Roma coach Jose Mourinho and ahead Romelu Lukaku will probably face a hostile reception in Turin whereas there will probably be a a lot hotter welcome for former Juventus striker Paulo Dybala if the Argentina worldwide is match sufficient to make the journey.
Mourinho led Juve’s bitter rival Inter Milan to the treble of the Serie A title, Italian Cup and Champions League trophy in 2010 and the usually controversial coach has reacted on earlier events to being baited by the Bianconeri followers by holding up three fingers about that haul.
Lukaku, in the meantime, was subjected to racist chants by a bit of Juventus followers when he was taking part in for Inter throughout the Italian Cup semi-finals in April and he was proven a second yellow card and despatched off for his response towards the house assist after scoring a stoppage-time penalty prompting a scuffle between the 2 groups.
Nonetheless, Lukaku surprisingly nearly joined Juventus within the low season. Nonetheless, a proposed cash-plus participant deal to his mum or dad membership Chelsea fell by when Bianconeri ahead Duan Vlahovic opted to stay in Turin.
All that’s set to extend the stress in what’s already anticipated to be a heated match on Saturday. Second-placed Juventus is battling exhausting for the Serie A title and is 4 factors beneath Inter, which visits Genoa on Friday.
Roma has recovered from a tough begin to the season and final week’s 2-0 win over defending champion Napoli left it three factors beneath fourth-placed Bologna. Mourinho’s facet is 16 beneath Inter.
“It is not a criticism however we have now a gaggle of gamers with sophisticated damage histories, Mourinho stated. If we had everybody out there for each sport I would don’t have any issues popping out and saying that we are able to battle with everybody not for the title however for the highest 4.
“With out (Chris) Smalling, with out Renato (Sanches), with out Dybala, we do not have a wonderful squad. With these three, we do. We even have an excellent coach.”
The customarily-injured Dybala’s newest woe is a thigh drawback sustained in Roma’s 1-1 draw in opposition to Fiorentina on December 10 and the 30-year-old was anticipated to be unavailable till the brand new yr. Nevertheless, he returned to coaching this week and will be capable of play some half in Sunday’s match though he’s extremely unlikely to begin.
If Dybala makes the journey to Turin, he’ll probably once more be applauded by his former followers as he was final season.
Dybala spent seven years at Juventus and contributed 115 targets and 48 assists in almost 300 matches. He additionally helped the Bianconeri to 12 trophies, together with 5 Serie A titles.
Nevertheless, he fell out of favour beneath coach Massimiliano Allegri after Juventus signed Vlahovic in January 2022. Dybala left the Turin membership when his contract ran out a number of months later, becoming a member of Roma in July.
Vlahovic began from the bench final week after only a purpose in his earlier 10 appearances for Juventus, however he got here on to attain a late winner in a 2-1 victory at Frosinone.
It is not straightforward for a striker when you do not rating persistently, however I work at my greatest on daily basis and I am assured I can assist to the group, the 23-year-old stated.
I am all the time on monitor and centered, with the assistance of the workforce and the coach, however the match is already over and I am fascinated by the subsequent problem.
I do know that the workforce wants me and my targets, it is a second wherein I rating much less. Finally, the targets will come.
