One of the most iconic fixtures in Serie A pits eternal rivals and current league leaders Inter and Juventus against each other. Sunday’s encounter at Giuseppe Meazza has massive implications for the Scudetto race, with only a point separating the sides ahead of the kick-off.
With a game in hand, Inter could make a significant stride with a win in their home setting. However, Juventus, buoyed by a substantial unbeaten streak in domestic football, are looking to leapfrog Simone Inzaghi’s side with a second consecutive league triumph in Lombardy.
Free-scoring Dusan Vlahovic will be at the thick of Massimiliano Allegri’s bid to steer Juventus to the top of the table at the end of Gameweek 22. The superstar striker comes into this round amidst a purple patch, having racked up six goals in four league appearances in January.
Vlahovic’s match opener was in vain in the previous round as Juventus slumped to a 1-1 home draw against relegation-threatened Empoli. But the ex-Fiorentina frontman can enter the Bianconeri folklore following a superb form last month.
As per the club’s website, the 23-year-old can become only the second player in Juventus history to score in each of the opening five Serie A matches of a new calendar year. It’s not a minor feat, especially considering the only player to have done it was Cristiano Ronaldo.
Teenage prodigy Kenan Yildiz should partner Vlahovic in the front third after Arkadiusz Milik displaced him last weekend. The super-talented forward could become the youngest goalscorer in the Derby d’Italia fixture if he gets on the scoresheet tonight.
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