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Nedved, Chiellini, Legrottaglie and Nocerino are back from suspension and all four could start for Juve against Inter. DP also is fit to start.
Inter still are missing Materazzi, Vieira, & Stankovic, but Julio Cesar may be fit to start.
Nedved, Chiellini, Legrottaglie and Nocerino are back from suspension and all four could start for Juve against Inter. DP also is fit to start.
Inter still are missing Materazzi, Vieira, & Stankovic, but Julio Cesar may be fit to start.
Juventus - Inter
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The Derby d’Italia returns as Juventus and Inter lock horns in the most mouth-watering clash of the season so far at the Stadio Olimpico. After a highly encouraging start to the campaign, can Juve emerge as genuine title contenders? The Bianconeri have already exceeded pre-season expectations and exuded authority as they swept aside Empoli 3-0 courtesy of the peninsula’s Capocannoniere David Trezeguet. Claudio Ranieri’s men have only conceded twice at home all season en route to third place and there are signs that the stubborn Old Lady could take the Scudetto race to the wire.
However, Ranieri’s men were in Serie B last term and the step up to face the all-conquering Beneamata is a huge one. The passion and intensity of this great rivalry will either inspire a superhuman effort or cause them to wilt. Home advantage is a big boost and anything is possible, but Juve start the Derby d’Italia with an unfamiliar underdogs tag. Inter are threatening to repeat last season and pull away from the chasing pack. Having been held by Palermo, the Nerazzurri vented their rage on hapless Genoa with a 4-1 drubbing, despite resting star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. So far there has been very little to suggest that Roberto Mancini’s men can be stopped.
While the pressure of a visit to Turin cannot be overstated, Mancio’s superstars have already shown that they can rise to the occasion. The 4-1 devastation of Roma sent an unequivocal message that the reigning champions mean business and a side oozing confidence will see this as a chance to floor one of their main rivals. Juve did the double over Inter in 2005-06, including a 2-0 win at the Stadio Delle Alpi. While the Nerazzurri have no Turin hoodoo and triumphed there as recently as April 2005, one factor that will make this trip more daunting is the atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico, which eclipses that of the vast Delle Alpi.
Nicola Legrottaglie’s recent form has seen him secure a new contract with the Bianconeri and he looks likely to start at the back ahead of Domenico Criscito. Fellow defenders Jean-Alain Boumsong and Jorge Andrade remain sidelined. Pavel Nedved, Giorgio Chiellini and Antonio Nocerino return from bans. Ranieri is expected to start with the attacking trident of Alessandro Del Piero behind Trezeguet and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Mancini is ready to unleash a rested Ibrahimovic on his former club. The Swedish giant can expect the coldest of welcomes from the fans who once cheered his name. Adriano’s place on the bench is in doubt as relations with Mancini have been frosty since his angry reaction to being substituted against Reggina in Week 8. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar returns from a back injury to replace understudy Paolo Orlandoni. Marco Materazzi, Patrick Vieira, Francesco Toldo, Dejan Stankovic and Luis Jimenez are all injured.
Keep an eye on: David Trezeguet (Juventus) – The prolific Frenchman’s hat-trick against Empoli took his total to 10 goals from 10 games. Can he continue that ratio against the strongest of opposition?
Form guide: Juventus (W D W L W) Inter (W W W D W)
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Juventus (probable): Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Nocerino, Zanetti, Nedved; Del Piero, Iaquinta, Trezeguet
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Dacourt, Cambiasso, Figo; Ibrahimovic, Crespo
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