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We've been counting down how many games and/or points are needed for Juventus to clinch the Scudetto for a couple of weeks now. And as Napoli have faltered over that same time span, the amount of points needed has gotten smaller and smaller. Basically, things are close, and getting closer when it comes to a fifth straight Serie A title becoming a done deal.
Today, in just a short bit of time, Juventus' next step toward that fifth straight Scudetto is taking place. Juventus has three home games remaining in Turin, with the first coming tonight against Lazio and the club's new manager, Simone Inzaghi. It's a matchup that in the past has had its fair share of fireworks — be it Stephan Lichtsteiner ousting his former team from the Coppa Italia or Juve capturing another Supercoppa to add to their trophy case.
The one good thing Juventus has going for them? (You know, outside of the whole nine-point lead atop the Serie A table right now...)
It's that this game is in Turin, a place where they have won their last 13 games dating back to the early days of October.
Things are much different from those days, you know. I would think everybody who even is a part-time frequenter of this corner of the internet knows that to be true. That first of the 13 straight home wins was when Juventus was toward the bottom of the Serie A table. Right now? Well, it's quite a bit different.
This charge up the table and toward the title is almost at the final stage of the game. No better way than to close things out than with a bang. No messing around and putting off the inevitable, right? That'd just be delaying what we already know is going to happen.
MATCHDAY! Seven points required. Three up for grabs tonight. Go get 'em, Bianconeri! #FinoAllaFine #FORZAJUVE pic.twitter.com/O8UCDiRrIF
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 20, 2016
You know what to do now, Juventus. Make that "seven points" be "four points" in the next match day tweet. Sounds like a pretty good plan to me, if I do say so myself.
Lineups
Juventus XI (3-5-2): Gianluigi Buffon; Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Daniele Rugani; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sami Khedira, Hernanes, Paul Pogba, Alex Sandro; Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala
Juventus bench: Emil Audero, Rubinho, Patrice Evra, Kwadwo Asamoah, Juan Cuadrado, Mario Lemina, Simone Padoin, Stefano Sturaro, Simone Zaza
Lazio XI (4-3-3/4-3-2-1): Federico Marchetti; Patric, Santiago Gentiletti, Wesley Hoedt, Senad Lulic; Marco Parolo, Lucas Biglia, Ogenyi Onazi; Felipe Anderson, Filip Djordjevic, Keita
Lazio bench: Etrit Berisha, Guido Guerrieri, Edson Braafheid, Ravel Morrison, Dusan Basta, Srgej Milinkovic-Savic, Danilo Cataldi, Mauricio, Alessandro Rossi, Simone Palombi
How to watch
TV: beIN Sports, RAI International (United States, Canada); BT Sport 2 (United Kingdom); PremiumSport HD, Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Sky Calcio 1 (Italy)
Online: fuboTV, beIN Sports CONNECT (United States); beIN Sports CONNECT Canada (Canada); BT Sport Live Streaming (United Kingdom); Sky Go Italia (Italy)
Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live on Twitter. If you haven't already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.