07 May 2016
Glance at the past
The Bianconeri boast a fine overall record against Hellas Verona, with January’s 3-0 success their 30th out of 53 Serie A meetings with Sunday’s opponents.
The Gialloblu, however, have had marginally the better of things in top-flight matches played in Verona, winning nine times to Juve’s seven (10 draws). In fact, all of the already-relegated outfit’s victories over the Old Lady have come within the Stadio Bentegodi walls, although they have not managed maximum points in this fixture since April 2000, when Fabrizio Cammarata scored both goals against his former club.
Both sides will be looking to end the recent trend of draws in this fixture – the last three matches held in Verona have ended all square.
Formbook facts
While Massimiliano Allegri’s history makers enter Sunday’s encounter having claimed 75 points from a possible 77, Luigi Del Neri’s men have already been relegated to Serie B following a difficult season that has featured only four top-flight victories.
All of those triumphs have arrived since early February, three of which celebrated by the Bentegodi faithful. Despite knowing that they will be playing the 2016/17 campaign in Italy’s second tier, Hellas will be keen to give their supporters a solid send-off and possibly build on their 2-1 victory over Milan recorded less than two weeks ago.
Case of the ex
As many as two former Bianconeri and one loanee could line up for Verona on Sunday evening. Luca Toni will forever be remembered in Turin as the first man to score at Juventus Stadium, in a pre-season friendly against Notts County. The 38-year-old former Italy international announced on Wednesday that he would call time on an illustrious career in which he won the World Cup in 2006 and finished last term as joint-top scorer in Serie A.
Two other players looking to make appearances for the hosts are Luca Marrone and Romulo. Midfielder Marrone joined on loan from Juventus following a sixth-month spell at Carpi earlier in the campaign and featured for the full 90 minutes in the recent win against Milan. His next match will be his 50th in Serie A. Romulo, meanwhile, has suffered another injury-plagued season, but played for parts of the Gialloblu’s last two fixtures.
Verona’s Old Lady links extend to the dugout of course, with manager Del Neri having coached Juventus during the 2010/11 season.
Player watch
Gianluigi Buffon will break his personal record for clean sheets in a single season (21) if Juventus do not concede on Sunday evening.
Paulo Dybala has 20 goals to his name this term in all competitions and needs just one more to match Carlos Tevez’s 21 from the Apache’s first season in Bianconeri colours.
Another Argentine, Roberto Pereyra, enjoys an especially impressive record against Hellas Verona. The midfielder has scored three times and provided an assist in four meetings, making the Gialloblu his favourite opponent.
Giampaolo Pazzini is Verona’s leading marksman this term with six strikes, four of which have come in his side’s last seven games at the Bentegodi. The 31-year-old forward has netted four career goals in matches involving Juventus, though none in his 11 most recent outings against them.
