This Saturday night at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, one of the oldest Derbies della Mole matches in Italy takes place: the determination of Torino to interrupt an adverse run going on for more than twenty-four years and be able to pull off a triumph for their people, goes up against an emotional Juventus team wanting to bounce back after the shocking elimination in the Supercup in order to also keep this local clash with supremacy.
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The weight of history on Torino
Torino goes into this classic with the heavy burden of ending years of frustration, as they have not beaten Juventus at home since 2015, while they will come up against a juve side seeking to restore some confidence. Milinkovic-Savic has been an outstanding performer for Torino in this campaign and is second in saves in Serie A this season with 62, first for saves inside the box with 38. The only Torino player to have appeared in every league game so far, Samuele Ricci will be fundamental once again in providing balance to the midfield.
The Torino-Juventus showdown has written 182 chapters since 1929, and Juventus has overwhelmingly dominated. They boast 78 victories in Serie A, scored 247 goals, and had an unbeaten streak of 21 matches against their city rivals. Torino, on the other hand, has suffered a decade of disappointment, managing only one victory in 36 official encounters this century.
Recent stats only add to the pressure on Paolo Vanoli's squad. At home, Torino has gone five games without a win, failing to score in four of those matches. Against Juventus, the numbers are even more alarming: in their last 13 Serie A meetings, Torino conceded goals in 10 of them after the 70th minute. This combination of factors demands an immediate response, but is the Granata ready to pull off a surprise?
Juventus and the pursuit of consistency
Juventus hies into the derby with its morale dented after losing their Supercup semifinal against Milan. For a while, they have shown inconsistency; there has been sparkle in attack and breakdowns at the back. Even then, they lie fifth in Serie A on 32 points and want to nail this top-four spot.
This derby gives Juventus a chance to confirm their mental strength and adjust the balance between attack and defense.
Another impressive statistic involves their performance in the closing stages of matches: Juventus have scored in 12 of the last 13 derbies after the 70th minute, proof that they have the stamina to decide games in the dying moments. It could prove to be a deciding factor in this match, where the balance often swings either way.