Juventus vs Inter: The Derby d’Italia finally gets underway…
After seeing this fixture canceled due to the coronavirus, the highly-anticipated Derby d’Italia featuring Juventus and Inter will finally get underway this Sunday. However, Italy has been one of the hardest-hit countries outside of China. As we all know, China is where the coronavirus originated in 2019, with people reportedly first showing symptoms in the city of Wuhan sometime last year. As to exactly when this issue truly started in Wuhan, most of us will never really know and how the outbreak began, but the Chinese government finally decided to reveal to the rest of the world that it was a crisis at the end of 2019. Since then, it has rapidly spread all over the world with thousands getting ill on nearly every continent, and there are fears that major sporting events, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan could, unfortunately, be canceled or delayed as a result.
Lazio have been the beneficiaries of this delayed fixture, as for the first time all season, the Biancocelesti are now on top of the table. It’s the first time in many seasons they have been at the pinnacle of the Serie A standings, but it may not be for long. They will certainly be keeping one eye on the results of this clash, and from their perspective, the best result arguably would be for Inter to win, as the Nerazzurri would close the gap to just five points, albeit they will have a game in hand. Juventus, meanwhile, would overtake Lazio with a victory. A draw between the two sides would still keep Lazio on top, but just barely.
Maurizio Sarri’s side come into this game having endured frustration in the Champions League, where they lost 1-0 to Lyon for the first time in Juve’s European history. “Sarri-ball” has failed to take off, much to the ex-Napoli manager’s frustration, with the players struggling to figure out how to make his regimented system work for them. Juventus are still good contenders to win the league title, but they don’t seem as fully oiled an outfit as they did under Massimiliano Allegri. There are reports that the club’s board will be closely watching how the team does over the course of the next few months to decide whether the Sarri experiment will be a long-term one or just a shorter-term temp arrangement – especially with Pep Guardiola possibly becoming available given that Manchester City are facing a ban from European competition.
Juventus are well-rested following their Coppa Italia tie with AC Milan being canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but so are Inter. The Nerazzurri were to play Napoli and come into this game having secured their spot in the Round of 16 after sweeping aside Eastern European outfit Ludogorets without much fuss. Antonio Conte will be looking to get one better over his former side as Inter chase their first win in Turin since 2012, but the Nerazzurri have historically struggled against Juve. They have won just one of their last 14 fixtures versus the Bianconeri, and certainly, a victory in this Derby d’Italia will go a long way towards blowing the Scudetto race back open.
Unfortunately, due to the problems that started and were failed to be contained in Wuhan and now have spread globally, this game will be played behind closed doors. Thus, Conte will not be able to face his former side in front of a roaring crowd, but that will matter little should he secure all three points in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the Serie A season. Having lost their last game, it will also be the perfect way for Inter to get back on track as we head towards the final stretch. Will the visitors be able to take one step towards ending Juve’s undisputed reign as the kings of Italy?
