16 February 2018
JUVE LOOKING TO DO THE DOUBLE
After Tuesday night’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Tottenham, Juve will be looking to pick up the points against Torino and continue their chase for the Serie A title when the two sides lock horns at the Stadio Olimpico.
Juve’s last league encounter saw the Old Lady travel to Florence where they claimed a 2-0 victory, following a strongly contested 0-0 first half showing.
Former Fiorentina player, Federico Bernardeschi opened the scoring in the 56th minute when he won and converted a sumptuous free-kick at his old stomping ground. The result was made safe in the final five minutes when Gonzalo Higuain got on the end of a Giorgio Chiellini through-ball, and Pipita kept his cool to slot home and ensure that Juve took home all three points.
GRANATA ENJOYING START UNDER MAZZARRI
Since bringing in former Watford coach, Walter Mazzarri to replace Sinisa Mihajlovic, Torino are unbeaten in all five games that the new coach has taken charge of, winning three and drawing two.
In their first game under the new manager they beat Bologna 3-0 with goals coming from Lorenzo De Silvestri, M’Baye Niang and Iago Falque. Then on the road, they drew 1-1 with Sassuolo, beat Benevento 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico and drew 1-1 away at Sampdoria. In their last outing against Udinese at home, they earned a 2-0 win thanks to a first half goal from defender Nicolas Nkoulou and talisman, Andrea Belotti.
LAST TIME VS TORINO
The Bianconeri have faced Torino twice this season, winning both games in the league and in the TIM Cup. In Serie A Juve beat Torino 4-0 back in September, as they took the lead thanks to a Paulo Dybala goal following a mazy run by La Joya.
La Granata then went down to 10 as Daniele Baselli was shown a second yellow card following a foul. Miralem Pjanic made it two just before the half with a strike from distance. In the second half, Alex Sandro added a third when his header from a corner found the back of the net, and Dybala completed the scoring with a dink over the keeper in stoppage time.
In the TIM Cup, Juve beat Torino in their quarter-final tie at the Allianz Stadium in January to reach the semi-finals, coming out on top by two goals to nil.
Juve took the lead through a Douglas Costa rocket in the first half, and a neat finish from Mario Mandzukic in the second to seal their place in the next round.
#TORINOJUVE MATCH STATS
- Juve have won 17 of the last 23 Serie A Derby della Mole’s, amongst five draws and one defeat.
- The Bianconeri have allowed an average of just 2.3 shots on goal from the opposition, the best in the top five European leagues.
- Gonzalo Higuain has registered four goals and an assist in his last four matches against Torino, contributing to involvement in at least one goal in each game.
- There have been six red cards shown in the last 11 derbies, four against Torino and two against Juventus.
- After collecting 36 points in 24 games, Torino has never done better at this point in the season since three points for a victory was introduced in Serie A.
- Both Juve and Torino have conceded the least amount of goals from headers in the league, with just three a-piece.
- La Vecchia Signora have scored 11 goals from outside the area (the most in Serie A) and Torino have netted eight times from distance (the third most).
- Torino have scored the least amount of goals from set pieces (just 20% of their goals).
- Miralem Pjanic has been involved in 10 goals in 11 Serie A matches against Torino (four goals, six assists).
- Massimiliano Allegri’s record against Walter Mazzarri stands at three wins, five draws, and two defeats.
