Looking for the thirteenth. Which is not the most awaited and appreciated monthly salary by the workers, but the victory that would bring the Lady even closer to the Scudetto. In fact, this championship weekend appears to be rather important for Juventus and Roma, who are awaiting two risky and delicate away games. The black and whites begin, who tonight will return to the Olimpico field four days after the defeat in the Cup, but to face Reja's reborn Lazio. Opponent largely defeated in the previous two seasons: 4-0 in the Italian Super Cup and 4-1 in the league. But easy victories shouldn't deceive, because that was Petkovic's team, at the beginning of a crisis that would have led Lotito to his Christmas exemption.
Now, however, the Biancocelesti are doing well, as demonstrated by the seven points won in the last three matches, the result of two victories (against Inter and Udinese) and a draw (in Bologna), but above all of a revitalizing cure signed by Reja. Antonio Conte knows this well, even if unfortunately he did not want to express it publicly. The Juventus coach is angry at how the media interpreted his words in the pre-Sampdoria conference, when he said he was worried about the Rome and Naples transfer markets. A dig at Marotta seemed clear to everyone, with consequent headlines in newspapers and TV. Conte didn't take it well and decided to suspend the pre-match press conferences.
Temporary or final decision? The doubt remains, also because many think that this silence is also (if not above all) the result of what happened this week on the Vucinic-Guarin front. A dispute that inflamed the media scene, complete with a Marotta-Thohir question and answer, but which certainly did not cheer up the Juventus coach. The line of silence as self-defense, but also as a psychological charge, in the sign of that "noise of enemies" inaugurated by Mourinho and fully espoused by Conte. The substance, however, does not change: Juve want three points which could prove to be very heavy, also given the difficult transfer of Roma to the Verona field.
And then, after the unconvincing turnover seen in the Italian Cup, the "real" Juve will meet again against Lazio. The one with Buffon in goal, Lichtsteiner, Pogba and Asamoah in midfield, Tevez and Llorente in attack. Conte will only have to do without the suspended Chiellini (in his place there will be Ogbonna) and the transfer market man Vucinic (almost impossible he can stay, we are talking about Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, Zenit and, above all, Monaco), for the rest he will be able choose from all the men in the squad. The only doubt is that relating to the control room: Pirlo or Marchisio? Normally the Juventus coach would bet blindly on Brescia, but the excellent performance offered by Principino against Sampdoria (unlike that of the former AC Milan player in Rome) at least makes him think. It's hard to say with certainty who will prevail, but yesterday Marchisio seemed to have a slight advantage.
