Clarence Seedorf’s management at AC Milan seems to have
bought about a rejuvenation in fortunes for their disastrous season but the
visit of Juventus could be a an unfortunately times one and the gap between the
two looks as wide as it’s ever been.
This fixture is normally a title decider but will play no
part in the destination of the Sucdetto with Juventus’s closest title chasers
Roma, already seven points in arrears, having dropped points at home to Inter
Milan yesterday evening, and AC Milan languishing in ninth and more than 30
points off the pace, tonight’s result isn’t going to have much of an effect
upon the destination of what looks like a decided Scudetto before tonight.
Milan salvaged Champions League football following a run of
form that saw them lose only once and draw only three times after the turn of
the year into 2013 but such a recovery doesn’t look possible with Napoli, Roma,
Inter and Fiorentina all already our of reach thanks to a wretched season which
has had an extremely messy transfer from Massimo Allegri and plenty of injuries
in crucial position.
Some excellent transfer business conducted over the January
window has helped with Valencia’s Adil Rami giving much needed quality to a misfiring
back four and the arrival of Kezkuke Honda adding class to the midfield and Adel
Tarrabt taking a huge upgrade in his stride with some impressive performance
and even more impressive commitment since joining from QPR – as seen from
improved results and performances, especially when they were notable impressive
in a 2-0 win at Sampdoria last week following on from an unlucky 1-0 home
defeat to Atletico Madrid in which they were very unlucky not to take a lead
back to Spain.
Juventus should be in the last 16 of the Champions League
but slack finishing and defending cost them points against Galatasaray and
Copenhagen but at home they’ve been even more dominant now than over the last
two years and they look set for their biggest winning margin and their third
straight Scudetto. Conte’s men have bucked the trend of their poor European
starts over the past three seasons but have produced their best form as the
season has worn on and top the home and away tables, having not lost in the
league since their 4-2 defeat at Fiorentina – all the way back in Ocotober. The
absence of Autro Vidal is a loss but with Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente
combining to great effect they have a sharpness in attack that has been missing
for the last two seasons. Recent draws at Lazio and Verona do put a downer on their
chances but 11/10 about the best side in Italy isn’t a chance to pass up and
they’re worth a small bet at least.
Advice:
1 pt Juventus (11/10 general)
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