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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus and Romelu Lukaku’s Inter Milan face off on Sunday in what could be one of the defining matches of the Serie A season.
The game at San Siro sits between the top two in Serie A last season when Juventus won a ninth consecutive league title one point ahead of Inter.
It also pits the two top scorers in the division against each other. Ronaldo has 15 goals; Lukaku has 12.
Both teams are favorites this season with Inter second, three points behind leaders AC Milan, with Juventus fourth, seven points behind first place with a game in hand.
As Antonio Conte’s Inter and Andrea Pirlo’s Juve clash, Milan have a chance to increase their advantage halfway this season as they travel to struggling Cagliari.
Juventus, Inter and Milan are all coming out of grueling midweek Italian Cup fixtures, needing 120 minutes of play each to advance to the quarter-finals.
Conte dismissed concerns ahead of a game that could determine his side’s chances of a first Serie A title since 2010.
“Every victory gives you pure energy, wins recharge your batteries,” insisted the former Juventus and Chelsea coach.
“We have time to recuperate before Sunday’s game, which is an important test to determine where we are and how far we’ve closed the gap compared to last season.”
Inter are now focusing on national trophies with their European ambitions stifled.
After an eight-game winning streak, the Lombard team lost momentum, dropping five points in two matches with a loss to Sampdoria and a draw at Roma.
Inter haven’t beaten Juventus since September 2016 – with a five-game losing streak and two draws.
In contrast, after a stuttering debut, champions Pirlo rebounded with three straight wins including 3-1 over AC Milan at San Siro a week ago.
The clash is between a team with the best attack in the league, with Inter scoring 43 goals, against the one with the tightest defense with 16 goals conceded.
Friday’s Rome derby kicks off the football weekend behind closed doors, with third-placed Roma looking to come back by winning after last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Inter against local rivals, Lazio, eighth.
Atalanta and Napoli, two points behind Juventus, in European places, respectively welcome Genoa and Fiorentina.
To watch: Lorenzo Pellegrini
AS Roma midfielder Pellegrini will be the only Rome-born player for either team on the city derby pitch. The 24-year-old Italy international has gone through the Roma youth system and has scored 13 goals in 127 games. Pellegrini was decisive the last time Roma beat Lazio in September 2018, scoring and preparing another in a 3-1 victory. “Pellegrini embodies our project,” said new Roma general manager Tiago Pinto. “He is a talented young player who likes Roma a lot. We will do our best to negotiate the renewal (of his contract).”
Key statistics:
43 – Inter are the league’s top scorer
16 – Juventus have one of the tightest defenses
11 – Ciro Immobile’s goals for Lazio
10 – The Cagliari race without victory
7 – Inter’s winless race against Juventus
Calendar (every hour GMT)
Friday
Lazio against Rome (1845)
Saturday
Bologna against Hellas Verona (1300), Turin against Spezia (1600). Sampdoria v Udinese (1845)
Sunday
Napoli v Fiorentina (1030), Crotone v Benevento, Sassuolo v Parma (both (1300), Atalanta v Genoa (1600), Inter Milan v Juventus (1845))
On Monday
Cagliari v AC Milan (1845)
ea / dj
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