'Creativity isn't dead' – Del Piero lauds Juventus star Yildiz

Alessandro Del Piero cited Kenan Yildiz as an example of creativity not being dead within Serie A.

Yildiz, who turned 21 earlier this month, has starred for Juventus this term.

The Turkish international has recorded 16 league goal involvements (10 goals, six assists), while his tally of 73 chances created ranks second in Serie A, behind Inter's Federico Dimarco.

And Juve great Del Piero has been hugely impressed by Yildiz, as well as some of Europe's other breakout stars.

Del Piero told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Nico Paz, Arda Guler and [Rayan] Cherki excite me, and then Yildiz. 

"Every national team has players of great creativity and flair. It is a matter of discovering them and watching them carefully.

"Creativity in Italy is dead? No, it is always present here, perhaps in other sports more than football right now. It will be rediscovered on our pitches too, by working in the most appropriate way."

Juve head into Sunday's clash with Fiorentina knowing a win could be enough to see them secure Champions League qualification, should results elsewhere go their way.

The Bianconeri sit third on 68 points, one ahead of AC Milan and Roma, and three ahead of sixth-place Como.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Juventus – Dusan Vlahovic

Vlahovic's first 98 appearances and 44 goals in Serie A came for Fiorentina, but the Serbian has never scored against the Viola in the league as a former player.

After netting against Hellas Verona and Lecce in his last two Serie A matches, Vlahovic could score in at least three consecutive top-flight games for the first time since January 2024 (run of four).

Fiorentina – Rolando Mandragora 

Mandragora made his debut against Juventus (October 2014 with Genoa), made an appearance for Juventus (April 2017 against Genoa), and has also scored two goals against his former club (both for Fiorentina).

This season, the 26-year-old has nine goal involvements in Serie A (six goals, three assists); among Italian midfielders, only Nicolo Barella and Nicolo Zaniolo have more (11 each).

MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN

Since the start of Serie A's MD28, Juventus have boasted the best defence across Europe's big five leagues, conceding just two goals, and also rank first for the number of clean sheets registered in the period (seven), while Fiorentina have kept five clean sheets.

Juve are unbeaten in their last 10 Serie A matches (W6 D4) and could record their longest run without defeat in a single edition of the competition since a 21-game streak between August 2024 and January 2025 under Thiago Motta (W8 D13).

After losing three consecutive Serie A matches without scoring against Juventus, Fiorentina are unbeaten in their last three (W1 D2), scoring exactly two goals per game on average (6-3 aggregate score over that period).

Fiorentina have not registered four consecutive games without defeat against Juventus in the competition since between April 2006 and August 2008, under Cesare Prandelli (W1 D3).

The Bianconeri have won more Serie A games against Fiorentina than any other side in the history of the top flight (82 – D55 L36), at least three more wins than any other team has against the Viola.

In addition, no club has scored more goals against Fiorentina than Juventus in the competition (275, level with Inter).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Juventus – 68.9%

Draw – 17.9%

Fiorentina – 13.2%