Despite the news that star midfielder Claudio Marchisio will be out for the rest of the season, Juventus will look to take another step towards a fifth-consecutive domestic title. The Serie A heavyweights will take on last year’s third-place finishers, Lazio.
Because Napoli won against Bologna in spectacular fashion, Juve can only reestablish the team’s nine-point lead atop the table. However, with just four games remaining following this contest, a nine-game cushion would be nearly insurmountable.
While Juventus are once again leading the pack in Italy, things haven’t gone as planned for the capital club. The Romans currently sit eighth in the standings, and will head into the showdown in Turin level on points with Sassuolo. Should the Biancocelesti lose against the Bianconeri and Chievo win, Lazio would fall into a tie with the northern club.
The Biancocelesti will certainly need to be on top form if the team wants to earn a result on the road. Lazio has notched consecutive wins against Palermo and Empoli, but it wasn’t smooth sailing before that. The club drew on the road by a score of 1-1 versus Milan.
That contest was bookended by embarrassing home defeats to both Sparta Prague and Roma. Sparta Prague thrashed the capital club by a score of 3-0. Lazio were also beaten by three goals against the team’s arch rivals, falling 4-1 in a blowout.
Lazio’s record against Juventus this season
Lazio didn’t have much success in those games, struggling mightily. The Biancocelesti have also had trouble beating Juve this season. The capital club were done in by a Santiago Gentiletti own goal in the seventh minute of a home matchup with the Old Lady. The hosts were unable to recover and ultimately lost by a score of 2-0 in December.
Things didn’t get much better when the two clubs matched up in late January. Juventus only scored a singular goal, but it was enough. Right back Stephan Lichtsteiner scored against his former club in a cup contest to clinch a crucial road victory for the Bianconeri.
Traveling to Turin for the first time after dropping two road games, Lazio will need to pull out all the stops to claim anything from the game.
Players to don both shirts
In terms of current Juventus players, Lichtsteiner isn’t the only player to wear the Biancocelesti colors. Central midfielder Hernanes also suited up for the club. The Brazilian was in Rome from 2010 through 2014.
Lazio currently features three players that are formerly of Juventus. Striker Alessandro Matri was on the Old Lady’s books from 2011 to 2013, and spent time on loan in Turin last season to provide depth up front.
Additionally, winger Antonio Candreva also has experience on loan at Juve. His stint came in 2010. Lastly, defender Abdoulay Konko was a product of the Bianconeri youth system. He never made a senior appearance with the team.