Whatever happens, there will be no party. Or at least not that championship, which will necessarily have to be postponed for a week. "Fault" of Napoli, who by winning in Pescara eliminated the chances of a mathematical title for Juve. The derby against Turin will thus end in the 90th minute, to the delight of the police headquarters, who feared the after-match at the Olimpico. Despite this, Conte already speaks as the champion of Italy. Hard to blame him, on the other hand the numbers speak for themselves. “If last year was the championship of the miracle, this will be that of ferocity, desire, determination and continuity. All qualities that we have shown more than our opponents”. It will have to be like this again today, when in an Olimpico more black and white than expected (the majority will still be grenade, but Juve fans won't be only in the away sector) his team will face a Toro who promises battle. “If we played ten games they would win nine, but this is a single match and we want to face it as a Toro – Giampiero Ventura charged. – They will have a great desire to win it, we will do everything to prevent them. We have 40 points less, but we are certainly not inferior to them in terms of desire to get results". Conte knows well that there is no match on a technical level, which is why it will become essential to approach the match in the right way also from a character point of view. “The derby is never a game like any other, two teams that play proactive football face off – his thoughts. – I remember two in particular: in the season in which we won the Scudetto and Toro were relegated, we lost two out of two. The values on paper do not count…”.
Not in the single game, but in the long run they almost always make the difference. It was like this in the league, where Juve dominated the standings from the start, but also in the Champions League, a competition that still proved to be prohibitive. “Winning the Scudetto again would be something wonderful, but we still need to improve, we expect improvements – admitted the Juventus coach. – Bayern confirmed their strength against Barcelona, it is no coincidence that I have always said that they were a very, very strong team. But this shouldn't console us, we shouldn't look up, not down. We are Juve, we have understood our dimension, now we must and want to improve”. Even on such an important eve, the message to the management is always the same. Conte wants players who can make the leap in quality, even if he is aware that buying them is bloody difficult. “Did Ibrahimovic say that Juve is a top club and that he was pleased with black and white flattery? It's a nice compliment from a great player – replied the coach proudly. – Many people think what he said, if you ask Suarez or other champions I think they will tell you the same things. However, it is inevitable that good players go where they are overpaid, in Italy no team can give a player 8-9-10 million in salary".
But there will be time for the market, today is derby day and Juve don't want distractions. To face Toro, the 3-5-1-1 of the last two matches (won against Lazio and Milan) will be proposed again, with Vidal, Pirlo and Pogba in midfield, Marchisio attacking midfielder and Vucinic as the sole striker. The only doubt concerns the left wing, with Asamoah and Peluso playing for a shirt. The Ghanaian is Conte's favourite, but Cerci's presence could lead him to opt for the former Atalantino, whose defensive attitudes would guarantee greater coverage. Giovinco will be back on the bench, who played one of the best games of the season in the first leg.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Turin (4-2-4): Gillet; D'Ambrosio, Glik, Ogbonna, Masiello; Basha, Gazzi; Cerci, Bianchi, Barreto, Santana.
On the bench: Coppola, Di Cesare, Caceres, Rodriguez, Bakic, Menga, Birsa, Jonathas, Meggiorini, Diop.
Trainer: Giampiero Ventura.
Unavailable: Brigi.
Disqualified: Vives (1), Darmian (1).
Beware: Jonathas, Glik, Gazzi.
Juventus (3-5-1-1): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Marchisio; Vucinic.
On the bench: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Peluso, Marrone, De Ceglie, Giaccarini, Matri, Giovinco, Quagliarella, Bendtner.
Trainer: Antonio Conte.
Unavailable: Pepe, Anelka, Isla.
Disqualified: nobody.
Beware: De Ceglie, Pirlo, Matri, Padoin, Bonucci, Peluso.
Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Genoa).
Line Assistants: Nicoletti-Grilli.
Port Assistants: DeMarco - Giannoccaro.
Fourth official: Viazzi.
