ShownDown : Fiorentina vs Juventus

A showdown between 2 strong team in ISA…

Fiorentina 13Games, 9W 2D 2L, still unbeaten at home ground. 6Games 6W.

Juventus 13Games, 12W 0D 1L, the only game they lost was during their away game to AC Milan, on the 29th Oct.

Juventus is the leader of ISA so far, while Fiorentina lies on the 3rd, 7points away from Juventus.

This match will be played under a big pressure for both teams, the home crowd is waiting eagerly for a long time for this match. It is no doubt that Fiorentina has shown to be very competitive in this season. Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli’s reliance on attacking football and the signing of Luca Toni from Palermo, who had already netted 16 out of Fiorentina’s 28 goals, is a clear warning sign to the Juve coach Fabio Capello’s side, that they are a difficult team to be beaten.

A win for the home side will also see them maintain their unbeaten home record, as well as giving AC Milan a helping hand, as they are looking to close the five-point gap between them and Juventus.

On the other hand, Juventus, impressive record has shown to others ISA team, especially those in the middle zone of the table that they are a very hard team to hold. Forwards Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic are both in great forms, plus the return of Patrick Vieira and Lilian Thuram, who both missed last weekend's 3-1 win over Treviso through suspension. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon might be playing for his 1st match, since injury, but still up to the decision of the Juve Coach as Juve had been doing well so far with his absence.

I don’t see any reason for the visitors to lose on this match, as a better discipline and well balanced team, plus a strong reserve line. Fiorentina might be a strong team at home, but that does not meant they can’t be beaten, especially facing a strong opponent like Juventus. A draw is a most possible outcome between these 2 teams. But I would rather take the risk of giving away -1/4 ball here, as I believed that, if any team is to win in this match, it would be Juventus.

Probable line-up for Fiorentina: Frey; Di Loreto, Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Pasqual; Donadel, Brocchi, Fiore, Montolivo, Jorgensen; Toni. Probable line-up for Juventus: Abbiati; Zambrotta, Chiellini, Thuram, Cannavaro; Emerson, Vieira, Camoranesi, Nedved; Ibrahimovic, Trezeguet.