Juventus will be keen to cement their hold on the second spot when they welcome Cremonese to Turin on Sunday.
Italian giants Juventus can gain a stranglehold on the second spot in Serie A should they defeat Cremonese at home on Sunday night.
The Bianconeri’s 15-point penalty was overturned last month and also coincided with Lazio’s form falling off a cliff. Maurizio Sarri’s side dropped points on Friday, meaning Juventus can now pull away in their bid to finish as runners-up.
Massimiliano Allegri will have an eye on the midweek UEFA Europa League semi-final against Sevilla and this could influence his team selection on the night. Thankfully, Cremonese are far from the top side and should be dispatched with consummate ease.
Le Tigri are currently in the 19th spot and a loss on the night will more or less see them relegated. Having defeated Spezia last weekend, the visitors will arrive at the Allianz Stadium with their tails up.
Juventus have been their own worst enemy this year and have failed to show much consistency. A far-from-full-strength side defeated Atalanta last weekend, and Allegri will expect more of the same.
A win will see Juventus pull further away from Atalanta, and give them a four-point advantage over Sarri and co. Even if Inter win, the Bianconeri will hold onto the second spot. With AC Milan continuing to falter, a top-four finish will appear likely. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Alle 14:00 Mister Allegri presenta #JuveCremonese ⏰
In diretta su Juventus TV 🎙️
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) May 13, 2023
Massimiliano Allegri is likely to rest some of his big names with an eye on the trip to Sevilla next week. Leonardo Bonucci came off injured in the midweek clash and now joins Mattia De Sciglio on the sidelines.
Gleison Bremer is in contention as he is expected to shake off a thigh injury, while Leandro Paredes is also available having served his suspension. This certainly gives Allegri options when it comes to rotating his players.
A 3-5-2 formation is on the cards with Wojciech Szczesny starting in goal. Sevilla’s bane Federico Gatti should start at the back alongside Daniele Rugani and Danilo in the back three.
Juan Cuadrado and Samuel Iling-Junior will marshall the wings and will be responsible to hold the flanks on the night. The duo will provide the crosses needed for Arkadiusz Milik to make an impact in the opposition penalty area.
Paredes is expected to be restored to the starting XI with Fabio Miretti and Nicolo Fagioli in support. Miretti in particular will be tasked with pushing forward and providing service to Moise Kean and Milik. With Dusan Vlahovic likely to be rested, Milik has the opportunity to stake a claim for a regular starting spot.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Szczesny; Gatti, Rugani, Danilo; Cuadrado, Fagioli, Paredes, Miretti, Iling-Junior; Kean, Milik
US Cremonese
Davide Ballardini’s side are staring down the barrel of a gun as far as the relegation fight is concerned. A loss on the night coupled with unfavourable results elsewhere could more or less confirm it.
Having never won against Juventus in Serie A, Le Tigri have to shift the momentum of history to garner a result. Even if they win, safety is far from guaranteed, given their current predicament. Frank Tsadjout and Cyriel Dessers are both out injured, while Charles Pickel is suspended.
However, it is not all bad news as Giacomo Quagliata returns to the fold after serving his two-game ban. A 4-3-1-2 formation appears to be the flavour of the day. The setup also allows the visitors to shift to a 3-5-2 to battle Juventus’s extra man in the middle of the park.
Mister #Ballardini ha convocato 2️⃣3️⃣ grigiorossi per #JuventusCremonese 📄➡️ https://t.co/ZrXOzzYgev#SolAmAi #ForzaGrigiorossi #DaiCremo #SerieATIM 🔘🔴 pic.twitter.com/m6P80LeLea
— U.S. Cremonese (@USCremonese) May 13, 2023
Marco Carnesecchi continues to impress and is a sure bet to start in goal for Cremonese. He will be protected by the back four of Leonardo Sernicola, Johan Vasquez, Vlad Chiriches and Emanuele Valeri.
The trio of Soualiho Meite, Michele Castagnetti and Marco Benassi will aim to provide a base for Pablo Ignacio Galdames Millan to thrive in the number ten role. David Okereke and Daniel Ciofani will form the front two and will aim to catch the Juventus defence off guard. A fast start will certainly give them a good shot at securing a positive result.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Carnesecchi; Sernicola, Vasquez, Chiriches, Valeri; Meite, Castagnetti, Benassi; Galdames; Okereke, Ciofani
Key Stats
- Juventus have never lost to Cremonese in Serie A. This run extends to 15 matches, with the Bianconeri winning 11 and the other four ending in a draw. Only against Piacenza does Juventus have a better unbeaten record. Cremonese have drawn against Juventus the last two times they met the Bianconeri in the second half of the Serie A season.
- Juventus have a 100 percent win rate against Cremonse at home in Serie A. The visitors are one of just four teams against whom the Bianconeri have such a record (Seven or more games played).
- Juventus have won 10 of their 13 home games in Serie A since October 2022. This is more than any other side in the league bar Napoli (Also 10).
- Cremonese have drawn eight away games in Serie A this season. It is more than any other side in the league bar Salernitana (Also eight).
- Cremonese number one Marco Carnesecchi has made 80 saves in 2023. More than any other goalkeeper in the top five European leagues.
Player to Watch
Arkadiusz Milik
The Polish striker has largely served as second fiddle to Dusan Vlahovic and will be keen to upstage the Serbian when offered the chance. Vlahovic continues to be linked with a summer exit, meaning Juventus might be in need of a new ace next season.
Milik will be keen to prove to Allegri that he is the man for the occasion. A strong finish to the campaign, starting this weekend will certainly be a massive boost for his chances. Strong in the air and lethal in the box, he is certainly a threat to the Cremonese defence.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 US Cremonese
Juventus are a difficult team to beat at home and Cremonese go into the game as massive underdogs. The Bianconeri are likely to have their attention focused on the clash against Sevilla and could take their foot off the gas. While Cremonese are likely to make life hard for Massimiliano Allegri and co, the quality of the home side’s roster should shine through.
