Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco lead Juventus” data-scaytid=”7″>Juventus out against arch rivals Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”8″>Fiorentina this evening, while Adem Ljajic supports Stevan Joveti
Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco lead Juventus out against arch rivals Fiorentina this evening, while Adem Ljajic supports Stevan Jovetic.
Serie A Week 5 is a midweek round and kicks off tonight at the Stadio Franchi at 19.45 UK time. “This is not a game. This is The Game,” said captain Manuel Pasqual.
The Viola are without the injured Alberto Aquilani, Mounir El Hamdaoui and Francesco Della Rocca.
Coach Vincenzo Montella had several options open to him, but has chosen Ljajic ahead of Mati Fernandez and Juan Cuadrado rather than Mattia Cassani.
Juventus defend their unbeaten run and haven’t lost in Florence since 1998, when Gabriel Batistuta got the decisive goal.
Simone Pepe and Simone Padoin are still out of action, but Quagliarella is again given the chance to shine after scoring three goals in the last two games against Chelsea and Chievo.
Mirko Vucinic is rested for this trip, so Giovinco is the partner in a 3-5-2 system that brings back big names like Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Stephan Lichtsteiner.
However, Claudio Marchisio is given a night off in favour of Emanuele Giaccherini in midfield.
The referee is Paolo Tagliavento, who has not officiated a Juventus match since Sulley Muntari’s infamous ‘phantom goal’ was not seen to cross the line for Milan last season.
Fiorentina: Viviano; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Romulo, Pizarro, Borja Valero, Pasqual; Ljajic, Jovetic
Fiorentina bench: Neto, Hegazi, Olivera, Lupatelli, Mati Fernandez, Savic, Cassani, Seferovic, Llama, Migliaccio, Toni, Camporese
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Asamoah; Giovinco, Quagliarella
Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Lucio, Isla, De Ceglie, Pogba, Marrone, Marchisio, Bendtner, Matri, Vucinic