Juventus v Fiorentina
Sunday Night
Finally.
Just before the holidays, we get a holiday treat. A trip to Turin to face Juventus. This couldn't be a better fixture at a better time for us. At the same time, Roma will go away to face Napoli just to really heat things up - luckily though that match is two hours before ours.
Juventus come at this match with mixed feelings. There they are not top of the league but have qualified for the second round of the Champions League just after being beaten by Sevilla. It's confusing to be a Juve fan these days. You just never know what they are going to do next.
Fiorentina come in with a greater level of consistency. Having qualified for the second round of the Europa League, also finishing second in the group, we find ourselves in second place of Serie A behind in Inter side looking like they might be getting it together. All heads, coaching, players, administration will look to Paulo Sousa who masterminded an Inter destruction at the San Siro not so long ago. Sousa has the added advantage of being able to pick from a full strength squad with the exception of Blaszczykowski who is one the unavailable list. Just imagine if we had him in the squad! Nevertheless we still have Gilberto and Bernadeschi to choose from; showing the depth the team has.
This is the game of the week in Serie A. Nothing will top this match either this week or in the coming week. It is almost as if the entire first half of the season has been built up for this match. Juventus are a good side competing in the upper reaches of European football and I'm sure that there is not one good side who competes in the upper reaches of European football that wants to face us.
I feel a confidence in the team I haven't felt before. I can't really wait to see how it translates on the pitch. Live from the Juventus stadium, it's Juventus versus Fiorentina.
Juventus 3-5-2:
Buffon
Barzagli - Bonucci - Chiellini
Lichsteiner - Asamoah - Marchisio - Pogba - Sandro
Dybala - Mandzukic
Kalinic
Valero - Illicic
Marcos Alonso - Vecino - Badelj - Bernadeschi
Astori - Gonzalo - Roncaglia
Barzagli - Bonucci - Chiellini
Lichsteiner - Asamoah - Marchisio - Pogba - Sandro
Dybala - Mandzukic
Kalinic
Valero - Illicic
Marcos Alonso - Vecino - Badelj - Bernadeschi
Astori - Gonzalo - Roncaglia
Fiorentina 3-4-2-1:
This match is on at 7:45pm / 8:45pm.
2:45pm Boston. 6:45am Melbourne. 10:45 Bahrain.
Live on BT Sport Europe.
