Serie A 18-20/02/2022: Juventus in Turin derby, Inter Milan hope to recover from mini blip
Unlike some of Europe’s other major leagues, Serie A looks like being a three-way title race. As a result, we have two cracking games to look forward to this weekend – Juventus v Torino, and Inter Milan v Sassuolo. We will also refer to the latest match odds to see how they are shaping up.
Juventus still in driving seat for top-four place
Although there’s a lot of football to be played before the end of the season, Juventus are in fine form. They looked well placed to nail down a top-four spot. A 1-1 draw away to Atalanta last weekend suggested this, and they will have been buoyed by Danilo’s late equaliser.
After a rocky start to the season, there seems to be a feel-good factor in the camp. Currently, Juve are fourth in the Serie A table, and while they may have left it a little late to mount a title challenge, they could well end up overhauling Napoli, who are seven points clear of the Old Lady in third.
Torino left with just pride to play for
Torino are an industrious side, and ahead of a Turin derby, there should be plenty to play for. However, for Torino, it appears to be just pride. Currently, they are 10th in the table, and with their chances of qualifying for the Europa League now a long shot, they will just want to get one over their rivals.
Juventus hoping to complete Turin derby double over Torino
Derby matches can be intense, with challenges flying everywhere, and there are no half measures. Juve won 1-0 away at Torino when the two sides met earlier this season. And the Bianconeri will be eager to complete a league double over Torino to consolidate a top-four spot.
Paulo Dybala brings up special milestone for Juventus
Paulo Dybala is some player to watch and, over the years, there have been comparisons drawn between him and Argentine metronome Lionel Messi. Against Atalanta last weekend, Dybala made his 200th Serie A appearance for Juve, which is more than any other Bianconeri player since he joined in 2015.
Inter Milan hoping to recover from mini blip
During the title race, things can always get tense. And as far as Inter Milan are concerned, they may well be slightly concerned by their dip in form. The reigning Serie A champions have won just one of their past three matches. They are now a point behind crosstown rivals AC Milan in the title race.
Of course, there will still be plenty of twists and turns in Serie A, but Milan will have the wind in their sails. Inter need to regroup quickly, and with the visit of Sassuolo, perhaps that can act as the catalyst for Inter to embark on a decent run.
Inter were forced to come from behind in their last outing against Napoli, and Edin Dzeko rescued a point. They can’t afford too many slip-ups between now and the end of the season. Whereas Sassuolo’s season is in danger of petering out, as they are 12th, and the best they can hope for now is a top-10 finish.
Inter Milan v Sassuolo: A look back on past clashes
While it may not be the most glamorous fixture at first glance, it has provided plenty of goals. Indeed, Inter enjoyed a 2-1 victory earlier in the season. After falling behind in the first half, Inter struck back, first through Dzeko and then Lautaro Martinez to claim all three points.
There haven’t been too many goalless draws between these two sides, and Inter will fancy their chances of claiming a league double over Sassuolo. This is certainly a must-win game for Inter if they want to keep the pressure on AC Milan in the title race.
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