Tudor claims Como are a 'fake small team' ahead of Juventus clash

Igor Tudor has boldly claimed that "Como are a fake small team", as Juventus head into Sunday's clash against Cesc Fabregas' side as the only team still unbeaten in Serie A this season, alongside Atalanta BC, with their 11-match run without defeat stretching back to April.

This is the third time in four years that Juve have reached this point in the campaign without losing, though the Bianconeri have now recorded five draws in a row for the first time in almost 20 years, the latest being a goalless encounter with AC Milan before the international break.

Sunday's visitors sit fifth in Italy's top flight heading into this weekend's game, and with another Champions League outing against Real Madrid on Wednesday, Tudor's side will be eager to build momentum.

Juve are unbeaten in their last 23 league matches against the Lariani, a streak dating to January 1952. Como lost both clashes last season, and their most recent home victory over Juve came in a Coppa Italia match nearly four decades ago.

"It’s a tough game; Como are a fake small team; they’ve spent a lot of money, and the coach personally chose all the players, which is rare and a really good thing," Tudor said. 

"We respect them, but we want to go there and play our game.”

“Everyone says: ‘We are Juventus, we have to win.’ That’s right. If you don’t win all the discussions means very little, but I have to give my perspective and explain it.

"Those who are intellectually honest will understand. For a coach, it’s difficult. If you don’t win at Juve, you can say whatever you want, but you are still wrong.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Como - Alvaro Morata

Morata is set to face the club he has played more games (185) and scored more goals (59) for Juventus than for any other club in the top five European leagues across all competitions.

Morata has faced Juventus seven times in official matches without ever scoring, with only Roma (11) and Sassuolo (eight) being teams against which he has appeared more often without finding the net.

Juventus - Francisco Conceicao

Conceicao made nine goal contributions (five goals and four assists) across all competitions for the Bianconeri last term, and has already tallied two goal involvements (two goals) in just five appearances so far this season.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Juventus remain unbeaten in their last 23 Serie A meetings with Como (14 wins, nine draws), with Como’s most recent victory over the Bianconeri coming in 1952, when they won 2–0 at the Sinigaglia Stadium. Among current Serie A clubs, Juventus’ only longer active unbeaten run is against Bologna (26 matches).

After winning two of their first three home games against Juventus between 1950 and 1952 (losing one), Como have failed to win any of the following 11 home encounters with the Turin side in the competition (four draws, seven defeats).

The Bianconeri are also one of just three teams — alongside Milan and Inter — to have beaten Como in both league fixtures last season.

Como have drawn three of their last four Serie A matches (winning the other), matching the number of draws they recorded in their previous 21 games (10 wins, three draws, eight defeats). They now have the chance to record three consecutive league draws for the first time since September–October 2002, when they drew four in a row under Eugenio Fascetti.

Juventus, meanwhile, have drawn five consecutive competitive matches for the first time since April 2006 under Fabio Capello. The club has only once before gone at least six games without a win across all competitions since the 1929-30 season — an eight-match drawing streak between March and April 1971 under Cestmír Vycpalek.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Como - 34.2%

Draw - 27.9%

Juventus - 37.9%