Palermo vs Juventus

The visitors reduced the gap to leaders AC Milan down to two points last weekend and will be hoping to make up further ground against the hosts, who have a number of absentees.Palermo have a good record against Juventus in recent times, but will not be optimistic for this match due to a number of key absences. Coach Bortolo Mutti has four players suspended in the form of defender Andrea Mantovani, midfielders Nicolas Bertolo and Massimo Donati, as well as striker Abel Hernandez.Meanwhile, first-choice left-back and centre-back, Federico Balzaretti and Matias Silvestre, are injured and will not recover in time to feature - meaning that youngsters Carlos Labrin and Afriyie Acquah should get rare chances to impress from the referee's first whistle.The visitors are in the opposite situation, with no suspensions or knocks to worry boss Antonio Conte going into the clash in Sicily.Following Marco Borriello's sub-par performance during the 3-0 victory over Napoli, he looks set to be dropped to the bench in favour of top-scorer Alessandro Matri as the coach reverts back to a 4-3-3 formation rather than the 3-5-2 he has utilised in recent weeks.Former Palermo man Andrea Barzagli should line up alongside Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of defence, and further forward Simone Pepe is expected to re-enter the starting XI to provide width in attack after only earning a place on the bench last Sunday.