Luciano Spalletti insists he would take full responsibility if Juventus fail to qualify for the Champions League ahead of their must-win clash with Torino on Sunday. 

Juventus are sixth in Serie A and assured of a place in the Europa League at the very least for next season, but they still have a chance to qualify for UEFA's flagship competition. 

To qualify for the Champions League, Juventus must win at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, while also relying on favours from the teams around them in the table. 

Juventus need Como to not win away to lowly Cremonese, and either AC Milan or Roma to lose their matches against Cagliari and Hellas Verona, respectively. 

They can still qualify if Cesc Fabregas' side fail to win and both Milan and Roma draw, or if both the latter lose, regardless of Como's result at Stadio Giovanni Zini. 

Juventus' hopes were dented after a shock defeat to Fiorentina last time out, and Spalletti urged his players to provide a response as they aim to finish the season on a high. 

"I expect a performance that is worthy of Juventus, of the importance of this game, and a reaction from the team," Spalletti told reporters as quoted by Football Italia. 

"It is fair to say we have not been as dominant as we were, the regrets are not around failing to win games when creating many chances, they are around not being ourselves.

"I take my share of the responsibility. I've always been convinced that I spoke to the players as men, treating them like men.

"I feel that motivating the hearts and minds of men makes them step above their capabilities.

"If I go into an important game and the team plays like that, clearly the first person I look to blame is myself. Then I try to draw other conclusions about issues of character.

"It's all about character. We were disappointed, but not irritable this week, so we analysed everything.

"I read reports that the locker room is split, but things cannot change so dramatically because of one game."

The derby between Torino and Juventus will be played on the final matchday of a Serie A season for the first time in history, and with it comes great jeopardy. 

Juventus could also end a top-flight season with fewer than 70 points for the first time since 2010-11 (58), with reports suggesting Spalletti could resign if Champions League football is not secured. 

However, the 67-year-old pushed back those claims ahead of kick-off, saying that leaving the club had not crossed his mind. 

"It never crossed my mind," Spalletti assured. "First there was all the talk about the new contract, then immediately after that they turned to resignations. You just throw every possible adjective at me.

"If anything crossed my mind after a result like that, it was putting myself at the disposal of the club should it want to make a change, but I never asked to speak with anyone.

"Don't expect changes, because there won't be any. I am honest that I'm disappointed when the team doesn't do what I'd like, but I have every intention of continuing with the club. I have faith in the club and the club has faith in me.

"We are disappointed at not winning games, but also motivated to create a quality team that can make its fans feel protected and proud."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Torino – Giovanni Simeone

Simeone has scored in his last five home league outings and could become the first Torino player to score in six consecutive home Serie A games in the three-points-for-a-win era.

The Argentine has already scored six goals against Juventus in the competition (the same as against his current club). Only against Lazio has he scored more (10).

Juventus – Dusan Vlahovic

Vlahovic has scored in one of his two away Serie A Turin derbies (the winning goal in a 1-0 victory on 15th October 2022), and he will be hoping to come up trumps here.

After his goal against Lecce in his last away match, the Serbian could score in two consecutive away league games for the first time since between September and October 2024.

MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN

Torino and Juventus have drawn their last two Serie A derbies and have only recorded at least three consecutive draws in the competition on two previous occasions, four between 1977 and 1978, and three between 1966 and 1967.

However, Juventus are unbeaten in 38 of their last 39 league derbies against Torino (W27 D11). The Granata's only win in this period was on 26th April 2015. Furthermore, their current run of 21 consecutive matches without defeat (W14 D7) is the Bianconeri's second-longest active streak in the top-flight, after their run against Bologna (28).

But Champions League qualification is on the line. Should Juventus fail to finish in the top four of Serie A this season, it would be the second time in the last four campaigns (after 2022-23, 7th) after 11 consecutive seasons finishing in the top four.

Since Serie A returned to 20 teams (2004-05), Spalletti has finished outside the top four positions in the competition only once across his 11 completed seasons, coming in 2008-09 with Roma (sixth place).

Torino, meanwhile, would surpass their points tally from last season's Serie A campaign (44 points) with just a draw. But they have lost two of their last three league games (W1) after a four-match unbeaten run in Serie A (W2 D2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Torino – 16.4%

Draw – 21.8%

Juventus – 61.8%