“Just imagine if it were like this on the final day,” Rolando Maran, head coach of Chievo and the mastermind behind the Flying Donkeys rise to the summit of Italian football -- albeit temporarily -- awed.
His side's emphatic 4-0 triumph over Lazio prior to the international break, who have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the peninsula, propelled the Verona-based outfit into topspot and, more strikingly, 19 places higher than champions Juventus.
Max Allegri's side have endured a turbulent beginning to the campaign. An unprecedented opening day defeat to Udinese was compounded by an agonising defeat at the hands of Roma -- widely expected to be the Old Lady's closest challengers for the league. Paulo Dybala sought to arrest the slide with three minutes remaining on the clock, but it was to no avail as the Bianconeri slipped to their worst start to a domestic season since 1912.
Both sides clash at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday evening in a highly-anticipated top versus bottom encounter. Victory for Allegri's side would provide some welcome assurance ahead of their clash with Manchester City three days later. But a second successive home defeat would most definitely set alarm bells ringing around Turin.
Form
Having been undone by their own profligacy when Udinese came calling on week one, Juve could have no qualms over the nature of their defeat to Roma.
Allegri's side were thoroughly outwitted during the first period, failing to muster an attempt on goal and were fortunate not to trudge into the interval a goal down.
Their worst fears, however, were soon realised when Miralem Pjanic curled a sumptous free-kick into the top corner and beyond the reach of Gianluigi Buffon. That Iago Falque was able to hook the ball back into the penalty area for Edin Džeko to double the hosts advantage spoke volumes of the apprehension that had permeated throughout the Juve side on the day.
Contrasting emotions were being experienced in Verona, though, when, around three hours later, Lazio were gunned down by a rampant Chievo outfit. The pick of the goals being Valter Birsa's pinpoint free-kick from the edge of the area.
Previous meetings
Chievo were obliging opponents when Max Allegri marked his competitive debut in charge of Juventus last term. Martin Caceres's header -- aided by a deflection off Cristiano Biraghi -- proved decisive as the former Milan boss began life as Juventus boss in the best possible fashion.
Chievo returned in January only be blown out of the water by a vibrant Juve side, with Paul Pogba's left-footed strike the pick of the bunch in a comprehensive 2-0 victory.
Team news
Alex Sandro, a new recruit from FC Porto, is set to make his debut in Juventus colours after Patrice Evra saw red against Roma.
Brazilian midfielder Hernanes, coaxed from Inter on deadline day, is widely expected to begin on the substitutes bench, with Roberto Pereyra entrusted in the trequartista role.
Claudio Marchisio will return to the fray after missing the opening two fixtures of the campaign. Kwadwo Asamoah, meanwhile, remains sidelined while Rubinho, who was shown red for dissent on the touchline at the Stadio Olympico, is suspended.
Chievo, in the meantime, will be without Serbian international Ivan Radovanovic through injury. Dario Dainelli is expected to replace Alessandro Gamberini in the heart of defence.
Probable line-ups
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Mandzukic, Dybala.
Chievo (4-4-2): Bizzarri; Gobbi, Dainelli, Cesar, Frey; Hetemaj, Rigoni, Birsa, Castro; Paloschi, Meggiorini
Player Focus
Juventus - Paulo Dybala
Having capped off a sublime counter-attack from the Old Lady against Roma, all eyes will be firmly rested upon the ex-Palermo talisman and how he attempts to build on his impressive start to life in Turin. Having been subject to a lavish €40 million move to the champions in the summer, expectations are understandably high. And, after being the first player in the division last term to reach double figures in both goals and assists, Dybala will be looking to strike an effective rapport with Mario Mandzukic in attack as both he and his new employers seek to consolidate on last season's heroics.
Chievo - Alberto Paloschi
Key to Chievo's memorable nascent form has been the 25-year-old in attack. A goal and an assist at Empoli on the opening weekend of the campaign was swiftly followed by a two-goal haul against Lazio the week after last. His influence has often gone under the radar, especially considering that the ex-Milan forward has netted 34 times in three seasons, yet this may be the year where Paloschi aids Chievo's transformation into an established mid table outfit.