Can the Vecchia Signora still make it to the Champions League?
At the worst possible time, Juventus Turin suffered a 0-2 home defeat against Fiorentina last weekend after 11 consecutive league games without a loss (seven wins, four draws). As a result, the Zebre slipped from third to sixth place. If the bet on a Bianconeri away win in the Turin FC vs. Juventus match doesn’t pay off, the Champions League will be out of reach.
Even with three points in the Derby della Mole, however, the Vecchia Signora will need some help to finish ahead of at least two of their three rivals—AC Milan, AS Roma, and Como 1907—in the final standings and bring the season to a successful close with qualification for the Champions League.
Generally speaking, the head-to-head record clearly favors the Zebre, who haven’t lost to the Granata in 23 Turin derbies (16 wins, seven draws). In three of the last four meetings, however, the points were shared—including the completely goalless first leg. Nevertheless: There is nothing left at stake for “Il Toro” (the Bull), and the hosts’ staggering 61 goals conceded—making them the second-weakest defense in Serie A behind Pisa (69)—doesn’t exactly suggest that Torino FC can force another 0-0 draw against Zebre.
While we don’t expect a goal fest in the Piedmont derby, we do anticipate a determined Vecchia Signora, who, in our estimation, should be able to secure a clean-sheet victory at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Of course, there is a certain amount of risk involved in this bet. Those who aren’t willing to take that risk—and wouldn’t rule out another 0-0 draw—can alternatively bet on the Granata remaining scoreless in front of their home crowd in the season finale.
Turin FC – Juventus Head-to-Head Record
Head to Head: 56 – 61 – 96
The Derby della Mole has been played a total of 213 times as a competitive match so far, and with 96 wins, Juventus Turin clearly leads the head-to-head record against its city rival. In particular, Torino FC has had practically nothing to show for itself recently. Although the Granata managed a draw in three of the last four matches, they have now gone 23 derbies without a win against the Bianconeri (seven draws, 16 losses).
Turin FC – Juventus Prediction
Of course, “Il Toro” would love nothing more than to spoil the party for their big city rivals in the season finale and deny the Old Lady a spot in the Champions League group stage. But that’s not all that realistic.
After all, the Granata have been waiting for a win against the Zebre for 23 derbies now (seven draws, 16 losses) and are going into this home game in anything but top form. Only Pisa has conceded more goals (69) in the league than “Il Toro” (61), which is why, all things considered, our prediction for Turin FC vs. Juventus leans toward a much-needed away win for the Bianconeri.
Before the unexpected 0-2 loss to Fiorentina, Juve had also gone 11 league games unbeaten (seven wins, four draws) and kept a clean sheet in nine of those 11 matches. Accordingly, the odds are high that the Vecchia Signora will secure a shutout victory at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
