Defending Serie A champions Juventus will have their unbeaten run tested on Friday evening as they host third-placed Inter Milan at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Last season Inter managed to clinch a goalless draw in this fixture, while the reverse match was won 3-2 by Juventus with goals scored by Douglas Costa and Gonzalo Higuain. However, Inter did play that match with ten men for 75 minutes, and they were already 1-0 down then Matias Vecino got sent off. Overall, Juventus have won three of the last six direct matches in all competitions, while Inter have claimed two wins.
Juventus are still unbeaten in Serie A since the start of the season, they recorded 13 victories and just one draw and they are eight points clear of second-placed Napoli at the top of the table. The Bianconeri have lost just one match in all competitions this season, it was a 2-1 defeat at home against Manchester United in the Champions League. After that game they recorded four consecutive wins in all competitions, with eight goals scored and none conceded. Last weekend Juventus secured a 3-0 victory at rivals Fiorentina with goals from Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgio Chiellini and Cristiano Ronaldo. Sami Khedira and Andrea Barzagli are injured, while Emre Can and Alex Sandro are fitness doubts.
Inter seem capable of securing a top-four finish this season, they are third in the Serie A table after fourteen matches and they are just three points behind second-placed Napoli. They have suffered some surprising defeats this season, like the 1-0 home loss against Parma or the 4-1 thrashing at Atalanta, but they did secure good results against big teams like the 1-1 draw in the Champions League against Barcelona or the 1-0 victory over AC Milan in the derby. Last week they grabbed a 2-2 draw at AS Roma, after having led 1-0 and 2-1. Radja Nainggolan is the only major injury doubt for head coach Luciano Spalletti ahead of this match.
Probable line-ups:
Juve: Szczesny - Cancelo, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Sciglio - Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi - Dybala, Ronaldo, Mandzukic
Inter: Handanovic - Vrsaljko, Skriniar, De Vrij, Asamoah - Brozovic, Vecino - Politano, Mario, Perisic - Icardi
My prediction: Juventus to win 1-0, the Bianconeri seem to focus very well in meetings against fellow big teams this season.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Juve win - 1.57
Draw - 4.00
Inter win - 6.50
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