By Anna Italia
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40% Ball Possession JUVENTUS and 60% Ball Possession AS ROMA
Juventus 1 – 0 AS Roma 
14′ Gonzalo Higuaín
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Juventus, 1st position with 39 points and a positive goal difference of +21
AS Roma, 2nd position with 35 points and a positive goal difference of +20
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | DIFF | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juventus | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 35:14 | 21 | 39 |
| 2 | Roma | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 36:16 | 20 | 35 |
Juventus winning the direct duel towards the Scudetto. Juventus being the sole leader with 42 points having a +7 point ahead of AS Roma. It’s a step back for the Roman gladiators who were looking to win the game. Roma remaining in the 2nd with 35 points while AC Milan after a 0-0 draw against Atalanta following closely with 33 points being only -2 points below Roma.
It is Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuaín to score the only goal of the match in the 14th minute. Higuaín defeating AS Roma goalkeeper Szczęsny with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by midfielder Sami Khedira. This is the 10th goal of the season by Higuaín.
Photo: facebook.com/Juventus
Here is JUVENTUS official starting lineup by coach Massimiliano Allegri:
JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pjanić; Mandžukić, Higuaín.
Here is AS ROMA official starting lineup by coach Luciano Spalletti:
AS ROMA (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Rüdiger, Manolas, Fazio, Emerson; De Rossi, Strootman; Nainggolan, Gerson, Perotti; Džeko.
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Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer of JUVENTUS: Gonzalo Higuaín with 9 goals
Top scorer of AS ROMA: Edin Dzeko with 12 goals
| JUVENTUS | GOALS | GOALS | AS ROMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higuain, Gonzalo | 9 | 12 | Dzeko, Edin |
| Pjanic, Miralem | 5 | 8 | Salah, Mohamed |
| Mandzukic, Mario | 4 | 5 | Perotti, Diego |
| Dybala, Paulo | 3 | 3 | Nainggolan, Radja |
| Khedira, Sami | 3 | 2 | Totti, Francesco |
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of JUVENTUS: 3 wins
| 11/12/16 | SA | Turin – Juventus | 1:3 | 16 | |||
| 07/12/16 | UCLG | Juventus – Dinamo Zagreb | 2:0 | 6 | |||
| 03/12/16 | SA | Juventus – Atalanta | 3:1 | 15 |
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of AS ROMA: 2 wins, 1 draw
| 12/12/16 | SA | Roma – Milan | 1:0 | 16 | |||
| 08/12/16 | UELG | Astra – Roma | 0:0 | 6 | |||
| 04/12/16 | SA | Lazio – Roma | 0:2 | 15 |
From the 2 expected key players, it seems that it is Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuaín to make the difference by scoring the only goal of the match “the winner goal.”
Photo: facebook.com/Juventus
2016 – 2017 Serie A Week 17
Juventus 1 – 0 AS Roma
Saturday 17 December 2016
Juventus Stadium
Turin, Italy
20:45
Referee: ORSATO
Assistants: DI LIBERATORE – TONOLINI
Fourth Official: CRISPO
ADD1: TAGLIAVENTO
ADD2: GUIDA
Goals: 14′ Gonzalo Higuaín (J)
Official lineups – formations:
JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pjanić; Mandžukić, Higuaín.
Subs: Neto, Audero, Benatia, Barzagli, Evra, Asamoah, Hernanes, Lemina, Pjaca, Cuadrado, Dybala.
Coach: Massimiliano Allegri
AS ROMA (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Rüdiger, Manolas, Fazio, Emerson; De Rossi, Strootman; Nainggolan, Gerson, Perotti; Džeko.
Subs: Alisson, Romagnoli; Peres, Mário Rui, Juan Jesus, Vermaelen, Seck, Iturbe, Salah, El Shaarawy.
Coach: Luciano Spalletti