Juventus will aim to keep the pressure on Inter Milan in the title race as they take on ‘bogey’ team Sassuolo in Turin.
Massimiliano Allegri will demand absolute focus from the Juventus players ahead of their crucial clash with ‘bogey’ team Sassuolo. The Bianconeri have suffered only one defeat all season in the league, which came against their next opponent in the reverse fixture.
Since then, Juventus have raked in 36 points, which includes 11 wins in 14 games, representing the best form of any team in the league. In the last match, they kept up the pressure on leaders Inter Milan courtesy of a late strike from Dusan Vlahovic to down Salernitana. But the Nerrazzuri have since thrashed Monza 5-1 to open up a five-point lead.
Juventus can go top of the league if they win against Sassuolo and then beat Lecce, as Inter Milan will be taking part in the Supercoppa Italiana this week. The Nerrazzuri can retake their two-point lead subsequently. But the Bianconeri can apply more pressure by going top during that two-game period.
Sassuolo might have a dismal record against Juventus over the context of a more extended period. But they have managed to win three of their five Serie A victories against top-four contenders, including the Bianconeri, Inter Milan and Fiorentina. Alessio Dionisi’s side will look to better that record and aim at doing a double over the Turin giants this season.
However, since their win over Juventus in the reverse fixture, Sassuolo have barely progressed, considering they are very close to the relegation zone. Only two points separate Dionisi’s team from 18th-placed Hellas Verona, although irrespective of their result in Turin, they will maintain that gap to the bottom three after this round.
Dionisi will feel the need for urgent progress within the squad, considering the risk at hand. After a winless streak of five games, Sassuolo did beat Fiorentina, earning their first clean sheet of the season in the process, and will aim to repeat that performance against Juventus.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Massimiliano Allegri will have to make do without Moise Kean and Mattia De Sciglio for this clash. Juventus also have Weston McKennie and Federico Gatti suspended for this fixture, meaning the manager could make slight tweaks to his preferred starting Lineup.
Allegri will hope Adrien Rabiot has recovered from his thigh problem that saw him miss last week’s Coppa Italia clash, and the expectations point toward the midfielder starting against Sassuolo. At the back, the manager will decide on three centre-backs, although there is only one spot available, with Daniele Rugani and Alex Sandro in direct contention for it.
Rabiot could have Manuel Locatelli and Fabio Mirretti for company in central midfield, while Andrea Cambiaso and Filip Kostic are the preferred choices for the wing-back roles. Kenan Yildiz will keep performing in a starting role, while Arkadiusz Milik and Dusan Vlahovic contend for the other striker spot.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Szczesny; Rugani, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso, Mirretti, Locateli, Rabiot, Kostic; Vlahovic, Yildiz
Sassuolo
Alessio Dionisi does have a few injury concerns with his squad, but he has the right replacements to get the job done. Sassuolo have both their starting full-backs injured at the moment. Centre-back Mattia Viti should slot in at left-back, while Marcus Pedersen should play at right-back.
Central midfielders Uros Racic and Pedro Obiang are also out of the contest, although the former could yet make the squad if he can pass a late assessment. Centre-forward Gregoire Defrel also remains absent with an injury, although he would not have started ahead of Andrea Pinamonti against Juventus.
At the back, Martin Erlic and Gian Marco Ferrari should form the central defensive partnership, while Daniel Boloca and Matheus Henrique should form a the midfield partnership.
With Pinamonti leading the attack, he will have Armand Laurentie on the left-hand side of the attack. The wide attacker has yet to score since doing so against Juventus in the reverse fixture. He will have Kristian Thorstvedt and Domenico Berardi in the attacking setup.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Consigli; Pedersen, Erlic, Ferrari, Viti; Boloca, Henrique; Berardi, Thorstvedt, Lauriente; Pinamont
Key Stats
- Juventus have seen over 2.5 goals in 13 of their last 14 matches against Sassuolo in all competitions.
- Juventus have won ten of their last 12 home matches against Sassuolo in all competitions.
- Juventus have won 11 of their last 14 matches since losing to Sassuolo.
- Sassuolo have won three of their last five wins in Serie A against top four contenders this season.
- Sassuolo are only two points ahead of 18th-placed Fiorentina.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
In the background, media speculation continues to make judgements about Vlahovic’s long-term future. But the Serb does look firmly settled with Juventus. Despite Arkadiusz Milik’s hat-trick in the Coppa Italia, he is primed to take over the central striking role with rookie forward Kenan Yildiz.
Vlahovic’s record against Sassuolo favours Massimiliano Allegri to keep him in the lineup, having scored against them in each of their last three visits to Turin. He will want to conine on that favourable record and keep his Juventus team firmly in the hunt for the Scudetto.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Sassuolo
There is a chance this game will end in a draw, considering how well Sassuolo have played against top sides, particularly Juventus, in the last few seasons. However, the Bianconeri are in a good vein of form to worry about another shock defeat against Alessio Dionisi’s men.
With home advantage also on their side, Juventus are the prime favourite to take three points and close the gap on Inter Milan at the top of the table. Massimiliano Allegri will demand they collect three points, and in doing so, the Bianconeri might look for a clean sheet.
