Before the game, former Juventus and Italy coach Marcello Lippi told Sky Sports in an interview that the emphasis on defense would be the focus of the match, and he stated that AC Milan's defenders were better than Juventus'. He said: "In Saturday’s title race, defense will become the key factor in determining the outcome. Which side has a stronger central defender pairing - Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva or Juventus' defenders?"
Juventus star Pavel Nedved, in an interview with Sky Sports, expressed his regret over Zlatan Ibrahimovic not playing. "I feel sorry for the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic; he could have been the leading role in this game. I hope Juventus can win," he said.
A key figure in the game, Andrea Pirlo, also shared his opinion on Ibrahimovic's absence before facing his former club. His view aligned with Pavel Nedved's, as he told the Messenger newspaper: "I really hope Ibrahimovic can play in the weekend game."
In anticipation of the game against AC Milan, "The Market" featured a striking headline— "Thank you, Adriano Galliani, thank you to our Andrea Pirlo!" The report discussed the impact of Andrea Pirlo's arrival at Juventus and how it changed the perspective for the upcoming game.
First, he talked about the match itself, stating it was just a normal league competition. "This will be a good fight, and it is very important, but no matter what the results, Serie A's season for the scudetto is decisive."
Then he discussed the role Andrea Pirlo played in joining the bianconeri. He said: "Andrea Pirlo is a crucial player; the guys around him have improved. Before becoming a great champion, he is first a good man."
Finally, he commented on this season's bianconeri performance, saying: "Even the most optimistic person among us should not have expected this season to be for the scudetto; this even surpasses our own expectations."
Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Dallas won their sixth straight game. If there were no love lost, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 52 points, cutting Miami Heat's victory over Orlando Magic to 90-78.