After a chaotic conclusion to their cup tie in midweek, Juventus will target a fourth straight league win on Saturday, when they visit second-placed Lazio in Rome.

While a draw from their controversial clash with Inter keeps hopes of Coppa Italia glory alive for the Bianconeri, they trail their weekend hosts by 11 points in the Serie A standings and must make up plenty of ground to snatch a top-four finish.

Match preview

On course for a third win of the season over their Derby d'Italia rivals, Juventus ground out a goalless first 82 minutes against cup semi-final opponents Inter on Tuesday, but events during the closing stages in Turin left a scar on relations between the two Calcio giants ahead of the second leg.

Just weeks since Juve sealed the Serie A double over Simone Inzaghi's men at San Siro, a Juan Cuadrado strike seemed set to hand them another victory over their old foes, but Bremer clumsily handled the ball during stoppage time and Inter substitute Romelu Lukaku stepped up to slot home the subsequent spot-kick.

Having received racist abuse, Lukaku was then sent off for shouting at the home fans, before Cuadrado and Inter captain Samir Handanovic were both dismissed after a spat following the final whistle; the fall-out spilled over into scuffles inside the Allianz Stadium tunnel.

After such an ugly ending to an already grim game, Juve will seek to restore order by beating Lazio at Stadio Olimpico and reducing the gap to their capital-city counterparts to eight points with nine rounds of Serie A left to play.

Severely hampered by a 15-point penalty imposed at the start of the year, the Bianconeri's third straight league win last weekend - when Moise Kean's second-half strike helped them see off lowly Verona - keeps them within touching distance of the division's top six, but they cannot afford to let the pace slacken yet.

Often a peripheral figure since his return to the club on loan from Everton, Kean also found the net twice in November's reverse fixture, when a 3-0 win over Lazio raised hopes of a challenge to Napoli for the Scudetto. Such notions have long since diminished, though.

Including their European exploits - they meet Sporting in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final next week - Juventus have won eight of their last 10 matches, so confidence should still be high in the camp before their latest trip to the capital.

Boasting Italy's best defensive record, Lazio have kept the most clean sheets (17) and conceded the fewest goals (19) of any Serie A side this season, so shipping three in Turin will have stung Maurizio Sarri's men, who will surely seek a slice of revenge this weekend.

Last time out, supposed Juve target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic secured a 2-0 victory at Monza for his side, scoring the Aquile's second with a superb free-kick while wearing the captain's armband.

Ciro Immobile should be fit to resume his role as Lazio skipper on Saturday, and his deputy's future remains the source of much speculation ahead of the summer transfer window.

From Sarri's point of view, it would be ideal if both men could continue their partnership as the Rome club return to the Champions League next autumn, as qualification for Europe's top club competition is almost in sight after an excellent run of form recently.

Last month's win in the Derby della Capitale took Lazio clear of the Milan clubs and arch-rivals Roma in the standings, though defeat to AZ Alkmaar means they are the only Italian club to have been knocked out of Europe so far.

One of just three teams to beat Napoli in Serie A this season, the Biancocelesti have also suffered just one loss in their last 12 league games, so have little to fear from the visit of a resurgent Old Lady.

Team News

As Moise Kean is once more suspended, having recently returned from a ban for being sent off against Roma, Juve's mercurial striker will not be able to build on his winner last week and a brace in November's reverse fixture.

Juan Cuadrado's impending suspension only applies to the Coppa Italia, so he can start on the visitors' right flank once more, with Dusan Vlahovic possibly partnered by Arkadiusz Milik up front.

Federico Chiesa continues to be troubled by injuries following a long-term layoff, so may again be consigned to a substitute role, as will cup keeper Mattia Perin; first-choice Wojciech Szczesny returns.

Both Paul Pogba and captain Leonardo Bonucci are closing in on comebacks after joining team training this week, but a place on the bench is the best either can hope for on Saturday.

Lazio, meanwhile, welcomed Ciro Immobile back from injury last Sunday, and their joint-top scorer could now start. Joining the Aquile's skipper in a familiar front three would be Mattia Zaccagni, who also has nine Serie A goals this season.

Alternatively, Maurizio Sarri could opt to retain Pedro in his starting XI and use Felipe Anderson as a false nine; still searching for full fitness, Immobile could then make an impact from the bench.

In the hosts' defence, Adam Marusic returns from suspension and should slot straight into one of the full-back positions, with Manuel Lazzari making way.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Hysaj, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Gatti; Cuadrado, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Milik, Vlahovic

We say: Lazio 1-1 Juventus

As Juventus usually set up to avoid leaking goals and then strike on the break, and Lazio certainly know how to keep the back door shut, a low-scoring encounter should be expected in the Eternal City.

Leaving Stadio Olimpico with a point would represent a good result for Juve in normal times, but such is their deficit to the top four, a share of the spoils would leave them running out of time to close the gap.


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