Italian Serie A
2012-01-21 - Atalanta vs Juventus
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
Juventus went back top of Serie A last weekend even though they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Cagliari because Milan were beaten 0-1 by Inter Milan in the derby game.
Though the draw was a poor result it enabled Juventus to set a new club record thanks to their longest unbeaten start to a League campaign. They have gone 18 matches without losing and that has eclipsed the achievement of the 1949-1950 Juventus side.
To date Antonio Conte has yet to taste defeat as manager of Juventus, and he will return to the club where he had a trouble four months period at Atalanta. For the record, in 12 Serie A games in charge of Atalanta in 2009-10, he collected just three wins and three draws.
Juventus have not played particularly well since the Christmas break. They barely managed to win at Lecce and they struggled to break down a defensive Cagliari side and had to settled for a draw at home. Juventus who depended on Claudio Marchisio and Simone Pepe but the duo simply failed to perform in their last match.
Italian international Giorgio Chiellini is expected to return to the left-back spot after he returns due to missing out on suspension last weekend. He could be the only change to the starting lineup as Conte could feature the same lineup as their last match even though new signing Marco Borriello is pushing for a start.
Emanuele Giaccherini and Fabio Quagliarella are rated doubtful however. It should be noted that Juventus as well as Milan and Lazio, have the best away record in Serie A.They have also kept five clean sheets from their nine games on their travels.
Meanwhile Atalanta have done well after they quickly wiped out their six-point penalty. But their form has suffered recently and they’ve only won one of their last eight games in Serie A and that was the 4-1 win over Cesena back in December 21.
Atalanta's New year form has been poor with a defeat against Milan which was their first home defeat this season going down 2-0 and then another defeat to Lazio.
Atalanta will miss the services of Stefano Lucchini and Carlos Carmona after they received booking at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio. Their main hope will be German Denis, 12 goals in 18 games, to score for them in this match.
With regards to the past meetings, Juventus will be glad to know that in 50 past meetings, Juventus have won 21, drawn 22 and lost just seven.
The last meeting here was in November 2009 when they won 5-2. And for the record, Juventus have won the last four away at Bergamo, with Atalanta’s last League success coming 2-1 in February 2001.
Possible lineups
Atalanta: Consigli; Masiello, Ferri, Manfredini, Peluso; Schelotto, Cigarini, Padoin, Bonaventura; Marilungo, Denis
Juventus : Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio; Pepe, Matri, Vucinic
Predictions :
Take Juventus to win this clash and to clear the handicap of 1/2 ball considering their good record against the home side and to keep their lead at the top of Serie A.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Atalanta 1-2 Juventus
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Juventus to win.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Main Bet:
Take Juventus to clear the -1/2 ball AH
Take Juventus to clear the -1/2 ball AH
