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Serie A Preview: Inter - Juventus
What: Serie A, Round 13
Who: Inter vs Juventus
When: Saturday November 22, 2008, 20:30CET
Where: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milano, Italia
| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £48.00 | Draw £34.00 | Juventus £17.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £50.00 | Draw £33.00 | Juventus £18.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £50.00 | Draw £35.00 | Juventus £17.30 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £53.50 | Draw £34.50 | Juventus £18.00 |
|
Nov 21, 2008 9:50:46 AM
The Derby d'Italia needs no introduction such is the sheer scale of this fixture. Perhaps one of the biggest in world football and ranked right up there in terms of rivalry with games like 'El Classico' between Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga, or the 'North London' derby between Arsenal against Tottenham, Celtic and Rangers in the 'Old Firm' - you get the picture.
Il Biscione have strolled to the title over the past three years, the Bianconeri will always argue that one of those is rightfully theirs. Now they have the chance to take maximum points in order to help claim it back this year.
Inter The Team To Beat
The Nerazzurri have the best defensive record in Serie A this term having conceded just seven. Home form has been impeccable apart from the 1-0 loss to Milan but then they were the 'away' team on the occasion and thus really they are unbeaten at San Siro this season.
Surprisingly the last team to have beaten Inter at 'home' were Juventus last season. The Bianconeri won that game 2-1. A lot has changed since then. Jose Mourinho came in, Roberto Mancini went out, as Massimo Moratti shook it all about. The new coach has laid down the law since his arrival. No one at the club apart from the president is above him but, saying that, even Moratti has bowed down to the 'Special One'.
Many will remember the ranting and raving hurly burly spat with Claudio Ranieri, this is just one of the many reasons as to why this game is being billed as the mother of all Derby d'Italia's. Mourinho was quick to meet and greet the unforgiving Italian press but not everyone has seen the funny side of his behaviour in front of the cameras.
The Beneamata are the team to beat. They have been the dominant force in Serie A for far too long and it seems as if only Milan and Juventus have what it takes to bring them down this season.
Juventus will be looking at their opponents and they will have a feeling of seeing themselves in the mirror. Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were wearing the black and white jersey not so long ago, the tricolore on the shirts, the dominance and power, sounds familiar, the only difference now is the shirt colour. Once upon a time this used to be Juve, funny how things can change so quickly in Calcio. Their players will still have the Calciopoli fire burning furiously in their hearts and minds, but Inter don't care and their will be no sympathy on their part.
Ibrahimovic has been the one leading the charge this term and he will be on hand to try and get one over his former employers - he has yet to score against them in Serie A. In their last five meetings in the league, Juventus have the better record at San Siro. The Bianconeri have won twice, drawn twice and lost just once. The defeat was back in 2004 when Inter won 3-2. The other Nerazzurri win came in 1998 when a Youri Djorkaeff strike was enough to steal the points.
Just two wins in ten years is not good enough and Mourinho will be planning his next move. The coach has home advantage and a more complete squad on paper. He is holding the handle of the knife; Juventus will need to try and get it off him without cutting themselves in the process. No-one is more prepared to do this than tinkerman and thinkerman Claudio Ranieri.
It will be the 151st derby d'Italia, the 76th played at San Siro. In those 76 games, the home side have prevailed on 32 occasions, Juventus have won 19 and the other 24 all ended in draws.
Juventus Ready To Knock Inter Off Their Perch
The Bianconeri head into this game full of confidence. There has been talk of a win all week but then again talk is cheap and, when it comes to games like these, everyone knows that it's worthless. What really counts is the football played on the pitch. With seven wins on the bounce, two of those against Real Madrid in the Champions League, it seems as if the Old Lady has been doing all the talking, true to the stereotype of a real life Vecchia Signora.
Juventus have lost once on their travels this term, twice in total. The away defeat came against Napoli but since then, Ranieri has ensured his team have done the business. Much of the resurgence has been down to the brilliance of captain and legend Alessandro Del Piero. Pinturricchio has been in the form of his life and he has a tradition of doing the damage against Inter. If he doesn't score then he will create one. The Nerazzurri will need to keep an eye out on his free kicks. The number 10 has been training hard all week at Vinovo and he even has a special free kick area to train on. Amauri will also be looking to leave his mark. The €24 million summer signing has been blowing hot and cold this week but he usually pulls out all the stops against the big teams.
The aim for Juventus is to emulate the result from last season. A win could see the Bianconeri knock I Cugini and bitter rivals off their perch. Ranieri's men tasted top spot last week after their 4-1 win over Genoa, but that brief adventure only lasted 48 hours before Mourinho waved his magic wand on Ibrahimovic and Inter went back on top.
Being on top is a great position and the Old Lady will be hoping to ride and grind her way back on the long and stiff road towards the Scudetto. The game promises to be a climactic affair and Juve will make it difficult for the big boys to score.
FORM GUIDE
Inter
15/11 (Serie A): Palermo - Inter 0-2
09/11 (Serie A): Inter-Udinese 1-0
04/11 (Champions League): Anorthosis Famagusta-Inter 3-3
01/11 (Serie A): Reggina-Inter 2-3
29/10 (Serie A): Fiorentina-Inter 0-0
Juventus
13/11 (Serie A): Juventus - Genoa 4-1
09/11 (Serie A): Chievo Verona - Juventus 0-2
05/11 (CL): Real Madrid - Juventus 0-2
01/11 (Serie A): Juventus - Roma 2-0
29/10 (Serie A): Bologna - Juventus 1-2
TEAM NEWS
Inter
Christian Chivu and Nelson Rivas are still in the treatment room, while Ivan Cordoba misses out through suspension. Jose Mourinho has yet to announce his squad. Adriano, Julio Cesar, Maicon and Amantino Mancini were all involved in international duty this week but they are all available to play against Juve.
The big question surrounds Adriano's possible exclusion again. The hit-man has not featured in any of the last four Serie A fixtures and he warned that he could leave if he doesn't play. This is unlikely to go down too well with his coach who may drop him. Ibrahimovic enjoyed a two day rest and he will be fresh and ready for action.
Probable Starting XI 4-1-3-2: Cesar, Maxwell, Samuel, Burdisso, Maicon, Cambiasso, Vieira, Muntari, Zanetti, Cruz, Ibrahimovic.
Juventus
The bad news this week was that Christian Poulsen aggravated a previous injury in training. The Danish midfielder had to abandon the session on Wednesday which is so unlucky as he had only just returned for his side.
Jorge Andrade, Cristiano Zanetti, Jonathan Zebina, David Trezeguet, Gianluigi Buffon, Hasan Salihamidzic, Dario Knezevic are all crocked. Trezeguet will be back to full training on Monday while Buffon's recovery should be complete in January. Zebina's operation on Thursday was deemed a success but he will be out for at least 90 days.
Probable Starting XI 4-4-2: Manninger, Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro, Camoranesi, Sissoko, Nedved, Tiago, Del Piero, Amauri.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Inter: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The hitman won the Swedish Player of the Year award this week for a record third time and thus he will be heading into the game with pride and confidence. He has been outstanding this term and his goals against Roma and Palermo have shown just why many have tipped him to go on and win the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award in future. Look out for his deadly finishing and stunning skills.
Juventus: With respect to all the other players, there is only one man to watch and it's Alessandro Del Piero. The legend is looking to score his 251st goal for the club and there will be no better occasion than to grab it against Inter. Keep an eye out on his deadly free kicks.
PREDICTION
These games are seldom easy to predict. With such a vast amount of talent on the pitch it can go either way. This is the sort of tie where anything can happen and a moment of genius from someone is likely to settle the affair. A penalty, a free kick, an own goal. Expect to see everything as both teams collide into each other like two express trains on the same line.
On paper Inter seem stronger but that all goes out of the window by the time the referee blows his first whistle on Saturday night. Juve are no pushovers, just ask Real Madrid. A draw seems on the cards.
Inter 1-1 Juventus
Salvatore Landolina
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