The Derby della Mole has not been a happy hunting ground for Torino over the last three decades. With just one victory in their last 39 competitive meetings against Juventus (D9, L29), the Granata’s prospects of reversing this dismal record appear slim as they prepare to host their city rivals.
Torino’s recent form at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino leaves much to be desired. A goalless draw against Parma in their last match marked their third consecutive home game without scoring. It also extended their winless streak at home to five matches (D2, L3).
The Granata have managed just one home win since the start of September (D3, L5), and their tally of six home league goals is the second-lowest in Serie A, only ahead of Empoli. To make matters worse, Paolo Vanoli’s side have failed to score in four of their last five matches on home turf.
Juventus, on the other hand, arrive fresh after a week’s preparation following their Supercoppa Italiana semi-final exit at the hands of AC Milan (2-1) in Saudi Arabia. Despite the disappointment, the Bianconeri remain unbeaten in Serie A this season (W7, D11), sitting in fifth place on the table.
Their recent league form, however, has been marked by draws, with a 2-2 stalemate against Fiorentina being their fifth in the last six rounds. The solitary win during this period came in a 2-1 away victory over Monza, part of a three-match stretch in which Juventus have conceded at least once in every game.
Encouragingly for Thiago Motta’s side, they boast an impressive defensive record in the derby, keeping clean sheets in six of their last seven away encounters against Torino (W5, D2).
Key Players to Watch
For Torino, much will depend on Nikola Vlašić, whose goals have been a good omen for the team. They have won seven of the nine matches in which Vlašić has scored since the start of last season (L2), with all four of his strikes coming after the interval.
Juventus will look to Kenan Yıldız, who has been in good form. The young forward scored in Saudi Arabia last week and also netted in November’s 2-0 derby win. Notably, six of Yıldız’s last eight goals have come after the hour mark, making him a threat late in games.
Hot Stat
Recent Turin derbies have been tight affairs, with 11 of the last 15 producing fewer than 2.5 goals, including six of the last seven.
While Torino will aim to break their dire run against their city rivals, Juventus’ unbeaten league record, superior defensive discipline in recent derbies, and their rested squad make them favourites to come away with a result. Expect a tightly contested match, potentially low-scoring, but with the Bianconeri likely to edge proceedings.
