Serie A | Gameweek 25

Feb 16, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Allianz Stadium Juventus

Juventus vs Inter Milan

Match preview

Since staging a dramatic comeback to avoid defeat the last time these two Italian heavyweights met, Juventus have slipped further behind old rivals Inter in the Serie A standings and, despite last week's win over minnows Como, are still outside the Champions League spots.

The Bianconeri have been paired with Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven in the knockout phase of this season's competition, and their battle to reach the last 16 began on Tuesday night.

After new signing Randal Kolo Muani scored Juve's late winner in Como, it was Primavera graduate Samuel Mbangula who struck the decisive blow against PSV, after Weston McKennie's emphatic finish had been cancelled out by ex-Inter man Ivan Perisic.

That leaves Thiago Motta's men with a valuable lead to take into next week's return leg, but first they have to face the second Derby d'Italia of the season.

The last unbeaten home record in Serie A will be on the line against the reigning champions, as Juventus look to record three league wins on the spin for the first time since January 2024.

In another underwhelming campaign, they have drawn the most home games of any of Europe's top five leagues and will need more victories if they are to leapfrog Lazio in the race for fourth place.

Perhaps the biggest concern for Motta, a former Inter midfielder, ahead of Sunday's showdown is that the visitors have scored a league-high 17 goals from set-pieces, while his side have conceded the highest percentage of goals from dead-ball situations (43%).

At least history will be on the hosts' side, as Juventus lead the head-to-head with 39 wins and have lost just one of the last 11 league meetings in Turin.

Despite squandering a two-goal lead in this season's reverse fixture - a thrilling 4-4 draw in Milan - Inter are unbeaten in three top-flight games against Juve, dating back to their defeat at the Allianz Stadium in November 2022.

Piotr Zielinski scored an unlikely brace as the Nerazzurri took control at San Siro in October, before Kenan Yildiz struck twice in the final 20 minutes to leave Simone Inzaghi's side stunned.

While Sunday's hosts were busy fighting for a place in the Champions League play-offs, Inter enjoyed a rare mid-week break after cruising through to the last 16.

Last in action on Monday night, the Scudetto holders took swift revenge on Fiorentina, who had suffered only their second league defeat of the season, with Marko Arnautovic scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 home win. The result kept the pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli as the title race heats up.

Inzaghi's men are a point adrift, while Atalanta BC are struggling to stay in the hunt, making it a two-horse race for top spot.

Inter may have lost their last away game - a 3-0 defeat in Florence - but they may feel that a rare win in Turin is now within their grasp. Having scored more goals away from home than anyone else - and conceded the fewest so far - confidence should be high in the Nerazzurri camp.

Recent Performance

Juventus Serie A form:DDWLWW

Juventus form (all competitions):DLLWWW

Inter Milan Serie A form:DWWDLW

Inter Milan form (all competitions):WWWDLW

Team News

Never afraid to tinker - even with a winning team - Juventus coach Thiago Motta could make changes between the two legs of a crucial Champions League tie, with Teun Koopmeiners, Khephren Thuram, Francisco Conceicao and midweek hero Samuel Mbangula all vying for a place in the hosts' starting XI.

Top scorer Dusan Vlahovic has been on the bench in recent weeks, so current first-choice Randal Kolo Muani will be hoping to continue his fine start to life in Italy. Muani's tally of five goals in three games is the best record of any Serie A newcomer this century.

Motta is still without his preferred back four, with Bremer, Pierre Kalulu, Juan Cabal and Andrea Cambiaso all sidelined, while new signing Lloyd Kelly has missed training through illness and Douglas Luiz has been ruled out with another muscle problem.

Meanwhile, Inter's main concern is Marcus Thuram, the Nerazzurri's top scorer, with Khephren's older brother facing a late fitness test after suffering an ankle injury. Either Marko Arnautovic or Mehdi Taremi will deputise.

Thuram's strike partner, captain Lautaro Martinez, needs one more goal to become the first foreign player in Inter history to reach double figures in six different Serie A campaigns.

With Denzel Dumfries suspended and Federico Dimarco rested, Matteo Darmian and Carlos Augusto started on either flank last time out, but the roles will be reversed on Sunday.

Possible starting lineup

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Weah, Gatti, Veiga, Savona; Locatelli; Conceicao, Thuram, McKennie, Mbangula; Kolo Muani

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram