The pressure is on Juventus to get a result against Chievo at the Stadio Bentegodi, but Antonio Conte is in the stands and forced to reshuffle his pack.
The pressure is on Juventus to get a result against Chievo at the Stadio Bentegodi, but Antonio Conte is in the stands and forced to reshuffle his pack.
Napoli went joint top of the table with last night’s 2-0 win over Catania, so the Bianconeri must get at least a point to remain sole leaders of Serie A. Click here for a match preview.
The tension has been getting to the Bianconeri recently, as shown by their angry reaction to the 1-1 draw with Genoa and this week’s Coppa Italia semi-final defeat to Lazio.
Coach Conte and defender Leonardo Bonucci start two-game bans for insulting the referee, while Mirko Vucinic is also suspended.
Claudio Marchisio is on the treatment table with Giorgio Chiellini, Simone Pepe and Nicklas Bendtner.
Luca Marrone again takes the centre-back role, while Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba start together in midfield. Alessandro Matri partners Sebastian Giovinco, new buy Nicolas Anelka is on the bench.
Chievo have caused some upsets this season, beating Roma and Lazio, while they have picked up seven points from their last three home games.
However, the Flying Donkeys have beaten Juve only once in 21 games, home and away in all competition. That victory was 1-0 at the Bentegodi in January 2010.
Gennaro Sardo, Luciano and Boukary Drame are out of action, while Sergio Pellissier is only fit for the bench.
Mario Sampirisi is thrown straight into the starting XI, but Samir Ujkani, Francesco Acerbi and Spyropoulos are ready to debut in the second half.
Chievo: Puggioni; Sampirisi, Dainelli, Andreolli, Cesar, Jokic; Hetemaj, L Rigoni, Cofie; Thereau, Paloschi
Chievo bench: Squizzi, Ujkani, Vacek, Frey, Papp, Farkas, Acerbi, Spyropoulos, Seymour, Guana, Stoian, Pellissier
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Marrone, Caceres; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, De Ceglie; Matri, Giovinco
Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Peluso, Isla, Padoin, Giaccherini, Quagliarella, Anelka