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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
JUVENTUS  Buffon Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio Pepe, Matri, Vucinic | INTER  Cesar Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo Zanetti, Poli, Stankovic, Obi Milito, Forlan |
Coming off two extremely positive results, a 5-0 victory over Fiorentina and an extra-time 2-2 draw with AC Milan that sent them through to the final of the Coppa Italia, Juventus coach Conte will be hoping to make it a treble of successes by heaping more misery on struggling Derby d'Italia rivals Inter.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be back between the posts after sitting out the Coppa Italia midweek clash while in defence, Martin Caceres will step in at right-back for the suspended Stephan Lichtsteiner. Despite the fact that centre-back Andrea Barzagli has recovered from a calf injury, the former Palermo man is likely to start on the bench.
Italy international Andrea Pirlo will take on his former side and the in-form Mirko Vucinic will play wide on the left with Simone Pepe on the opposite flank in support of top-scorer Alessandro Matri, who last found the back of the net in the 1-1 draw on with AC Milan on February 25.
Meanwhile, a result against Inter's bitter rivals and his ex-employers may boost the morale of boss Claudio Ranieri and the Nerazzurri camp, but the former Chelsea trainer is likely to be without star midfielder Wesley Sneijder due to a groin problem, while Argentine Ricky Alvarez remains sidelined as well.
Youngster Andrea Poli, who has impressed in recent outings, looks likely to pip Esteban Cambiasso to a spot in the centre of the pitch alongside veteran Dejan Stankovic. Midfielder Fredy Guarin is set for his first call-up to the match squad since his winter move on loan from Porto and may feature as a substitute.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Juventus have not lost to Inter in their past three competitive matches, last suffering a 2-0 defeat in April 2010.
- The hosts remain the lone unbeaten team in Serie A and have only conceded nine goals at home this season.
- Juventus had drawn four Serie A matches in a row before defeating Fiorentina 5-0 last weekend.
- Inter have not won in Turin against the Old Lady since January 2008, beating them 3-2 in the Coppa Italia with two goals from Mario Balotelli.
- Milito has not scored against the Bianconeri in a competitive fixture since joining Inter in 2009.
- Ranieri coached Juventus for nearly two years from June 2007 to May 2009, before he was sacked.
Although form often does not dictate what happens in heated rivalries like these, logic suggests second-placed Juventus will go in as clear favourites over seventh-placed Inter. Juve have just come out of a scoring slump with seven goals in their past two games, but Inter continue to be plagued by inconsistency during a very disappointing season. Three points for the hosts seems to be on the cards, even if the Nerazzurri will give it everything they have to try and salvage their campaign around with a positive result against their rivals.
Editor's Prediction
Juventus 2-1 Inter 
