By Anna Italia
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43% Ball Possession JUVENTUS and 57% Ball Possession AS ROMA
Juventus 1 – 0 AS Roma 
18′ Mehdi Benatia
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Juventus, 2nd position with 41 points and a positive goal difference of +30
AS Roma, 4th position with 38 points and a positive goal difference of +18
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | DIFF | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Juventus | 17 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 44:14 | 30 | 41 |
| 4 | Roma | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 28:10 | 18 | 38 |
Juventus with a sprint race to catch up Napoli in the first position. Juventus securing the second position after defeating AS Roma and remain only -1 point below Napoli having 45 points.
It is Juventus to open the score in the 18th minute. Mehdi Benatia defeating AS Roma goalkeeper Alisson from close range with a left footed shot in the center following a corner conceded by Roma defender Federico Fazio.
Photo: twitter.com/juventusfcen
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! BENATIAAAAAAAA!!!!!!#FINOALLAFINE #FORZAJUVE #JUVEROMA pic.twitter.com/sTTLBELP9G
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 23, 2017
Here is JUVENTUS official starting lineup – formation by Coach Massimiliano Allegri:
JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Szczęsny; Barzagli, Benatia, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Pjanić, Matuidi; Cuadrado, Higuaín, Mandžukić.
Here is AS ROMA official starting lineup – formation by Coach Eusebio Di Francesco:
AS ROMA (4-3-3): Alisson; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kalorov; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Strootman; Perotti, Džeko, El Shaarawy.
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Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer of JUVENTUS: Paulo Dybala with 12 goals
Top scorer of AS ROMA: Edin Dzeko with 8 goals
| Juventus | Goals | Goals | AS Roma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dybala, Paulo | 12 | 8 | Dzeko, Edin |
| Higuain, Gonzalo | 9 | 4 | El Shaarawy, Stephan |
| Mandzukic, Mario | 4 | 3 | Perotti, Diego |
| Khedira, Sami | 3 | 2 | Kolarov, Aleksandar |
| Pjanic, Miralem | 3 | 2 | Nainggolan, Radja |
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of JUVENTUS: 2 wins, 1 draw
| 20/12/17 | CI | Juventus – Genoa | 2:0 | 1/8 | |||
| 17/12/17 | SA | Bologna – Juventus | 0:3 | 17 | |||
| 09/12/17 | SA | Juventus – Inter | 0:0 | 16 |
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of AS ROMA: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost
| 20/12/17 | CI | Roma – FC Torino | 1:2 | 1/8 | |||
| 16/12/17 | SA | Roma – Cagliari | 1:0 | 17 | |||
| 10/12/17 | SA | Chievo – Roma | 0:0 | 16 |
Referee Paolo Tagliavento from the section of Terni will direct the match Juventus – AS Roma.
Photo: LaPresse
? minutes to go until #JuveRoma ⏳
These are the ?? who’ll be getting us started! ?? #FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/EchHiadPRS
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 23, 2017
TEAM NEWS | ? | Here it is, our starting line-up for tonight’s Serie A clash against Juventus. DAJE ROMA! ?❤️
#ASRoma #JuveRoma pic.twitter.com/Cn8zUJUHx6— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 23, 2017
Photo: facebook.com/Juventus
2017 – 2018 Serie A Week 18
Juventus 1 – 0 AS Roma
Saturday 23 December 2017
Juventus Stadium
Turin, Italy
20:45
Referee: TAGLIAVENTO
Assistants: COSTANZO – MANGANELLI
Fourth Official: DAMATO
VAR: IRRATI
AVAR: PINZANI
Goals: 18′ Mehdi Benatia (J)
Official lineups – formations:
JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Szczęsny; Barzagli, Benatia, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Pjanić, Matuidi; Cuadrado, Higuaín, Mandžukić.
Subs: Pinsoglio, Loria, Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Asamoah, Marchisio, Bentancur, Sturaro, Dybala, Douglas Costa, Bernardeschi, Pjaca.
Coach: Massimiliano Allegri.
AS ROMA (4-3-3): Alisson; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kalorov; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Strootman; Perotti, Džeko, El Shaarawy.
Subs: Skorupski, Lobont, Emerson Palmieri, Peres, Juan Jesus, H. Moreno, Gonalons, Pellegrini, Gerson, Ünder, Schick.
Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco.