Serie A: The Chief Chasers Prepare to Clash in Turin

Juventus vs AS Roma

Fifth plays fourth in the Serie A match of the weekend, as Juventus entertain Roma at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

With the two Milan clubs and Napoli taking a pre-Christmas break the Old Lady and I Giallorossi can close the gap on the top three. Roma can draw level with leaders Inter with a win, while a home victory would lift Juventus up to within a point of their visitors and four from the summit.      

Both teams come into the game on the back of two victories, one in Serie A and one in Europe. Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus beat Pafos at home in the Champions League before winning 1-0 away to Bologna. Meanwhile Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini guided his team to a 3-0 win away to Glasgow Celtic in the Europa League before seeing off Como 1-0 in Serie A.

Let’s take a closer look at the two teams and work out which is more likely to make it three wins on the bounce.      

 

Talking Points

Juventus are finding that winning touch 

Juve’s trip to Bologna was a serious test for the Old Lady and a goal from Juan Cabal was enough to decide the game in a big six pointer. And it was a good comeback for Spalletti’s men who suffered a 2-1 defeat to 2025 champions Napoli last time out. Either side of that loss to I Partenopei, Juventus picked up two wins; and they are doing well in the Coppa Italia while making good progress after a slow start in the Champions League, winning their last two in Europe.

Cabal’s goal against Bologna, after coming off the bench, was his second in six Serie A matches and the Colombian star is pushing for a start. Turkish winger Kenan Yildiz, with five goals and four assists in the league so far, is I Bianconeri’s most dangerous attacker; at 20 years of age he has already made over 70 appearances for I Bianconeri and he is the club’s third captain. 23 year old Francisco Conceicao is a lively customer too, playing out on the right flank or in behind the front line while Canadian striker Jonathan David is still trying to make an impact.

Skipper Manuel Locatelli is a class act in midfield and he will look to dictate the pace of the game, changing tempo depending on the state of the match and, if Juve get ahead, he will be a key man in front of the hosts’ defence.        

 

Gasperini is looking to shake up his front line

In his time at Atalanta the Roma boss garnered a reputation for putting out attacking and entertaining sides and this Giallorossi side has played some nice football and given opposing defences plenty to think about. Argentine striker Matias Soule is top scoring with four goals but Roma are looking to strengthen up front in the January transfer window. Evan Ferguson has struggled to impress and he could be on his way back to the Premier League, with a return to struggling West Ham United a possibility. And, coming the other way, we could see a return to Italy for Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee who has struggled to reach the heights he enjoyed at Bologna over at Old Trafford.

The top of the Serie A table is congested in the best title race in Europe and Gasperini’s men have been up there from the outset; and now he wants to strengthen his hand to stay in touch. The lead changed hands again last week as both AC Milan and Napoli slipped up, allowing I Nerazzurri to be the Christmas Number One. 

When Gasperini switched Atalanta for AS Roma in the summer, few neutrals predicted his Serie A 2025 results would be quite as impressive as they have been and he is running at two points a game. But ten wins and five defeats suggest he is searching for consistency and a trip to Turin will show how hard Roma are to beat, and whether they can hurt a top team on its home turf.  

 

History

Juventus have won 27 of the last 53 meetings, with Roma picking up 12 wins and there have been 14 draws. In Turin Juventus have won 14, drawn six and lost four. The last three meetings have been draws and the most recent game at the Allianz Arena was goalless.   

Both teams are in good form, Juventus winning five of their last six games in all competitions, while Roma have won four from six.   

 

Betting Tip

Currently fifth and fourth, Juve and Roma finished fourth and fifth last term; and the latest Serie A 2025 betting odds have the two clubs in those two spots again, one to qualify for the Champions League and the other to enter the Europa League. Which way around they finish remains to be seen, but this game will give us a good idea, and neither has given up on the Scudetto as we near 2026.  

With Roma at SBOTOP odds of 3.75 and the Draw at 3.10 all three results are in play but, I think Juve will come through and, for an alternative bet, a 1-0 to the Old Lady is priced at 6.00.  

   

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