Juventus will host Sassuolo at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday and they will look to continue their fine start to the new year. They started 2021 with a resounding 4-1 thrashing of Udinese, the reigning Serie A champions then shunted away AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro.
Juventus have traditionally dominated this fixture as they have won 11 games from 15 matches.
The defending champions edged an intense encounter – which was erratically refereed throughout – essentially due to their impressive squad depth.
Bianconeri coach Andrea Pirlo could introduce match-winning combination Weston McKennie and Dejan Kulusevski from the bench – plus big-money buys Arthur and Federico Bernardeschi – while Milan called upon callow primavera graduates Daniel Maldini and Lorenzo Colombo.
Federico Chiesa starred, as the young forward followed in his father’s illustrious footsteps to net a brace versus one of dad Enrico’s favourite opponents.
With four goals and four assists so far, Chiesa junior is starting to come into his own, several months after an initial two-year loan from Fiorentina started in the summer.
Now that fourth-placed Juve have finally downed one of their key rivals this term – following a series of dropped points through drawn fixtures – Pirlo will aim to distance his side from Sassuolo, who sit just one place and one point behind them in the Serie A standings.