After their sparkling start to the new season, rejuvenated Juventus welcome Roma to Turin on Sunday evening, hoping to make it three wins from three in Serie A.
Not only have the Bianconeri dominated their capital counterparts in recent times, but they have also kicked off the 2024-25 campaign in impressive style.
Match preview
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With six goals, two clean sheets and maximum points to their name so far this season, Juventus shot to the top of the very early Serie A standings, ahead of arch-rivals and reigning champions Inter Milan.
Following up their 3-0 defeat of Como on the opening matchday, Thiago Motta's men swept aside a Hellas Verona team that had just toppled Napoli, as last term's top scorer Dusan Vlahovic helped himself to two goals at Stadio Bentegodi.
Not only are Juve flying up front, but - like Motta's Bologna side last season - they have kept things very tight at the back, conceding the fewest shots on target across Europe's top five leagues so far.
After a largely unsuccessful second spell in charge for Max Allegri, Motta was brought in to take Italy's most successful club back to the pinnacle of Calcio, and early evidence suggests they should be Scudetto contenders.
A busy summer in the transfer market has revived Juve's squad, who can look forward to a Champions League comeback soon after the international break: Thursday's draw pitted them against clubs including Manchester City, Benfica and Aston Villa over the months ahead.
Now, the Bianconeri could win their first three Serie A games of a season for the first time in six years, as they meet opponents they have totally dominated in Turin.
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Roma have lost 11 of their last 13 away games against Juventus in Serie A, conceding goals in each of the last 21; indeed, the Giallorossi's last clean sheet came back in September 2001, with their win that day featuring a goal from legendary striker Gabriel Batistuta.
The two clubs did draw their last contest, though: a 1-1 stalemate at Stadio Olimpico in May, when Roma were bound for a third straight sixth-placed finish.
Despite tailing off at the end of last season, Daniele De Rossi was still handed his most cherished job on a permanent basis, but his team have made a slow start to the current campaign.
Roma have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions, following an opening-day draw with Cagliari and last week's shock loss at home to Empoli.
Trailing by two goals to the Tuscan club, only a late header from substitute Eldor Shomurodov got them back into contention, but despite starting the night celebrating Paulo Dybala's decision to reject a switch to Saudi Arabia, it ended in defeat.
After a manic end to the Italian transfer window, De Rossi's new-look side must now attempt to bounce back by slaying one of their toughest foes on Sunday evening.
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Team News
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Thiago Motta can call upon new signings Teun Koopmeiners, Sergio Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez this weekend, but Timothy Weah and Khephren Thuram are both unavailable due to injury.
While there is much more competition for places in Juve's squad this season, Dusan Vlahovic is still the club's undisputed first-choice centre-forward.
The Serbian striker is Serie A's top scorer in 2024 with 12 goals, followed by several players including new teammate Koopmeiners.
Roma's Paulo Dybala joins the Dutch midfielder on nine league goals this year, and after pledging his allegiance to the Giallorossi for another few months at least, 'La Joya' will now return to his former club.
While it remains to be seen if another ex-Juve star, Matias Soule, will keep his place, Dybala should link up with Artem Dovbyk in the final third; fellow forward Tammy Abraham has joined AC Milan in a swap deal with Alexis Saelemaekers.
Elsewhere, new right-back Saud Abdulhamid will compete with Zeki Celik for a place in defence; Roma's only absentee is French midfielder Enzo Le Fee.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Bremer, Cabal; Locatelli, Fagioli; Cambiaso, Yildiz, Mbangoula; Vlahovic
Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino; Paredes, Cristante; Dybala, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Dovbyk
We say: Juventus 1-0 Roma
With Roma struggling to score since a post-Mourinho burst of freedom, Juventus could keep another clean sheet this weekend, as they look rock-solid at the back under new management.
The hosts have recruited some exceptional talent this summer, and even if they only play a part from the bench, that should prove sufficient to see off an away side still seeking their identity.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
