Juventus vs AC Milan Preview

Even given Juventus's well-documented, and well-lamented—by their faithful, but also journalists still yearning for a more seductive Old Lady—plaintive season, their match against Milan on Saturday will demand us to have some poetic faith. Forget for a moment that the Serie A table shows an insurmountable seventeen-point distance between Milan at the summit and Juventus; instead, try to focus on the incontrovertible fact, to me and many, that this is the biggest game in Italian football.

Inter versus Juventus may now be a case study in recriminations and the paranoid (just ask Juventus fans if they think the refereeing is not bought), Roma versus Lazio may have the bluster, but Milan versus Juventus or Juventus versus Milan as it will be tomorrow at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin seethes under the surface of good manners.

The two most successful clubs in Italy have tacitly admitted that they are co-conspirators in dismantling the hegemony of Inter, and they may also have grudging admiration for each other, but tomorrow the game will, as many in the past, be crucial for both clubs’ ambitions this season.

Juventus will start with Luca Toni and Alessandro Matri. In tandem they have been functional, even if Juventus’s last two losses do not testify to any aspect of their team that works. Giorgio Chiellini may start in center of defence or at left-back.

After Alexandre Pato’s stirring performance against Napoli on Monday, he will form an attack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho. Kevin-Prince Boateng will be in midfield, meaning that Juventus will have their hands full.

Prediction

Milan have had trouble with Juventus. They lost the reverse fixture this season 2-1, but tomorrow they should squeak by with a 1-0 win.