Juventus will aim to get their Serie A campaign back on track when they face Cagliari on Saturday evening.
Juventus return to Serie A duty on Saturday looking to channel the emotion and momentum of their dramatic midweek European triumph. Their narrow UEFA Champions League victory may have lifted pressure momentarily, but Luciano Spalletti knows that the domestic picture remains far less forgiving. Standing in their way at the Allianz Stadium is a Cagliari side entrenched in another tense relegation fight and desperate for points.
The midweek trip to Norway could have easily deepened Juventus’s crisis. Instead, it delivered a flicker of hope. Winless in Europe prior to Tuesday night, the Bianconeri entered their clash with Bodo/Glimt in dangerous territory near the bottom of the group. But in an eventful second half, two of their most scrutinised forwards finally struck back, Lois Openda finding the net before Jonathan David snatched a stoppage-time winner in striking fashion.
The 3-2 victory did not solve all problems, but it restored belief and pushed Juventus into a playoff spot with three matchdays remaining. Yet, the mood in Serie A remains far less positive. Last weekend’s draw against bottom-placed Fiorentina only reinforced the sense of stagnation that has plagued Juve for over a year. Matches they should be controlling too often become scrappy, disjointed affairs, and dropped points have become a recurring theme.
No side across Europe’s top five leagues has drawn more matches since the start of last season, 21 from 50, a statistic that reflects both structural issues and a chronic lack of cutting edge. Their current haul of 20 points from 12 matches marks the club’s third-worst return at this stage of a season this century, while scoring only 15 league goals represents their lowest output since 1999.
Spalletti’s arrival has not yet sparked the dramatic transformation many fans had hoped for, and with a widening gap to Italy’s leading contenders, the pressure to correct course grows heavier by the week. Cagliari, meanwhile, arrive in Turin with a very different type of pressure.
Their campaign has already settled into a pattern that has become all too familiar for the Sardinian club, long stretches without wins, defensive lapses in key moments, and a league table that increasingly threatens to pull them into the relegation zone.
Fabio Pisacane’s men remain only three points above the drop, and the numbers make grim reading. Eight straight matches without victory, a run dating back to early September, have deflated early momentum and exposed structural flaws at both ends of the pitch. Their performance last weekend, however, showcased both their potential and their Achilles’ heel.
Hosting fellow strugglers Genoa, Cagliari showed admirable fight to score three times, including a pair of well-taken headers from Gennaro Borrelli, but a late defensive lapse cost them victory in a 3-3 draw. Their away form provides little comfort. Only five points have been collected on the road this season, and history offers no reassurance either.
Cagliari have won just one of their last 27 league meetings with Juventus, and even last year’s Coppa Italia encounter ended in a bruising 4–0 defeat. Their most recent trip to the Allianz Stadium did yield a valuable 1-1 draw, but replicating that result will require clear defensive improvement and a level of discipline rarely shown this season.
With upcoming fixtures against Juventus, AS Roma and Napoli, the next two weeks could prove pivotal in shaping Cagliari’s future. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Juventus return to domestic action with relatively few absentees, giving Luciano Spalletti the opportunity to field a near full-strength side. The only confirmed injuries are in defence, with both Gleison Bremer and Daniele Rugani unavailable due to muscular issues.
Their absence leaves Juventus slightly light at centre-back, although the versatility within the squad should compensate. Long-term absentee Arkadiusz Milik also remains sidelined and will not take part in Saturday’s contest. After rotating heavily in the UEFA Champions League win over Bodo/Glimt, Spalletti is expected to restore key starters to the lineup.
Khephren Thuram should return to the midfield after being rested in midweek, while Kenan Yildiz is poised to slot back into the advanced playmaking line. Dusan Vlahovic, who began on the bench in Norway, is pushing strongly for a start, particularly given his outstanding record against Cagliari, with eight goals in eleven Serie A appearances against the Sardinian club. Juventus have no suspensions for this fixture.
Spalletti is expected to continue with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, a structure designed to maximise control in midfield and create fluid rotations between the attacking midfielders and the central striker.
Michele Di Gregorio will start in goal, offering calm distribution and sharp reflexes behind the defensive line. In the back three, Pierre Kalulu should occupy the right-sided centre-back role, combining mobility with strong tackling, while Lloyd Kelly features centrally as the defensive anchor. On the left, the technically composed Teun Koopmeiners is expected to start as the ball-playing defender, contributing to build-up phases with accurate forward passing.
Across the midfield, Andrea Cambiaso will operate as the right wing-back, providing width and progressive movement up the flank. Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram form the central pairing, with Locatelli orchestrating play from deep and Thuram offering athleticism, ball-carrying strength and transitional drive. On the left wing, Filip Kostic brings direct running, crossing ability and significant experience in wide channels.
Ahead of them, Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz will occupy the dual attacking midfield roles. McKennie’s dynamism and intelligent positioning offer vertical threat and pressing energy, while Yildiz provides creativity, close control and a natural ability to drift into pockets between the lines.
Leading the attack is Dusan Vlahovic, the focal point of Juventus’s forward movement. His finishing, aerial ability and hold-up play provide the team with both a reliable target in the box and an outlet during transitions.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Kostic; McKennie, Yildiz; Vlahovic
Cagliari
Cagliari arrive in Turin with several significant fitness concerns that complicate Fabio Pisacane’s selection options. Andrea Belotti remains sidelined with a serious knee injury and will not be available for the foreseeable future. The forward line is further depleted by injuries to Ze Pedro and midfielder Luca Mazzitelli, both of whom remain in the treatment room.
Defensive worries add to the visitors’ concerns, as Yerry Mina, who picked up a knock last weekend, is considered a major doubt for the trip to the Allianz Stadium. His likely absence could force a reshuffle in the back line, with Adam Obert expected to step in. Cagliari have no suspensions, but the mounting injury list restricts their tactical flexibility at a time when they desperately need stability.
Despite these setbacks, the form of Gennaro Borrelli offers a rare bright spot. His brace against Genoa last weekend showcased his aerial threat and penalty-box instincts, and that performance should be enough to guarantee him a starting place as the focal point of Cagliari’s attack.
Cagliari are expected to maintain their 3-5-2 structure, aiming to create numerical strength in midfield while relying on quick transitions and set-piece opportunities to trouble Juventus. Elia Caprile will start in goal, charged with organising the defensive line and dealing with the waves of pressure that are likely to come.
In defence, Gabriele Zappa is set to play on the right of the back three, offering tenacity and proactive defending. Sebastiano Luperto, the most experienced of the trio, will marshal the centre of defence, while Adam Obert steps into the left-sided centre-back role, providing mobility and strong ball recovery in Mina’s absence.
The midfield is constructed to provide both industry and balance. On the right flank, Marco Palestra will operate as the wing-back, combining defensive discipline with overlapping runs. In the central trio, Alessandro Deiola will sit deepest, breaking up play and providing physical presence.
Matteo Prati will support him as a box-to-box midfielder, linking phases with energy and composure, while Michael Folorunsho adds power, drive and the ability to carry the ball forward through tight spaces. On the left, Mattia Felici will serve as the wing-back, offering width and pace.
Up front, Sebastiano Esposito will partner Gennaro Borrelli in a pairing designed to stretch Juventus’s defensive structure. Esposito’s movement in the channels and willingness to press complements Borrelli’s strength in hold-up play and aerial duels. Together, they are tasked with making the most of limited opportunities against one of Serie A’s most disciplined back lines
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Caprile; Zappa, Luperto, Obert; Palestra, Deiola, Prati, Folorunsho, Felici; Esposito, Borrelli
Key Stats
- Cagliari have beaten Juventus just once in their last 27 Serie A meetings, a run stretching back over a decade. During that period, Juventus have scored 64 goals against the Sardinian side, an average of 2.3 per game.
- No club across Europe’s top five leagues has drawn more matches than Juventus since the start of last season, 21 draws in 50 league matches.
- Cagliari have failed to win any of their last eight Serie A matches, collecting just four points during that run. They have also conceded at least two goals in six of those fixtures.
- Dusan Vlahovic has scored eight goals in 11 Serie A appearances against Cagliari, making the Rossoblu one of his most productive opponents. His scoring average of 0.72 goals per game against them is one of his highest against any Italian side.
- Despite sitting in the top half of the table, Juventus have scored only 15 goals through 12 league matches, their lowest tally at this stage of a season since 1999. By contrast, Cagliari have conceded 23 goals, one of the highest totals in the league.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
Few fixtures suit Dusan Vlahovic as naturally as a meeting with Cagliari. The Serbian striker has built a remarkable personal record against the Sardinian side, scoring eight times in eleven Serie A appearances. But beyond the numbers, this match comes at a pivotal moment in Vlahovic’s season. Having started on the bench in Juventus’s dramatic European win over Bodo/Glimt, he returns to domestic action with renewed purpose and something to prove.
Vlahovic’s influence in this Juventus setup goes far beyond his finishing. His ability to pin centre-backs, occupy multiple defenders, and create pockets of space for Kenan Yildiz and Weston McKennie is essential to how Luciano Spalletti wants his team to attack. When Juventus struggle for rhythm, as they often have this season, it is Vlahovic’s aggression, off-the-ball movement, and willingness to operate on the shoulder of the last defender that injects urgency into the final third.
Against a Cagliari defence missing key personnel and low on confidence, the Serb’s physicality could play a decisive role. His aerial presence will challenge Adam Obert and Sebastiano Luperto, while his capacity to drop deep and link play forces midfielders out of position and destabilises the Rossoblu’s defensive structure.
With Juventus still searching for attacking consistency, Vlahovic’s sharpness inside the penalty area may be the difference between another frustrating draw and a much-needed victory. This is the kind of fixture where elite strikers impose themselves, and Vlahovic has a long history of doing exactly that against this opponent.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Cagliari
This match-up pits two teams moving in opposite directions, even if neither is playing at their absolute best. Juventus remain a side with structural issues, an attack that misfires too often, a tendency to stall in the final third, and a long-standing problem converting dominance into victories. But despite these flaws, the Bianconeri still possess far greater quality, depth and individual match-winners than their Sardinian visitors.
Cagliari, meanwhile, arrive in Turin short on confidence, low on momentum and weakened by key injuries. Their defensive frailties, combined with an absence of composure in the final stretch of games, have cost them repeatedly during their eight-match winless run. Facing a Juventus team eager to shake off domestic frustration and build on their dramatic Champions League win only magnifies the scale of the challenge.
Luciano Spalletti’s side may not be at their most fluid, but fixtures like this often come down to control, patience, and the ability to capitalise on moments of quality. With Kenan Yildiz returning to the starting XI, Khephren Thuram anchoring midfield and Dusan Vlahovic playing against one of his favourite opponents, Juventus should have enough to break through Cagliari’s resistance.
Cagliari’s best hope lies in disruptive defending and set pieces, but sustaining that level of concentration for 90 minutes at the Allianz Stadium is an uphill battle. Juventus will likely impose themselves gradually, and once the breakthrough comes, the gap in class should become apparent.
