The Serie A champions host Champions League hopefuls in match week 23 of the 16/17 season. Juventus will be looking to extend their strong lead at the top of the table as Inter make the way to Turin from Milan. Inter are hoping to cement a place in the Champions League as they look to qualify for the competition for the first time in several years and by beating league leaders, Juventus, they would throw down a massive marker in their attempt. Inter are currently 4th, 2 points ahead of Lazio in 5th.

STATS

• Juventus have shown consistent form throughout the season and have only been beaten once in their last 5 outings, winning the other 4. The loss came in an away trip to Fiorentina, they have won every single one of their home league games this season, all 4 of their losses have come away from home.
• Inter’s recent form has been even better and they’re currently on a winning run that goes back 7 games dating back to the 11^th of December. This winning run has seen them shoot up the table and they’ll have to be at their best to make that run 8 games.
• Gonzalo HIguain has been Juventus’ only prolific goal scorer so far this season with 15 goals, no player in the league has scored more than Higuain. Young star, Paulo Dybala, has only contributed 5 goals but has set up 8 goals for his team-mates.
• Mauro Icardi has also scored 15 league goals along with Higuain and Edin Dzeko, but he has been directly involved in more goals with 8 assists! Higuain only has 1 and Dzeko has 2. Ivan Perisic has also chipped in with 7 goals from midfield, Juventus will have to make sure he isn’t allowed any space within 30 yards of their goal because he loves a long shot!

HEAD TO HEAD

Juventus’ domination in this fixture dates back to 2010, with Inter only winning one of the meetings between them since. However, this win came the last time they met back in September where they ran out 2-1 winners.

JUVENTUS NEWS

After a great first half of the season, Juventus will be looking to kick on with a solid victory over an in-form Inter side and with nearly a whole squad at their disposal, they have a good chance of being able to do just that. Mario Lemina will miss out through injury but Mehdi Benatia should be back to the side after his commitments with the Moroccan national team at the African Cup of Nations.

Latest matches: Juventus Turin

29.01.2017	Seri	US Sassuolo	Juventus Turin	0:2	W
25.01.2017	Copp	Juventus Turin	AC Milan	2:1	W
22.01.2017	Seri	Juventus Turin	Lazio Roma	2:0	W
15.01.2017	Seri	AC Fiorentina	Juventus Turin	2:1	L
11.01.2017	Copp	Juventus Turin	Atalanta Bergamasca	3:2	W

INTER NEWS

Like Juventus, Inter will want to continue their great run of form in the league and with a fully available team, they have a chance of doing just that. Stefano Pioli has a full team to choose from and, if he plays his cards right, his team could well find themselves taking 3 points back to Milan.

Latest matches: Inter Milan

31.01.2017	Copp	Inter Milan	Lazio Roma	1:2	L
28.01.2017	Seri	Inter Milan	Pescara Calcio	3:0	W
22.01.2017	Seri	US Palermo	Inter Milan	0:1	W
17.01.2017	Copp	Inter Milan	Bologna FC	3:2	W
14.01.2017	Seri	Inter Milan	AC Chievo Verona	3:1	W

SUMMING UP!

In recent years, with Inter’s rapid decline from European champions, this game has often been very mediocre, but with both teams fit and firing on all cylinders at the moment, it promises to be a great game. With the superpower that Juventus are in Europe right now, they should come out winners in this one but Inter won’t go down easily and will put up a fight to hold off the champions. Of the last 9 meetings between the sides, 7 have seen goals from both teams.