Serie A: Juve Set for More Fun in Florence

Fiorentina vs Juventus

Serie A Champions Juventus head to the beautiful city of Florence this weekend with the aim of making it three wins from three at the start of the new campaign.

Opponents Fiorentina hope to avoid a third defeat in three which would leave them at the wrong end of the table as things start to take shape. In their opening game at the

Stadio Artemio Franchi Vincenzo Montella’s team lost 3-4 to Napoli after taking an early lead, and then they went down by the odd goal in three to Genoa.

So the Viola has been in contention in both its games so far, and I expect the home team to have a chance or two, but when you need a win to get yourself going, Maurizio Sarri’s side is about the last you would want to confront.

Talking Points

Sarri means business

After a fairly successful season as Chelsea coach, securing a top four finish and a Europa League triumph, Maurizio Sarri left the Premier League to return home, and he looks like a man on a mission. He wasn’t appreciated by everyone at Stamford Bridge but he’s on home turf now and he’s not about to let Juve’s grip on the Scudetto loosen.

It’s no surprise that the Serie A 2019 betting odds have already installed the Old Lady as an odds on favourite to make it a ninth Scudetto in a row. Juve already had the best squad, but Sarri added Dutch defender Matthis De Ligt to his already stellar line-up.

I Bianconeri won a seven goal thriller against title rivals Napoli, leading 3-0 with half an hour remaining, they were pegged back to 3-3 before a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal handed them all three points. The Serie A 2019 highlights package already has plenty of content from that game!

You only have to look at I Bianconeri’s bench in that game to see what Fiorentina is up against. Paulo Dybala, Adrien Rabiot, Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Bernarderschi would walk into most first elevens in Europe. But when you have the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo at the club, then a bench place isn’t such a bad achievement.

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Chiellini out

Even De Ligt sat out Juve’s opener against Parma, which ended in a narrow 0-1 win thanks to a goal from veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini. But the Juventus legend has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will be out for up to six months.

He has already undergone surgery in Austria and hopes to be back by March. In the meantime De Ligt will look to form a centre back partnership with skipper Leonardo Bonucci.

Viola’s star man on Juve’s radar

As if I Bianconeri didn’t have enough talent in its squad, La Viola’s best player is hoping to join them before too long! The goals of Federico Chiesa kept Fiorentina up on the final day of last season but the striker has been vocal in his criticism of the club’s ambition, saying he would love a move to Juventus.

Fiorentina will be looking to claim their first Serie A win against Juventus — Fiorentina’s Federico Chiesa fights for the ball against Giovanni Di Lorenzo

At 21 years of age he already has 100 appearances for La Viola and is an Italy international, so Montella will hope to get one more season from him.

Despite Fiorentina losing both their opening games, Chilean Erick Pulgar has netted twice, both penalties, and the defensive midfielder is showing signs he could be a leader on the pitch, vital for any team in trouble. Argentine centre back German Pezzella was made captain after his 11m Euros move from Real Betis and at 6ft 3 inches he’s a powerful presence at the heart of La Viola’s defence.

Fiorentina needs to put on some style to match the steel of Pezzella and Pulgar.

History

La Viola has a proud history as twice winner of the Scudetto, and as the team graced by the great Gabriel Batistuta in the 1990s, when the club won the Coppa Italia and reached the final of the UEFA Cup.

Fiorentina’s trophy cabinet is somewhat smaller than Juve’s of course; I Bianconeri has won 35 Scudettos and the last eight in a row.

Recent history favours the Old Lady who did the double over Fiorentina last season and is unbeaten in four in this fixture.

Betting Tip

	Fiorentina vs Juventus	Over 2.50 @ 1.81
	September 14, 21:00 (GMT+8)

The latest SBOBET odds tell us this isn’t a foregone conclusion as the hosts have been competitive in both their games so far. Fiorentina is at 4.60 to win with Juventus at 1.71 and the draw is 3.70.

It will be a tough task for La Viola, but they will have a go, having scored four in two games so far.