One of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures on the Serie A calendar will take place at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday night as Juventus welcome AC Milan.
The Old Lady top the table with 29 points from their 11 fixtures this season, while Milan have only picked up 13 from the same number of matches, leaving them down in 11th position.
Match preview
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Juve, who have won nine and drawn two of their 11 league matches this term, could be in the second spot by the time that Sunday's fixture rolls around as second-placed Inter Milan - who are just one point off the summit - face Hellas Verona on Saturday looking to move to the top of the table.
The Old Lady have needed to be in impressive form this season to hold off the threat of Inter, and Maurizio Sarri's side will bring a three-game winning run into Sunday night's contest in Turin.
Indeed, since being held at Lecce on October 26, Juve have overcome Genoa and Torino in the league, in addition to recording a 2-1 victory at Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The team's next three games are huge considering that they will tackle Milan and Atalanta BC in Italy's top flight ahead of a home European fixture against Atletico Madrid on November 26.
Juve, who have won Serie A eight times in a row, have beaten Milan on the last eight occasions that the two teams have locked horns in Turin. Indeed, I Rossoneri have not triumphed at the Juventus Stadium in Italy's top flight since March 2011, which was also the year that they last won Serie A.
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Only Juve (35) have won more Italian league titles than Milan (18), but the Red and Blacks have not lifted the trophy since since 2010-11. The Italian giants actually finished as low as 10th in 2014-15 but managed to claim fifth last season, which was certainly an improvement on their recent positions.
Already on their second manager of the season, Stefano Pioli was appointed last month after Marco Giampaolo was relieved of his duties. It has been a poor start for the sleeping giants, who have won just four of their 11 matches and suffered six defeats to sit down in 11th position.
Milan are only three points off the top eight but sit eight points off fourth-placed Lazio, and there has been little to suggest that the club are capable of challenging for the top-four finish during the 2019-20 campaign.
Indeed, the team's only win since October 5 was at home to basement side SPAL. They lost 2-1 at Roma towards the end of last month while they were on the wrong end of the same scoreline at home to Lazio last weekend as they dropped in the bottom half of the table.
For a team that has been so successful - also lifting seven European Cups - Milan are going through a tough period. Juve have not been blowing sides away this season, though, and the visitors certainly have players capable of making it a tough evening for the champions.
Juventus form: WWWDWW
AC Milan form: LWDLWL
Team News
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Cristiano Ronaldo picked up a knee injury during Juve's Champions League clash with Lokomotiv during the week, but the Portugal international is expected to recover in time for Sunday's match.
Sarri will again be without Giorgio Chiellini and Mattia Perin, though, while Matthijs de Ligt is unlikely to recover from an ankle injury, meaning that Daniele Rugani could continue in central defence.
Paulo Dybala is expected to get the nod in the final third over Gonzalo Higuain, while Aaron Ramsey could keep his spot in an attacking position.
Blaise Matuidi was an unused substitute during the week, but the France international is also expected to return to the XI this weekend for what is a huge game.
As for Milan, Samu Castillejo is a huge doubt due to a muscular problem, while Suso also faces a late fitness test after being forced to sit out the clash with Lazio last time out.
Ante Rebic could get the nod in the final third alongside Krzysztof Piatek, who was excellent last season but has managed just three league goals thus far this term.
Rafael Leao and Giacomo Bonaventura are also pushing for positions in the middle of the park, and the latter could get the nod alongside Lucas Paqueta and Ismael Bennacer.
Juventus possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonnuci, Rugani, Sandro; Khedira, Matuidi, Pjanic, Ramsey; Ronaldo, Dybala
AC Milan possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Calabria, Duarte, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Bonaventura, Bennacer, Paqueta; Calhanoglu, Piatek, Rebic
We say: Juventus 2-0 AC Milan
Milan are capable of picking up a result this weekend, but it is difficult to back against Juve when considering that they have not lost a home Serie A match since April. We fancy Sarri's side to run out two-goal winners on Sunday night, which would either see them return to the summit or open up a bigger advantage.
Matt Law
