LECCE
v
JUVENTUS
Stadio Via Del Mare
20.02.2011, Kick off – 11:30 GMT
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Juventus make the trip to Lecce in a bid to continue their quest in search of a Champions League spot. The Old Lady is coming off a morale boosting victory over arch-rivals Inter in last round. The Bianconeri seemed to have turned a corner after a poor start this year. With Scudetto hopes all but diminished, a Champions League spot is on top of the priority list for Gigi Del Neri’s men. As it stands, Juve are in 6th position in the league table and are breathing down the necks of 4th placed Lazio, just 4 points shy off the Biancocelesti. On the road, Juventus have a decent record, having won 5 games and drawn as many, however they have lost 3 games too.
Lecce are involved in the relegation battle and the 2009-2010 Serie B champions are aiming for survival in this campaign. The Lupi are two points clear of the relegation zone and currently occupy 17th place in the league table. The Giallorossi have been struggling for form recently having lost their previous two games to Palermo and Catania. Luigi De Canio’s men are well aware that safety is still far away and the relegation battle will go down right on the wire. On home soil, Lecce have won, drawn and lost 4 games each.
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Team News and Tactical Brief
Lecce
Coach Di Canio will head into this game without key players through either injury or suspension. His biggest worry will be the defense – as his team have the unenviable record of conceding the most number of goals this season. Alberto Giuliatto, Ofer and Nenad Tomovic are out with injuries while Gustavo, Jeda, captain Guillermo Giacomazzi and former Juve man Ruben Olivera will miss the game through suspensions.
Di Canio will most likely deploy a 4-1-4-1 formation. Rosati will continue his role between the sticks. Donati, Fabio, Ferrario, Brivio will make up the 4 man defense for the Salenti. Vives will be the holding player in midfield and will look to break the rhythm of Juve’s influential duo of Alberto Aquilani and Felipe Melo. Munari, Grossmuller, Bertolacci and Piatti will play ahead of Vives in a four-men midfield. Lecce’s top-scorer and veteran David Di Michele will spearhead the attack for the Lupi. Di Michele has scored 5 goals this season for Lecce.
The Giallorossi will most likely play on the counter and will certainly play for a draw making it hard for the Juve attack to make any sort of in-roads.
Probable Line-up (4-1-4-1): Rosati; Donati, Fabio, Ferrario, Brivio; Vives; Munari, Grossmuller, Bertolacci, Piatti; Di Michele
Juventus
Boss Del Neri will deploy his favoured 4-4-2 formation. Much to the relief of the Juventus tactician, injuries have certainly been reduced. Vincenzo Iaquinta got valuable game-time against Inter but he is expected to start the game from the bench. Alessandro Matri has been one of the best signings of the winter transfer window having scored 3 goals in as many appearances for the Bianconeri. He will be partnered by Luca Toni who put in a very hardworking shift against the Nerazzurri.
In defense Fredrik Sorensen will continue at right back after an impressive display against Inter. Andrea Barzagli has been rock solid since his arrival from Wolfsburg and has formed a sturdy partnership with Leonardo Bonucci in the heart of Juve’s defense. Giorgio Chiellini will continue his role at left back, where he has been commanding. Del Neri is not expected to make any changes to the familiar Juve midfield of Krasic, Melo, Aquilani and Marchisio.
Rinaudo, Quagliarella, De Ceglie, Traore are all out of the game through injury while Momo Sissoko is suspended.
Form Guide: WWLLD
Probable Line-up (4-4-2): Buffon; Sorensen, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Krasic, Melo, Aquilani, Marchisio; Toni, Matri
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TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Alessandro Matri (Juventus)
The 26 year old Italian striker has started off his Juventus career in spectacular fashion netting 3 goals in as many matches. His winner against Inter has endeared him to the Juve faithful and made him a firm fan favourite. If Juventus are to return home with a positive result, Matri will have to play a key role here. The striker is well and truly the centre of Juve’s mini revival and will look to continue his goal-scoring form against Lecce.
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TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION:
Lecce 0-2 Juventus
The home side are coming off two straight losses while the away side are coming off two straight wins. The form-book clearly points towards a Juventus victory and the Bianconeri will hope not to disappoint. The Old Lady won’t have it easy and will look to grind out a result and close the gap on Lazio in their bid for a Champions League spot. The last time these two sides met, Bianconeri trounced the Giallorossi 4-0.