Juventus need to claim maximum points against Cagliari in order to maintain their chances of gaining Serie A leadership.
With AC Milan up against Inter Milan in the Derby della Madonnina on Sunday, a Juventus victory over Cagliari could possibly see them overtake the league leaders into first-place of the Serie A.
After 17 rounds of the competition, Juventus find themselves with 37 points, the same number of points as the Italian champions, but with an inferior goal-difference. With Udinese just two points astray the three points are essential for Antonio Conte's side.
Juventus come into the clash in fine form, after having notched up 20 points in their last eight games, with 18 goals in favour and only five goals against. A victory over Cagliari would allow La Vecchia Signora to extend their winning streak to five matches at the Juventus Stadium.
Conte has been forced into making two changes from the side that barely scraped a 1-0 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare last weekend, with Alessandro Matri replacing the injured Fabio Quagliarella and Paolo De Ceglie in for the suspended Giorgio Chiellini.
Juventus will likely approach the game with a 4-3-3 formation, with Matri, Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic being Conte's desired three-man attack. Juve have depth in all sectors of the field, and this is much of the reason why they have remained unbeaten this season.
Cagliari, on the other hand, will remain with an identical side as to the one that hammered Genoa 3-0 last weekend. The South American contingent of Joaquin Larrivey and Victor Ibarbo will form their strike-partnership. Both players were on target in the win against Genoa.
Juventus have a favourable history over Cagliari, with a total of 18 triumphs, 11 draws and a mere 2 losses. They have scored 51 goals altogether and have only conceded 25. Furthermore, La Vecchia Signora have lost only two of their last 14 meetings with the Sardinians.
Since beating Juventus twice in 2009, Cagliari have lost their last three games, with the last coming in February of 2011, when they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Comunale Sant'Elia.
Juventus know that if they manage to claim the three points against Cagliari on Sunday it will significantly increase their chances of winning the Serie A championship for a record 28th time, and the first since the 2002-03 season.
After 17 rounds of the competition, Juventus find themselves with 37 points, the same number of points as the Italian champions, but with an inferior goal-difference. With Udinese just two points astray the three points are essential for Antonio Conte's side.
Juventus come into the clash in fine form, after having notched up 20 points in their last eight games, with 18 goals in favour and only five goals against. A victory over Cagliari would allow La Vecchia Signora to extend their winning streak to five matches at the Juventus Stadium.
Conte has been forced into making two changes from the side that barely scraped a 1-0 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare last weekend, with Alessandro Matri replacing the injured Fabio Quagliarella and Paolo De Ceglie in for the suspended Giorgio Chiellini.
Juventus will likely approach the game with a 4-3-3 formation, with Matri, Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic being Conte's desired three-man attack. Juve have depth in all sectors of the field, and this is much of the reason why they have remained unbeaten this season.
Cagliari, on the other hand, will remain with an identical side as to the one that hammered Genoa 3-0 last weekend. The South American contingent of Joaquin Larrivey and Victor Ibarbo will form their strike-partnership. Both players were on target in the win against Genoa.
Juventus have a favourable history over Cagliari, with a total of 18 triumphs, 11 draws and a mere 2 losses. They have scored 51 goals altogether and have only conceded 25. Furthermore, La Vecchia Signora have lost only two of their last 14 meetings with the Sardinians.
Since beating Juventus twice in 2009, Cagliari have lost their last three games, with the last coming in February of 2011, when they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Comunale Sant'Elia.
Juventus know that if they manage to claim the three points against Cagliari on Sunday it will significantly increase their chances of winning the Serie A championship for a record 28th time, and the first since the 2002-03 season.
