Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Roma

Following Roma’s visit to Turin tonight, Juventus’ schedule is going to get a lot easier. By that I mean the opposition won’t be those who sit first, second or fourth all within a month of each other. You want to see Juventus try and pick up three points after three points against mid-table opposition, well, then you’re about to get it.

Before all of that, though, there’s tonight’s matter at hand.

A Roma-centric matter at hand.

It’s been seven years since Roma last claimed a win over Juventus in Turin. If Juventus are victorious tonight over Roma, that stretch will leave to see eight years and plenty of months added on before the two teams play another Serie A fixture against one another at Allianz Stadium.

I would like to think Max Allegri or anybody else associated with black and white-related things in Turin don’t want to see that streak suddenly change in Roma’s favor tonight.

A clash of top four teams in Serie A is what awaits us tonight. A clash between the six-time league champions and one of the teams that has been chasing them just about every one of those past six seasons. Storyline upon storyline. That’s usually how it is whenever Juventus and Roma reacquaint themselves with one another on the field.

Just as was the case against Napoli and Inter earlier this month, it’s a hugely important game for more than just a couple reasons. Juventus can not only continue this run of quality form they’re currently on, but again challenge Napoli for the top spot in the Serie A standings coming out of the weekend’s action while also delivering a quality hit to Roma’s title aspirations.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? Sez Max:

“Roma are definitely one of the favourites for the Scudetto, away from home Roma haven’t even been behind for a single minute and that says a lot about how much quality they possess.”

[...]

“The big matches between strong teams are always even, look at the games against Napoli and Inter. I think it will be the same against Roma, an even game.”

(Source: juventus.com)

I liked the way the Napoli scoreline ended up. The Inter scoreline most certainly could have been better even though it wasn’t so bad. Now, in the final first meeting of the season against a fellow top four side, Juventus can just try and do what they’ve a lot this month — win and play well in the process.

That sounds like a nice early Christmas present to me, everybody.

MATCH INFO

Location: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy; 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:45 p.m. on the East Coast; 11:45 a.m. on the West Coast

STARTLING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny; Andrea Barzagli, Medhi Benatia, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Sami Khedira, Miralem Pjanic, Blaise Matuidi; Juan Cuadrado, Gonzalo Higuain, Mario Mandzukic

Juventus bench: Carlo Pinsoglio, Leonardo Loria, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Daniele Rugani, Kwadwo Asamoah, Claudio Marchisio, Rodrigo Bentancur, Stefano Sturaro, Paulo Dybala, Douglas Costa, Federico Bernardeschi, Marko Pjaca

Roma starting XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alessandro Florenzi, Kostas Manolas, Federico Fazio, Aleksander Kolarov; Radja Nainggolan, Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman; Stephan El Shaarawy, Edin Dzeko, Diego Perotti

Roma bench: Lukasz Skorupski, Bogdan Lobont, Juan Jesus, Bruno Peres, Leandro Castan, Hector Moreno, Emerson, Maxime Gonalons, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gerson, Cengiz Under, Patrik Schick

WATCH IT

TV: beIN SPORTS USA, beIN SPORTS en Español, Rai Italia America (United States); beIN Sports Canada, beIN SPORTS en Español, Rai Italia America (Canada); BT Sport 2 (United Kingdom); PremiumSport HD, Sky Supercalcio HD, Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Sky Calcio 1 (Italy)

Online/Mobile: beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A., fuboTV (United States); beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada, DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada (Canada); BT Sport Live (United Kingdom); Premium Play, SKY Go Italia (Italy)

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