to a penalties win at the Stadio Olimpico, the Old Lady have shown some worrying inconsistencies either side of the enforced break. Along with having to hunt down a deficit after a shock 1-0 loss away at French outfit Lyon while on Champions League duties, Maurizio Sarri’s men have won just two of their last five matchups across all competitions. With the former Chelsea boss finding his position in Turin still coming under scrutiny and in a real battle with Lazio to retain their Serie A crown, Juventus will undoubtedly be glad to make a return to home soil on Friday night. Watching Cristiano Ronaldo grab his first post-lockdown strike earlier in the week, the Old Lady have won their last six straight domestic contests at the Allianz and are unbeaten in Turin while on Serie A duties since April 2018.

Team News

In a real headache for Maurizio Sarri, Juventus will be without all three of their regular choice left-backs on Friday night. Along with Danilo picking up a suspension in midweek, Juve will also be without Mattia De Sciglio and Alex Sandro.

Lecce

As for the visitors, while Juventus might find themselves in a real battle at the top of the table, Leece find themselves in a far more worrying situation at the other end. Marking their return from the enforced break with what was a woeful 4-1 drumming at home against AC Milan, I Giallorossi have now lost their last three Serie A matches on the bounce and make the trip to Turin sat with their goal difference keeping them in the drop zone. Along with continuing to show some rather glaring issues on the road after losing five of their last six matchups away from the Stadio Via del Mare, Fabio Liverani’s men hold what is a dreadful reputation for their problems at the back. Including shipping four against an inconsistent AC on Monday night, Lecce have shipped a staggering 15 goals on their three-match losing run. With that run highlighted by a 7-2 hammering against Atalanta before the break, no Serie A side have conceded more than their 60 strikes this season.

Team News

Ahead of what should be an overwhelming test this week, Lecce have a real growing injury list to deal with.

Friday’s guests have confirmed that they will be without Diego Farias, Alessandro Deiola, Antonin Barak and Cristian Dell’Orco.

Key Factors to Consider

• Including a shock 1-1 draw when the two sides faced off earlier in the season, each of the last two meetings between the two sides have ended in an identical scoreline.
• Juventus have won their last six Serie A matches on home soil and are unbeaten in Turin since April 2018.
• The Old Lady have conceded just a single Serie A goal on home soil in their last five appearances.
• Lecce have lost their last three matchups on the bounce, shipping 15 goals on that losing run.
• No Serie A side have shipped more than Lecce’s 60 goals this season.

Conclusion

Picking up what was a much-needed 2-0 win against Bologna earlier in the week, there is no doubt that Juventus will be looking at Friday as a real chance to pick up back-to-back victories. Continuing to shine at the Allianz and unbeaten in Turin since April 2018 while on Serie A duties, a struggling Lecce should be in for a long night’s work. Shipping 15 goals in just their last three top-flight outings, including a 4-1 drumming against AC Milan on their return to action, Friday’s guests also hold what is comfortably the worst defensive tally of any side in Italy’s top-flight. With Cristiano Ronaldo finding the net earlier in the week, we’re backing a fruitful night for Maurizio Sarri’s men this week.

Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo to score & Juventus to score over 2.5 goals 

Best Odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: Bet365