The winter break will have served as an important period for all Italian sides, as it will have offered them a chance to recharge and replenish their energies before focusing on the second half of the campaign, which kicks off in spectacular fashion as the top two sides on the log go head to head on the first Sunday of the year.
Juventus vs Roma Odds
Juventus 4/6
Draw 11/4
Roma 4/1
Roma have comfortably been the surprise package of the season thus far, Rudi Garcia building a close unit from the ruins of their disastrous season last year, reaching 2014 unbeaten with the best defence, in terms of goals submitted, in Europe. Despite their unbeaten record, four draws in their last seven games has seen them slip five points behind rampant Juventus into second spot. The Turin giants have dropped just five points all season, and are on a nine-game winning streak, the only dent to their season thus far their elimination from the group stage of the Champions League at the hands of Galatasaray in December.
The return of captain and talisman Francesco Totti, whose absence coincided with Roma’s dip in form towards the end of 2013, will be a big boost for the Giallorossi as they look to close the gap to the leaders to two points and consolidate their five-point lead over Napoli in third place.
Juventus have be close to unstoppable in the Serie A this term, with the freak game against Fiorentina, where they gave up a two-goal lead in the space of a quarter of a hour, their only defeat. Roma, however, as they have proven to seventeen teams in the league this season already, are a tough nut to crack. The top goal scorers in the league, Juve’s front line will have to contend with a defence that has let through just seven goals in seventeen games, and with Juventus themselves having the second best defence in the league. Not too many goals are expected in this game, as is evidenced by the Over 2.5 paying out at 8/11, with the Over going at 43/40. With the talent available to both coaches, chances are bound to be generated, though a cagey, technical encounter won’t make for a high-scoring game.
Tagged With : Juventus • Roma • Rudi Garcia • Serie A