Well, SoccerAge predicts us lose. Juventus will prove them wrong, just like they did with the Barcelona and Real Madrid encounters last year.
03/13/2004. Carlo Ancelotti's Milan will grab the headlines and the points on Sunday night at the Stadio Delle Alpi. An away win.
David Bongiorno
Serie A Preview: Juventus-Milan
03/13/2004. Background
Football fans around the world will be watching or listening to this game on Sunday night.
It will quite possibly be the encounter of the season – and that will have a lot to do with what has happened to Marcello Lippi's Juventus and Carlo Ancelotti's Milan over the past seven days.
Juventus' run in the Champions League came to an end at the hands of Javier Irureta's Deportivo La Coruсa midweek.
And to make matters worse for the bianconeri, star striker Del Piero injured his right thigh in this clash.
He will now miss not only the game against Milan, but also both legs of the Coppa Italia final against Roberto Mancini's Lazio.
Yet despite these blows, Del Piero remained calm and confident.
"I am certain that in my absence, my team mates will do their best to meet the challenges that they face," he said.
"To be knocked out of an important competition like the Champions League is difficult and demoralising.
"But we still have an important objective: to do battle with Milan and reduce the lead they have over us on the table."
This game, like those in Manchester, New York and Milan, will be one to savour – partly because each side knows the other inside out, only for this clash Juventus will be carrying many injuries and therefore be limited in who they can select to play, facts that must worry coach Lippi.
It is an injury-free outfit that coach Ancelotti will bring to the Stadio Delle Alpi for this game.
And one that will be keen to take home all the points and continue merrily along the path to this season's scudetto.
Latest News
Juventus
"What is with all the injured players, Mister Lippi?" would probably be the first question fans would want to ask their silver-haired coach.
"And why have these players suffered their pains and strains before the game with Milan and the Coppa Italia final with Lazio?" would most likely be their second.
Luckily for Lippi he does not have to set about answering these questions then placating his anxious interrogators.
With Del Piero joining the ever-growing list of injured at Turin, this is a good thing as well.
For in addition to their inspirational captain, the bianconeri will also be forced to go without Trezeguet, Iuliano, Zambrotta and Birindelli on Sunday night.
Quality absentees like these hurt even great sides spoiled for choices.
But Tacchinardi will never admit to such a fact.
In light of the challenges his side face against Milan, he was a mixture of pride, determination and ambition.
"If we beat Milan and find ourselves only three points behind them, then winning the scudetto will be possible," he said.
"It will be hard with so many men out, but we will still be capable of giving it a good go on the night."
This belief runs right through the team, and it is something that is actively fostered by Lippi.
"This side have always had the capacity to put aside great successes and disappointing defeats and start again," he said.
Milan
In a season where nearly everything has gone their way, the rossoneri are not taking this encounter lightly.
As their recent clashes have revealed, Juventus are the club most capable of beating them on any given day.
And while Milan may have the upper hand in terms of current form, they know their hosts will be keen to make amends for their shock exit from the Champions League a few days ago.
Maldini said as much.
"It was a brutal blow for them," he said.
"And while Juventus may not be playing that well at the moment, we must not forget the past encounters we have had with them.
"On good days, they are very frightening."
Vice-president Adriano Galliani agreed with his captain.
"We are equals," he said.
Probable Team Line-Ups
Juventus (4-4-1-1): Buffon, Thuram, Ferrara, Legrottaglie, Pessotto, Camoranesi, Conte, Tacchinardi, Appiah, Nedved, Di Vaio.
Milan (4-3-1-2): Dida, Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf, Kakб, Inzaghi, Shevchenko.
Players To Watch
Juventus
It is a crying shame that Del Piero, a footballer with an innate capacity to thrill, will not take to the field for this game.
If he had played, there is no doubt that he would have shone.
So it will be up to Nedved to provide the big match excitement for the bianconeri.
And the way the Czech legend plays, it will come thick and fast.
Milan
After the final whistle, the name that will stick out on the scoreboard will be that of Kakб
What a player he is, and what goals he will score against Juventus.
David Bongiorno
http://www.soccerage.com/en/13/t8121.html
Buy on AliExpress.com
