Juventus vs Pescara Preview

Following their frustrating defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, The Bianconeri will be hoping to resume domestic matters with a boosting win over lowly Pescara.

Italian champions Juventus will be hoping to put behind them their disappointing Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, with a convincing victory over Pescara at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday.

Juventus, who sit pretty in top spot of the Serie A with 68 points from 30 games, nine points ahead of closest-rivals Napoli, with 59 points, are fully aware of the fact that if they manage to rack up the three points against Pescara they would practically assure themselves of back-to-back Serie A titles.

In stark contrast, Saturday's opponents Pescara languish in bottom spot of the 20-team Italian top-flight, with just 21 points from 30 games. A defeat for them would almost surely mean that they will return to the Serie B next season.

Antonio Conte, the coach of Juventus, will be unable to count with the services of defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli for the clash, as both players will serve suspensions.

With the return leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich close-approaching, Conte is expected to rest a number of his key players, including underfire goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo and Fabio Quagliarella.

According to reports from the Italian press, French striker Nicolas Anelka could make his first start since joining the Bianconeri. He could possibly partner either Mirko Vucinic or Alessandro Matri up front.

The visitors, who will be desperate to cause what would be a major upset, also have a number of selection concerns ahead of the match, as while Mervan Celik is suspended, Vladimir Weiss, Antonio Balzano and Uros Cosic are all injured.