Team News
Juventus boss Antonio Conte will make four changes from the side which fought out a goalless draw with Parma on Wednesday. Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal will serve a one-game ban against Catania, and is expected to be replaced by Emanuele Giaccherini. While Conte will replace Stephan Lichtsteiner, Marcelo Estigarribia and Mirko Vucinic with Martin Caceres, Paolo De Ceglie and Fabio Quagliarella, respectively.
Meanwhile, Catania coach Vincenzo Montella is expected to field an identical side as to the one which thumped Genoa 4-0 at the Stadio Angelo Massimino last Sunday. Despite facing a side of the caliber of Juventus, Montella will maintain his three-man attack consisting of the Argentine trio of Gonzalo Bergessio, Alejandro Gomez and Pablo Barrientos.
Form
Unbeaten in an impressive 23-game span in the Serie A this season, Juventus missed out on a glorious opportunity to overtake Milan at the summit, when they were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Parma on Wednesday. It was the second consecutive league game in which they could only afford a tie with no goals, clearly identifying the fact that they lack sufficient firepower in their attack.
In the middle of the two games, Juve beat Milan 2-1 in the Coppa Italia, and whilst their attackers were off form, their two goals came from an unlikely source in Uruguayan defender Caceres.
Catania, on the other hand, hit four past Genoa last weekend, but were held to 1-1 draws in their previous two league encounters against Roma and Parma.
Head-to-head
The Sicilians have only sufffered two defeats in nine meetings with Juventus since returning to the Italian top-flight in 2006. In the last clash between the two sides in September, the outcome was a 1-1 draw, with Bergessio putting Catania ahead, before Milos Krasic drew Juve level. Incidentally, the last time Catania beat La Vecchia Signora was on a road trip back in 2009.
Prediction
Despite their recent struggles, Juventus are expected to prove too strong for a spirited, but yet a considerably vulnerable Catania. The Bianconeri have everything what it takes to obtain the three points, but unlike in their previous two games, need to put away their chances. Having said this, they still have to remain fully concentrated at the back, because the visitors contain a lethal three-man attack.
The Verdict:
Juventus 2-1 Catania
