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Played
December 19, 2010 2:00 PM GMT
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona
Referee: M. Bergonzi
Attendance: 22000
December 19, 2010 2:00 PM GMT
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona
Referee: M. Bergonzi
Attendance: 22000
90+2′
Sergio Pellissier
Serie A Preview: Chievo - Juventus
The Bianconeri will be confident of consolidating their Scudetto chances but will not find it easy in Verona against the Flying Donkeys...
By Subhankar Mondal
Catching The Cold
With the fall of December, Chievo have gone cold as they have struggled this month in Serie A. Last month's 2-1 triumph over Italian and European champions Inter placed the Flying Donkeys within reach of a European place but a three-match winless run this month has dragged them to mid-table mediocrity.
Not that a mid-table slot is abominable to a club like Chievo for whom survival in the Italian top flight is the primary objective, but with 20 points from 16 matches, the Veronese side find themselves just five points above the relegation - a worrying sign if Ceo do not resume winning matches.
Last weekend Chievo lost 3-2 in Lecce and allowed the relegation-battlers to draw closer to them. This weekend a win against Juventus at home is unlikely as the Bianconeri are in a great run of form but the Flying Donkeys will aspire for at least a point against the former Italian champions.
Mission Scudetto
Juventus' European adventure came to a disappointing but potentially beneficial end on Thursday evening when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester City in Turin. It was, comically, their sixth draw in six matches in the group stage of the competition, but their fate in Europe was already sealed before the visit of the Premier League team.
This means that Luigi Del Neri's men will now be able to focus fully on their Scudetto challenge and indeed the Bianconeri have emerged as the most credible challenger to Milan in the title race.
With 30 points from 16 matches, Juve are six points adrift of the Rossoneri but having gone 17 matches unbeaten in all competition, they are in a great form and will aspire to wrap up 2010 with a victory in Verona.
The Old Lady's away form has been impressive so far this season as they have won four of their eight matches away from Turin in the league and have conceded just four goals - the best defensive record in the division. Winning against Chievo could take them closer to Milan since the Diavolo host ambitious Roma on Saturday evening and are likely to find it a tough encounter.
With the fall of December, Chievo have gone cold as they have struggled this month in Serie A. Last month's 2-1 triumph over Italian and European champions Inter placed the Flying Donkeys within reach of a European place but a three-match winless run this month has dragged them to mid-table mediocrity.
Not that a mid-table slot is abominable to a club like Chievo for whom survival in the Italian top flight is the primary objective, but with 20 points from 16 matches, the Veronese side find themselves just five points above the relegation - a worrying sign if Ceo do not resume winning matches.
Last weekend Chievo lost 3-2 in Lecce and allowed the relegation-battlers to draw closer to them. This weekend a win against Juventus at home is unlikely as the Bianconeri are in a great run of form but the Flying Donkeys will aspire for at least a point against the former Italian champions.
Mission Scudetto
Juventus' European adventure came to a disappointing but potentially beneficial end on Thursday evening when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester City in Turin. It was, comically, their sixth draw in six matches in the group stage of the competition, but their fate in Europe was already sealed before the visit of the Premier League team.
This means that Luigi Del Neri's men will now be able to focus fully on their Scudetto challenge and indeed the Bianconeri have emerged as the most credible challenger to Milan in the title race.
With 30 points from 16 matches, Juve are six points adrift of the Rossoneri but having gone 17 matches unbeaten in all competition, they are in a great form and will aspire to wrap up 2010 with a victory in Verona.
The Old Lady's away form has been impressive so far this season as they have won four of their eight matches away from Turin in the league and have conceded just four goals - the best defensive record in the division. Winning against Chievo could take them closer to Milan since the Diavolo host ambitious Roma on Saturday evening and are likely to find it a tough encounter.

TEAM NEWS
Chievo
Thereau and Morero are unavailable because of injury. Rigoni is suspended.
Juventus
Buffon, Motta, Rinaudo, De Ceglie, Martinez and Amauri are nursing injuries and will sit out the match. Felipe Melo is suspended.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Chievo 4-1 Juventus
- 23.64 %
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Chievo 0-2 Juventus
- 19.8 %
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Chievo 1-3 Juventus
- 14.12 %
| Italy - Serie A (ITA1) | Oct 16, 2011 | Chievo 0 - Juventus 0 | |
| Italy - Serie A (ITA1) | May 9, 2011 | Juventus 2 - Chievo 2 | |
| Italy - Serie A (ITA1) | Dec 19, 2010 | Chievo 1 - Juventus 1 | |
| Italy - Serie A (ITA1) | Jan 17, 2010 | Chievo 1 - Juventus 0 | |
| Italy - Serie A (ITA1) | Aug 23, 2009 | Juventus 1 - Chievo 0 |
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| Feb 19, 2012 | Genoa 0 - Chievo 1 | ITA1 |
| Feb 13, 2012 | SSC Napoli 2 - Chievo 0 | ITA1 |
| Feb 5, 2012 | Chievo 1 - Parma 2 | ITA1 |
| Feb 2, 2012 | Novara 1 - Chievo 2 | ITA1 |
| Jan 29, 2012 | Chievo 0 - Lazio 3 | ITA1 |
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| Feb 18, 2012 | Juventus 3 - Catania 1 | ITA1 |
| Feb 15, 2012 | Parma 0 - Juventus 0 | ITA1 |
| Feb 8, 2012 | AC Milan 1 - Juventus 2 | ITAC |
| Feb 5, 2012 | Juventus 0 - Siena 0 | ITA1 |
| Jan 28, 2012 | Juventus 2 - Udinese 1 | ITA1 |
- Serie A Team of the Week: Round 24 - Clinical Di Vaio punishes Inter & perfect Pirlo inspires Juventus victory
- Serie A Round 24 Results: Five-star Palermo batter hapless Lazio, Lecce thrash Siena in relegation six-pointer
- Monday's Bet of the day: Expect goals when Napoli meet Chievo
- Neymar’s birthday header or Di Natale’s strike for Udinese? Pick your Goal of the Week
| 54 | Stefano Sorrentino | Goalkeeper |
| 20 | Gennaro Sardo | Defender |
| 5 | Davide Mandelli | Defender |
| 12 | Bostjan Cesar | Defender |
| 2 | Andrea Mantovani | Defender |
| 16 | Gelson Fernandes | Midfielder |
| 5 | Roberto Guana | Midfielder |
| 7 | Michele Marcolini | Midfielder |
| 27 | Kevin Constant | Midfielder |
| 31 | Sergio Pellissier | Striker |
| 9 | Davide Moscardelli | Striker |
| 18 | Lorenzo Squizzi | Goalkeeper |
| 21 | Nicolas Sebastien Frey | Defender |
| 3 | Marco Andreolli | Defender |
| 13 | Bojan Jokic | Defender |
| 83 | Marcos Ariel De Paula | Striker |
| - | Pablo Louro Granoche | Striker |
| 54 | Mariano Bogliacino | Midfielder |
| 30 | Marco Storari | Goalkeeper |
| 43 | Frederik Sorensen | Defender |
| 19 | Leonardo Bonucci | Defender |
| 3 | Giorgio Chiellini | Defender |
| 6 | Fabio Grosso | Defender |
| 27 | Milos Krasic | Midfielder |
| 18 | Alberto Aquilani | Midfielder |
| 6 | Manuel Giandonato | Midfielder |
| 7 | Simone Pepe | Midfielder |
| 9 | Vincenzo Iaquinta | Striker |
| 18 | Fabio Quagliarella | Striker |
| 13 | Alexander Manninger | Goalkeeper |
| 11 | Marco Motta | Defender |
| 26 | Zdenek Grygera | Defender |
| - | Niccolò Giannetti | Striker |
| 11 | Hasan Salihamidzic | Midfielder |
| 6 | Nicola Legrottaglie | Defender |
| 13 | Armand Traoré | Defender |
| Sergio Pellissier | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 31 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Sergio Pellissier is a man for the big occasions and he will be keen to destroy Juventus the way he destroyed Inter. The Ceo talisman has netted five times in Serie A this campaign and has also provided four assists. The Italian will lead the attackline against a Juve defensive unit that looks vulnerable along the full-back positions.
| Milos Krasic | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 27 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Milos Krasic has been a star player for Juventus and scored an injury-time winner against Lazio last weekend. The Serbia international has turned up in most of the matches and has hit top form immediately after his arrival in the summer. The 26-year-old will again be a major player for the former Italian and European champions with his run, pace and tricks.
Chievo are pushing for Europe and will make it tough for Juventus in Verona. However, the Turin-based side should have enough firepower to register a victory especially as they are on a great unbeaten run in the league.
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Results
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Antonio Di Natale
Striker Udinese |
17 | 3 |
|
|
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Striker Milan |
15 | 6 |
|
|
Edinson Cavani
Striker Napoli |
15 | 2 |
|
|
Stevan Jovetic
Striker Fiorentina |
12 | 4 |
|
|
Germán Denis
Striker Atalanta |
12 | 3 |
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