Juventus will hope to keep their unbeaten streak going when they face Torino at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

The city of Turin braces itself for another fiery Derby della Mole as Juventus welcome local rivals Torino to the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening. The fixture, one of Italy’s oldest and most passionate rivalries, carries not only civic pride but also significant implications for both sides’ Serie A ambitions. Juventus aim to extend their two-decade-long dominance in this derby, while Torino seek a rare and historic upset.

After weeks of mounting frustration and inconsistent performances, Juventus have turned to Luciano Spalletti to steer the ship. The former Napoli boss, famed for his tactical acumen and structured attacking football, has been tasked with restoring balance and belief to a side that had gone eight matches without a win in all competitions. His debut in charge brought an immediate uplift as the Bianconeri claimed a hard-fought 2–1 victory away to Cremonese, courtesy of goals from wing-backs Filip Kostic and Andrea Cambiaso.

That result steadied the club’s domestic campaign, keeping them in touch with the Serie A top four. However, their European form remains a concern. Juventus’s 2-2 draw against Sporting CP in midweek UEFA Champions League action left them with just two points from three matches. Once again, it was Dusan Vlahovic who provided the spark, scoring the equaliser and coming close to a winner in an otherwise patchy team display.

Despite their struggles, Juventus remain formidable at the Allianz Stadium, having lost only once in their last 31 Serie A home games. Their defensive solidity, 17 clean sheets in that run, has long been their defining feature, and Spalletti will no doubt look to build his foundation there. For the new coach, this derby represents an opportunity not just to maintain Juve’s supremacy over their city rivals, but also to lay down a marker for the remainder of the season.

On the other side of the city, Marco Baroni has quietly overseen a period of stability at Torino. A former Juventus youth coach himself, Baroni now finds himself plotting against his old club in what would be a statement victory for the Granata. Torino enter the derby unbeaten in five Serie A matches since late September, a run that has lifted them into mid-table contention and injected belief back into the squad.

Their last outing, a 2-2 draw with newly promoted Pisa, summed up both the promise and the frustration of Baroni’s reign so far. Goals from Che Adams and Giovanni Simeone helped Torino recover from an early deficit, but defensive lapses once again cost them maximum points. Alarmingly, 11 of the 16 goals they have conceded this season have come in the first half, underscoring their habit of starting slowly.

History, however, is firmly against them. Torino have not beaten Juventus away from home since April 1995, and in the 21 derbies played at the Allianz and its predecessor grounds since then, they have lost 16. While Baroni’s side arrive with confidence, they know full well that this is the biggest mental and tactical test of their campaign. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Juventus

Luciano Spalletti’s early weeks in charge of Juventus have been marked by tactical fine-tuning and personnel reshuffling as he seeks to reimpose structure on a side that had lost its defensive sharpness. The Italian tactician, traditionally an advocate of the 4-3-3, has opted instead for a more flexible three-man defensive system since arriving in Turin. The setup, though unconventional by his standards, has offered the Bianconeri better balance between defence and attack, and he is likely to retain it for this weekend’s derby.

However, Spalletti will have to cope with some key absences. Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal are both unavailable due to injury, leaving gaps in central defence. Meanwhile, Lloyd Kelly faces a late fitness test as he recovers from a knock; should he fail to make the matchday squad, Teun Koopmeiners, a naturally versatile midfielder, is expected to drop into the back three as cover.

In attack, Dusan Vlahovic is managing a minor flexor issue, and though he is expected to feature, the Serbian forward will undergo a final assessment before kick-off. If deemed unfit, Lois Openda or Jonathan David could be handed the chance to lead the line. Fortunately for Juventus, there are no suspension concerns heading into this contest.

Spalletti’s Juventus are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, emphasising structured build-up play and disciplined wing involvement. Michele Di Gregorio will continue in goal, shielded by a defensive trio of Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti, and Teun Koopmeiners, who will provide both defensive cover and progressive distribution from the back.

The wing-back roles are expected to be filled by Andrea Cambiaso on the right and Filip Kostic on the left, two players crucial to stretching Torino’s compact shape and supplying crosses into the box. In central midfield, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli will anchor the middle of the park, combining physicality with technical assurance.

Just ahead of them, Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz will operate as the dual attacking midfielders, charged with linking play and supporting the central striker. Up front, if fully fit, Dusan Vlahovic will spearhead the attack, using his movement and hold-up play to exploit spaces between the lines and test Torino’s backline.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Thuram, Locatelli, Kostic; McKennie, Yildiz; Vlahovic

Torino

Torino enter the Derby della Mole with a blend of optimism and caution as they prepare to face their fierce city rivals. Manager Marco Baroni has reason to be pleased with his team’s recent consistency, but injuries to key players could once again force tactical adjustments. The primary attacking responsibility will rest on the shoulders of Giovanni Simeone, the club’s four-goal top scorer this season.

The Argentine forward has an excellent record against Juventus, having scored six times in previous Serie A encounters with the Bianconeri, a record that will give Torino hope of an upset. On the injury front, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen has resumed full training after a brief spell out with fever and is expected to reclaim his spot at right wing-back.

However, Zakaria Aboukhlal continues to struggle with a muscular problem and is not expected to feature. There are also concerns in the goal, with Franco Israel still doubtful after missing the club’s last three matches due to fitness issues. Should he fail to recover in time, Alberto Paleari will once again deputise between the posts.

In more encouraging news, Niels Nkounkou is available for selection after recovering from injury, providing a much-needed boost on the left flank. Baroni, fortunately, has no suspension issues to contend with ahead of the derby, allowing him to name a strong lineup with a familiar structure.

Torino are expected to set up in a 3-5-2 formation, a system that offers both defensive solidity and width in transition. Alberto Paleari will likely start in goal, providing a steady presence if Franco Israel remains sidelined. Ahead of him, a back three of Ardian Ismajli, Guillermo Maripan, and Saul Coco will anchor the defence, tasked with containing Juventus’ dynamic front line and maintaining compactness through the central channels.

On the right flank, Marcus Pedersen should return to the starting lineup, providing energy, width, and defensive cover, while on the opposite side, Niels Nkounkou is expected to make his comeback, adding pace and attacking intent down the left. The central midfield trio will consist of Cesare Casadei, Kristjan Asllani, and Nikola Vlasic, a balanced combination of youth, creativity, and ball-winning ability. Casadei’s late runs from midfield could be crucial, while Vlasic’s vision will be key to unlocking spaces behind Juventus’ defensive line.

Up front, Che Adams will partner Giovanni Simeone, forming a physically imposing and tactically intelligent strike duo. Adams’s ability to hold up the ball and press from the front complements Simeone’s instinctive finishing and movement inside the box. Their chemistry could be vital in exploiting any defensive lapses from the hosts.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Paleari; Ismajli, Maripan, Coco; Pedersen, Casadei, Asllani, Vlasic, Nkounkou; Adams, Simeone

Key Stats

• Juventus have won the vast majority of recent fixtures between these clubs, specifically 77 wins for Juventus compared to 35 for Torino, with 45 draws in Serie A alone.
• Torino have won just one of the last 32 meetings against Juventus.
• In a sample of head-to-head matches, the average number of goals per game between the two sides hovers around 2.5.
• Juventus have lost only one of their last 35 Serie A matches against Torino, recording 26 wins and eight draws in that run.
• Historically, in the Derby della Mole, the fourth quarter-hour (76’-90’) has seen Juventus score more than any other interval, with 63 goals recorded in that timeframe versus Torino’s fewer in the same period.

Player to Watch

Dusan Vlahovic

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When it comes to decisive figures in the Derby della Mole, few names command as much attention as Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian striker remains Juventus’s focal point in attack and one of Serie A’s most lethal finishers when in rhythm. Powerful, precise, and relentless, Vlahovic combines physical dominance with a striker’s instinct for space,  traits that make him an ever-present threat to any defence.

Vlahovic’s recent resurgence under Luciano Spalletti has been timely. After battling fitness issues and inconsistency earlier in the campaign, the 25-year-old has rediscovered his sharpness, scoring crucial goals that underline both his confidence and his importance to Juventus’s offensive structure. His movement between the lines, ability to hold up play, and deadly left foot make him the perfect spearhead for Spalletti’s 3-4-2-1 system, particularly when supported by the creativity of Kenan Yildiz and the wide delivery of Filip Kostic.

Beyond his technical prowess, Vlahovic’s mentality in big games sets him apart. He thrives on high-pressure occasions, and few fixtures carry more emotional weight than the Turin derby. Against a Torino defence that can be physically imposing but often slow to react, Vlahovic’s timing and aggression inside the box could make the crucial difference.

If Juventus are to extend their long-standing dominance over their city rivals, expect Vlahovic to be at the centre of it, leading the line with purpose, power, and the poise of a striker determined to make his mark on derby history.

Prediction

Juventus 2-0 Torino

The Derby della Mole rarely disappoints in intensity, but recent history suggests this one could follow a familiar script. Juventus enter the clash with renewed purpose under Luciano Spalletti, who has already injected tactical clarity and composure into a team that had started to drift. The Bianconeri’s defensive organisation remains among the best in Italy, and their record at the Allianz Stadium, just one league defeat in 31 matches, highlights why they will once again start as firm favourites.

Torino, meanwhile, arrive unbeaten in five league games, displaying grit and improved attacking coordination under Marco Baroni. Yet their inability to convert competitive performances into victories, coupled with a long-standing psychological block against their city rivals remains a major obstacle. Defensive lapses, particularly early in matches, have been a recurring issue, and against Juventus’s precision-based approach, those moments of hesitation could prove costly.

If Dusan Vlahovic passes his late fitness test, he is likely to be the deciding factor. His strength and clinical finishing offer Juventus the cutting edge they need, while the energy of Kenan Yildiz and the delivery of Filip Kostic should create consistent openings.

Torino will look to Giovanni Simeone for inspiration up front, but breaking down a disciplined Juve back three on their home turf may be a task too steep. Expect a tense, tactical battle for much of the contest, with Juventus gradually asserting control as the game progresses. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Luciano Spalletti and his charges.