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Juventus’ Record Against The Big Boys This Season Suggests They Can Beat Milan
Goal.com looks at Juventus' record against the "big" teams ahead of their Milan rumble...
05-Mar-2011 2:53:00 PM
By Salvatore Landolina
Getty Images
Can Juventus beat Milan? That is the burning question everyone is asking after Luigi Del Neri's men lost again last week.
A 2-0 home loss to Bologna was preceded by the 2-0 away defeat at Lecce, leaving many to believe the Old Lady are in for a whipping when they welcome league leaders Milan on Saturday night.
However, while Juventus have a poor record against those below them in Serie A, they boast an unbeaten record against Milan, Inter and Roma this season.
Their first big test came against European and world champions Inter in October at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Despite territorial advantage and with an edge of shots on goal, Juventus were able to clear the hoops and hug the ground as they emerged with a valuable point as the game fizzled out at 0-0.
Three weeks later, after beating Lecce 4-0, and drawing with Bologna 0-0 away, Juve were to return to San Siro and bring down Milan 2-1.
Fabio Quagliarella, currently injured, and Alessandro Del Piero were on target. Unlike the Inter game, Del Piero started in Milan.
Del Piero to down Milan again?
Juventus were on an eight game unbeaten streak heading into the Roma clash in December, and despite taking a lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta, four goals this season - as many as both Alberto Aquilani and Del Piero - Francesco Totti pegged one back as the game ended 1-1. Still unbeaten after three big games.
Three weeks ago the Old Lady were to continue their impressive run against the challengers to Serie A authority with a win against Inter. Alessandro Matri did the damage to score the only goal of the game, his third for Juventus.
<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0">
<tbody style="text-align: left;">
<tr style="text-align: left;">
<td style="text-align: left;"><strong> </strong>
<table class="team_stats" style="width: 100%; height: 40px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody style="text-align: center;">
<tr style="text-align: center;">
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><strong><br /></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Games</strong></span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Goals </strong></span><strong><br /></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Assists</strong></span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Shots per goal</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="30"> <strong><span style="color: #ffffff;"><img src="http://u.goal.com/120300/120384_thumb.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="80" /></span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">15</span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">6</span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">4.5</span></strong><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><img src="http://i.media.goal.com/g/62778_thumb.jpg" alt="" /></strong></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Thus, Juve's record suggests they can beat Milan, but with two back-to-back defeats against Lecce and Bologna going into the game, and with Luigi Del Neri under scrutiny, the team will have to show touches of distinction to win.
It's clear Juventus have been going wrong against the smaller teams of the league, and their coach has been forced to admit it would be "a bad year" if their record against them ceased to change.
Del Neri clearly knows his side are more inclined to performing against the top clubs around them.
"It's impossible I lose the team after the win against Inter," he said after the recent Bologna and Lecce defeats.
Goals have also been an issue. Quagliarella is the club's sharpshooter this term with nine goals, but he won't play against Milan.
So Del Neri will be doing a lot of thinking on this subject, and on whom to play against the Rossoneri.
A simple read of this piece would tell you Del Piero, who bought down Milan last time, and Matri, the match winner against Inter, should start.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out, and whether the numbers for Juve, and their European hopes add up.
A 2-0 home loss to Bologna was preceded by the 2-0 away defeat at Lecce, leaving many to believe the Old Lady are in for a whipping when they welcome league leaders Milan on Saturday night.
However, while Juventus have a poor record against those below them in Serie A, they boast an unbeaten record against Milan, Inter and Roma this season.
Their first big test came against European and world champions Inter in October at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Despite territorial advantage and with an edge of shots on goal, Juventus were able to clear the hoops and hug the ground as they emerged with a valuable point as the game fizzled out at 0-0.
Three weeks later, after beating Lecce 4-0, and drawing with Bologna 0-0 away, Juve were to return to San Siro and bring down Milan 2-1.
Fabio Quagliarella, currently injured, and Alessandro Del Piero were on target. Unlike the Inter game, Del Piero started in Milan.
Del Piero to down Milan again?
Juventus were on an eight game unbeaten streak heading into the Roma clash in December, and despite taking a lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta, four goals this season - as many as both Alberto Aquilani and Del Piero - Francesco Totti pegged one back as the game ended 1-1. Still unbeaten after three big games.
Three weeks ago the Old Lady were to continue their impressive run against the challengers to Serie A authority with a win against Inter. Alessandro Matri did the damage to score the only goal of the game, his third for Juventus.
| SEASON STATISTICS | Juve's fine record against Milan, Inter and Roma |
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<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0">
<tbody style="text-align: left;">
<tr style="text-align: left;">
<td style="text-align: left;"><strong> </strong>
<table class="team_stats" style="width: 100%; height: 40px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody style="text-align: center;">
<tr style="text-align: center;">
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><strong><br /></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Games</strong></span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Goals </strong></span><strong><br /></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Assists</strong></span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Shots per goal</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: center;">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="30"> <strong><span style="color: #ffffff;"><img src="http://u.goal.com/120300/120384_thumb.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="80" /></span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">15</span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">6</span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span></strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">4.5</span></strong><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><img src="http://i.media.goal.com/g/62778_thumb.jpg" alt="" /></strong></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Thus, Juve's record suggests they can beat Milan, but with two back-to-back defeats against Lecce and Bologna going into the game, and with Luigi Del Neri under scrutiny, the team will have to show touches of distinction to win.
It's clear Juventus have been going wrong against the smaller teams of the league, and their coach has been forced to admit it would be "a bad year" if their record against them ceased to change.
Del Neri clearly knows his side are more inclined to performing against the top clubs around them.
"It's impossible I lose the team after the win against Inter," he said after the recent Bologna and Lecce defeats.
Goals have also been an issue. Quagliarella is the club's sharpshooter this term with nine goals, but he won't play against Milan.
So Del Neri will be doing a lot of thinking on this subject, and on whom to play against the Rossoneri.
A simple read of this piece would tell you Del Piero, who bought down Milan last time, and Matri, the match winner against Inter, should start.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out, and whether the numbers for Juve, and their European hopes add up.
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