Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has named Inter Milan top favorites to lift the Scudetto in the build-up to the first Derby d’Italia of the season. Europe will be tunning to Serie A for the latest installment of one of football’s fiercest rivalries.
Juventus will head to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to meet Inter on Sunday in one of the most highly anticipated fixtures on the Serie A season schedule. Following a sluggish start to the season, Allegri’s men have hit the ground running as they take the field on a run of four consecutive league victories.
A notable upturn in form has seen Juventus bridge the gap on third-placed Inter to just three points, meaning they could leapfrog the Nerazzurri with a win here. The Bianconeri have experienced mixed fortunes across their last three Serie A visits to Giuseppe Meazza (W1, D1, L1).
Therefore, Juve will likely have to grind out a result here, especially considering Inter’s free-scoring form in 2021. Simone Inzaghi’s side have netted 78 goals in 32 Serie A matches this calendar year, with only Bayern Munich scoring more than them across Europe’s top-five leagues in that period.
Well aware of Inter’s strength and quality, Allegri labeled Juventus’ bitter rivals as the number one favorite to win the Serie A crown this season.
“It will be a beautiful evening, there will be many spectators and a great atmosphere. There are many expectations from us, from Inter and the fans. In my opinion, Inter is still the favorite for the Scudetto – it will be an important test. It won’t be a decisive match, but winning would allow us to extend the positive streak and take a leap forward,” he said at the press conference as relayed by Juventus’ official website.
“There is no tension, there is only the right expectation of playing a great match. It will have to be a beautiful evening, we hope to secure a positive result. It will be exciting for me, it’s nice to experience these matches.
“Tomorrow, we will have to play well technically. Inter are strong – we need clarity and a desire to fight. [Edin] Dzeko is a player who knows how to play football, and he pairs well with Lautaro [Martinez]. But Inter have many excellent individuals, which is why I think they are still the strongest in the league.“