Juventus vs. AS Roma – Italy Serie A Match Preview, Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy 2:45 PM EST Sunday January 5, 2014
By Jason Green, Soccer Handicapper, Predictem.com
Match Odds: Juventus 1.61 / AS Roma 5.50 / Draw 3.75
Moneyline: Juventus -163 / AS Roma +275 / Draw +450
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
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You would think that after the winter break that the lone team in Serie A that does not have a loss would be in first place. However, that is not the case. AS Roma is the only team that has not lost in league play, but their slew of draws as of late cost them. Juventus is now in first place in the league table with a 5-point lead over Roma.
Juventus flamed out of the Champions League group stage but in domestic play they are simply on fire. In their last 9 matches they have 9 wins and in that streak they have 8 clean sheets after giving up a lone goal in their last Serie A match.
Juve is the big betting favorite in this home match and with good reason. They are not only in top form, but will get striker Carlos Tevez and probably leader and big playmaker Andrea Pirlo back after each missed some time.
AS Roma blew out of the gates, but their string of draws, to a few inferior teams no less, really cost them. There is a lot of soccer to be played in the league season, but if Roma suffers a loss they will be 8-point back of Juve, who may want to get ready to lift the Scudetto trophy.
The Roma defense has been solid all season and they have given up the fewest goals in Serie A play. It was their offense that hit the skids for around a month with the draw spell. However, they have scored 8 goals in their last 3 matches. Still, can they score on the great Juve D led by G Gianluigi Buffon?
Roma’s offense has come alive as of late with three goals from Mattia Destro in their last 3 matches and Mehdi Benatia found the back of the net twice in the last match.
While the Roma offense has looked pretty good in the last 3 matches you have to wonder if they are in form. In their 3 matches they have played last place Catania, an AC Milan team that has struggled all season, and good Fiorentina team at home.
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Carlos Tevez is back from Argentina after being home for the birth of his child and he has scored 4 goals in his last 2 matches. Where Roma will have to excel is in the midfield and that will be VERY hard to do if Pirlo is back and playing well.
Last season at home Juventus easily beat AS Roma 4-1.
In their last 10 matches Juventus has an Over/Under record of 2.5 goal record of 5-5 and AS Roma is at 3-7.
Juve is not only unbeaten at home this season, but they have won every match on their pitch not even playing to a single draw.
Juventus Recent Form
12/6/2013 Bologna 0 Juventus 2 (Serie A)
12/11/2013 Galatasaray 1 Juventus 0 (Champions League)
12/15/2013 Juventus 4 Sassuolo 0 (Serie A)
12/18/103 Juventus 3 US Avellino 0 (Coppa Italia)
12/22/2013 Atalanta 1 Juventus 4 (Serie A)
AS Roma Recent Form
11/25/2013 AS Roma 0 Cagliari 0 (Serie A)
12/1/2013 Atalanta 1 AS Roma 1 (Serie A)
12/8/2013 AS Roma 2 Fiorentina 1 (Serie A)
12/16/2013 AC Milan 2 AS Roma 2 (Serie A)
12/22/2013 AS Roma 4 Catania 0 (Serie A)
Jason’s Prediction to Win the Match: In the last month and a half Juventus has rounded in to form and has shown they are THE team in Serie A. Roma did get off to a good start and they do have a solid away win over top 4 Inter Milan, but they are out matched in the midfield and their attack has had issues this season. I would like to see Roma win to make the Scudetto a legit race, but I can’t the way Juventus is playing. Juve will win this match by a score of 2-0 or 3-0.
