If we are going to get an overdue title race in Serie A this season, we’ll find out on Saturday. That’s as leaders Juventus, with four points in hand at the top of the pile, host their keenest pursuers in Roma.

Juve may have been a shade under their very best for the majority of this campaign, having lost three times already in league matches. But Massimiliano Allegri’s side boast firepower and quality across the squad that’s helped them over the line in the vast majority of their matches. It’s clear, they’re the team to beat again.

In recent seasons, there have been traces of a flickering challenge from Roma, although as the season has rumbled on, they’ve faded away. Under Luciano Spalletti, they’re scoring freely, winning matches and once again, sticking in contention at the summit.

Yet for all the attacking swagger the Giallorossi have displayed under Spalletti, all tied to the club will be aware of just how significant a test this will be on Saturday. Juventus, after all, haven’t lost a home game in Serie A since early last term against Udinese and have racked up a sequence of 24 wins in a row at the J Stadium.

It’s an awesome record that’s underscored the Bianconeri’s recent domestic dominance, culminating in five successive league title wins. But if there’s a team in the league who can set up to trouble Juve in their own backyard, it’s this versatile and determined Roma cre.

Should four points become seven at the top—AC Milan, in third, are three points back on Roma—then the race for the Scudetto may as well be called off on the cusp of 2017. It leaves both teams with an enormous incentive to pick up points on Saturday night.

Where to watch the game on TV and online

Date: Saturday, December 17, 2016
Time: 2:45 p.m. (ET) / 11:45 a.m. (PT)
TV: beIN SPORTS
Streaming: fuboTV (free 24-hour trial)

Juventus

Last weekend’s Derby della Molle was a big test for Juventus. Without the likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, manager Massimiliano Allegri made some bold decisions in terms of the team’s shape and personnel. When Juve fell behind to Andrea Belotti’s 16th minute goal, the pressure was on too.

Yet Juve puffed their chest out. Gonzalo Higuain did exactly what he was brought in to do, netting either side of half time to put the Bianconeri ahead, while fellow summer signing Miralem Pjanic wrapped things up in injury time.

It was another significant hurdle cleared for Juventus on their way to what’d be a remarkable sixth Serie A triumph in a row. Having lost their previous away game 3-1 to Genoa, there were questions about the team’s mentality on the road; all three of their league defeats have come away from home this term. But there was a spirit on show to match their quality against Torino.

Back at the J Stadium, this is a team that will fear nobody. Juve operate with an assuredness in Turin that few teams in European football can match; the steep-sided stands help the fan conjure a cacophony of raucous support and the men in the iconic black and white jerseys feed off that ardent atmosphere.

While the game is set to come too soon for the likes of Bonucci and Barzagli once again, Paulo Dybala’s return to action in the derby will boost Juve’s chances in this one. The Argentina international put in one particularly dazzling run down the right flank in the buildup to the team’s third goal and Allegri will hope to see him strike up an affinity with Higuain.

Despite Juventus failing to slip into a devastating top gear quite yet, a seven-point gap would surely be too much for the rest to make up. With the winter break just a week away, Allegri will demand his team continue keep their foot over the throat of the opposition.

Roma

AC Milan may have felt a little unfortunate to have lost to Roma by a slender 1-0 margin on Monday evening, although the victory for Spalletti’s men should give them impetus in their audacious chase of Juventus.

Indeed, the Stadio Olimpico was enshrouded in tension during what was a very tight match between two fine sides. After M’Baye Niang spurned his chance to give Milan a lead from the penalty spot, it was left to Radja Nainggolan, who has been in awesome form for Roma as of late, to sweep home a long range winner.

It wasn’t a pretty performance from the Giallorossi, especially compared to some of the fluid attacking displays we’ve seen from them this term, but it ensured they kept their immaculate home record intact and that there’s still hope in the title race. It’s hope Spalletti will feel they can enhance on Saturday night.

Match: Juventus vs. Roma
Genre: Sports
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But it’ll be perilously difficult. Alessandro Florenzi and Mohamed Salah will be out of this one due to injury, while Bruno Peres is unlikely to feature after he was forced off in tears against Milan due to an ankle issue. The adaptability and dynamism all three can bring to the team would have extremely useful in this kind of contest.

Even so, there are threats Juventus must be wary of. Nainggolan, as aforementioned, has been a wrecking ball in the middle of the park for Roma, while Kevin Strootman is slowly finding his feet again following a string of injury layoffs. Diego Perrotti and Stephan El Shaarawy will likely be tasked with supplying Edin Dzeko, the division’s joint-top scorer, from wide positions.

In these matches in recent seasons Roma have always looked a little tentative, perhaps not possessing the conviction needed to get a result at this imposing venue. Spalletti will be desperate to see a change in mindset from his players and a result that can be a catalyst for a title pursuit.

Predicted lineups

Key Battle – Miralem Pjanic vs. Radja Nainggolan

After spending five years at Roma, Miralem Pjanic will have a clear idea of what he’s coming up against on Saturday. Nainggolan, in particular, will pose a formidable opponent and should make for a fascinating stylistic matchup.

Pjanic found it tough in the early weeks of his Juventus career, which is to be expected moving to a new club that plays a different kind of system. However, the Bosnia-Herzegovina international has slowly started to add more consistency to his game and has directly contributed to five goals in his last four matches.

While the Juve playmaker is all about technical flair and subtle touches, Nainggolan is a dynamic and aggressive presence at Roma’s hub. With Pjanic no longer at the club, the Belgium international has also been given more license to push forward from midfield and unleash rasping drives from distance at the opposition goal.

Pjanic was only on the bench against Torino, although on home soil he will surely come back into the team, determined to excel against his former club. Nainggolan, who has been pushed on lately, may not be in close proximity to his ex-team-mate, but it’ll be fascinating to see which of these two attacking midfielders can take hold of the game in their own unique way.