Preview: Chievo vs. Juventus

Juventus will begin their pursuit of a fourth successive Serie A title when they travel to Chievo on Saturday.

The Old Lady have dominated Italian football for the past three seasons, but enter a new era this campaign, with Antonio Conte having stepped down as manager.

Former AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has been charged with continuing this supremacy and has so far been supported by the club's hierarchy in their rebuffing of interest in Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba.

Both midfielders, who scored 26 goals in 94 appearances between them last term, have been courted by Manchester United, but Juve have reportedly turned down a £34m offer for Vidal and are determined to keep him.

Chievo, who are managed by ex-Juventus playmaker Eugenio Corini, finished just four points above the relegation zone last season and were beaten home and away by the runaway champions.

Unlike their illustrious opponents, the Verona outfit have already been in action this campaign, but they came out on the losing side in their Coppa Italia clash with Serie B side Pescara last Friday.

Chievo have brought in no fewer than 11 new players this summer and could hand debuts to AC Milan loanee Valter Birsa, experienced centre-back Alessandro Gamberini and forward Maxi Lopez.

Most of Juve's transfer activity has been focused on buying talent for the future, but former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra and Spanish Under-21 international Alvaro Morata are in contention to start.

Morata will, however, have to face a late fitness test as he nurses a knee injury, while the visiting defence will be without suspended Luis Suarez victim Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli.

Chievo have beaten Juventus just once in the history of Italian league football - a 1-0 triumph in 2009-2010.

Recent form

Chievo: L

Juventus: N/A

Possible starting lineups

Chievo: Puggioni; Drame, Gamberini, Cesar, Frey; Hetemaj, Radovanovic, Birsa, Thereau; Lopez, Pellissier

Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Evra; Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal; Tevez, Llorente

Sports Mole says: 0-3