Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. S.P.A.L.

Seven days from now, we will be jonesing hard for some Juventus football to be played. This is what happens every time an international break is about to begin, with the reality of a two-week lull in the schedule very much the reality we don’t want to accept.

Juventus has one more game until the international break starts on the black and white side of Turin. And while a lot of our attention has been focused on what was going on at the top of the Serie A table, tonight’s opponent is sitting on the complete opposite end of the situation. Maybe not completely-completely, but most certainly close to it.

Juventus sits atop the table and currently holds firm to its four-point lead over Napoli.

S.P.A.L., on the other hand, is hanging onto its Serie A status for dear life, with the only thing keeping the club out of the relegation zone is the fact that they’re tied on 24 points with both Sassuolo and Crotone entering the weekend.

One team owns the best attack in Italy.

The other has allowed the second-most amount of goals in Serie A this season.

I’m pretty sure that it won’t take long to figure out which team is which. You don’t need any kind of advanced research degree to decipher the two differences in the clubs.

For Juventus, after now getting into first place in Serie A, it’s about staying there these last 10 games of the league schedule. Napoli can’t overtake Juventus regardless of what happens, but anything other than three points against a relegation-threatened team like S.P.A.L. has been for months now seems like it would be quite a disappointment.

This isn’t all that hard to figure out. Juventus, go into the international break the right way. And let’s have the chance to have a seven-point lead (!!!) for at least the next day or so.

MATCH INFO

When: Saturday, March 17, 2018

Where: Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrera, Italy

Kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy; 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 3:45 p.m. on the East Coast; 12:45 p.m. on the West Coast

(Please note, Daylight Savings Time has not gone into effect in Europe like it has in the United States, thus the start time still being one hour later than usual for night time kickoffs.)

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-2-3-1): Buffon; De Sciglio, Rugani, Chiellini, Asamoah; Pjanic, Matuidi; Douglas Costa, Dybala, Alex Sandro; Higuain

Juventus bench: Szczesny, Del Favero, Barzagli, Howedes, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Bentancur, Marchisio, Mandzukic

S.P.A.L. starting XI (3-5-2): Meret; Cionek, Vicari, Felipe; Lazzari, Grassi, Schiattarella, Kurtic, Costa; Paloschi, Antenucci

S.P.A.L. bench: Gomis, Marchegiani, Simic, Vaisanen, Drame, Viviani, Everton Luiz, Vitale, Schiavon, Salamon, Bonazzoli, Floccari

HOW TO WATCH

Television: beIN SPORTS USA, Rai Italia America (United States); beIN Sports Canada, Rai Italia America Canada (Canada); BT Sport 3 (United Kingdom); Sky Calcio 1, Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Sky Supercalcio HD, PremiumSport HD (Italy)

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

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live and all the stupid things we say on Twitter. If you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.

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