Juventus vs AS Roma prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-12-29 19:45.
Despite admitting it was “difficult” to accept Massimiliano Allegri’s decision to bench him, Dušan Vlahović popped up with the winner to give Juventus an important 2-1 victory against Frosinone before Christmas, which saw the Old Lady’s unbeaten Serie A (SA) streak stretch to 12 matches (W9, D3). Juventus will be eager to end 2023 in style as they’re experiencing their best 17-game start in Italy’s top flight since 2019/20, when they last clinched the title.
Juve, whose manager and directors keep repeating that this season’s target is simply to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL), start this round ten points above fifth place, sitting second behind league leaders Inter. That is in part because they remain the only SA side yet to lose a single league encounter at home (W6, D2), despite scoring more than once just three times during that run.
Romelu Lukaku said Roma are aiming for “fourth or higher” after the Giallorossi ended their two-game winless sequence with a 2-0 win against Napoli last weekend. That clean sheet clearly wasn’t enough for José Mourinho, who is reportedly trying to bring back former Juventus legend Leonardo Bonucci to help the capital club with their fight to get back into the UCL.
Beginning the weekend five points adrift of third spot, Roma desperately need to improve on their current away league record, as they have won only twice on the road this term (D2, L4). Momentum isn't on their side either, as Roma have failed to score in four of their last six competitive away outings and have won just one of the last 14 Juventus-held H2Hs.
Players to watch: Vlahović’s header against Frosinone may have convinced Allegri to put him back in the starting XI, and it may be a wise move given he opened the scoring in the second minute of the last H2H held here. Roma’s Lukaku celebrated his return to the squad after a ban with a goal against Napoli and he may be vying for an early impact given three of his last four goals were game openers inside 25 minutes.
Hot stat: Four of the last five H2Hs have seen a goal scored in the opening 20 minutes.