Serie A returns from its festive hiatus and to kickstart the action in 2015 is a Derby d’Italia, with Juventus and Internazionale set to lock horns at the Juventus Stadium. The longstanding rivalry between these two teams always makes for an intriguing occasion and this year will surely be no different as each side looks to begin the year in style.

The Bianconeri currently lead AS Roma by three points at the top of the table and will be desperate to accrue some momentum after the break. Inter are harbouring slightly lesser ambitions than Juve this season and although they’re currently languishing down in a meagre 11th position in the table, they’re just six points off third-place Napoli.

With supporters from across Italy keen to get back into the swing of things expect quite a din to be created by the 40,000 packed into the home of the Turin club. For those not lucky enough to be there in person, here are all the details you need on where to catch what should be an engrossing 90 minutes on the box or via an online stream.

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 6

Time: 8 p.m. (GMT), 3 p.m. (ET)

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

TV Info: beIN Sports (U.S.), ESPN UK (UK)

 

Bianconeri Looking To Build On Excellent Home Record

This particular fixture obviously stirs emotions given the magnitude of the teams involved, but on the face of things, it shouldn’t be too volatile an occasion considering the geography of the two teams. But over the years, it’s come to resemble a regional rivalry and subsequently, it’s evolved into one of the most fiercely contested matches anywhere in European football.

When you consider that Juventus are unbeaten in their last 35 home matches in Serie A, Internazionale have quite a task on their hands. But after being busy in the early days of the transfer window—they’ve just signed Lukas Podolski on loan, per the Guardian—Roberto Mancini will be hopeful of his team springing a surprise.

Mancini welcomed the German to the club on his Twitter account:

Inter must improve on the form that was showcased in the latter stages of 2014, though. They’ve won just one of their last seven games in Serie A and as of yet, Mancini has yet to get this team playing with the swagger it’s capable of. The Nerazzurri’s away record leaves much to be desired too, having picked up just two wins from their eight away games so far.

In truth, it’s very difficult to see that changing when they make the trip to Turin. Massimiliano Allegri’s team are in wonderful form and with Roma facing a tricky trip to Udinese earlier in the day, it could be an opportunity for the league leaders to extent their three-point buffer in the race for the Scudetto.

They’re also looking to bolster their squad in the January window according to David Amoyal of gianlucadimarzio.net, by bringing in two players who previously played for their upcoming opponents no less:

But the squad Allegri has at his disposal is pretty formidable as is. In Carlos Tevez, Juve currently have the hottest striker in Serie A and as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, the Bianconeri have a host of players that have been in exceptional form throughout the course of 2014:

Indeed, a quick rundown of the quality bristling from every pore of this Juventus squad tells you all that you need to know ahead of this one. The hosts will be far too strong for an Inter side in the midst of a major transition and if the Giallorossi do slip up at Udinese, expect an especially focused and clinical display from the Bianconeri.

Inter’s best hope here is to sit deep, look to hit Juve on the break and ride their luck. It remains to be seen whether Podolski will feature—he’ll provide a much needed boost if he does—but even so, the pressure the home side are likely to put Mancini’s men under will eventually be too much to handle.

Prediction: Juventus 3-0 Internazionale

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1whpVRh
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J