Juventus will aim to get their Serie A title challenge back on track when they take on Frosinone Calcio on Saturday.
Having picked up just two points from their last four Serie A matches, Juventus will welcome minnows Frosinone Calcio to the Allianz Stadium in a bid to get back to winning ways.
The visitors are not in great form themselves, having lost three league games on the spin. They are just three points off the drop zone and will be keen to end their poor run as soon as possible.
Frosinone have the third-worst goal difference in the league, something that could prove decisive given how close the teams are to each other in the lower half of the table. On paper, Juventus are the clear favourites going into the game. but Frosinone can take heart from the fact that the Bianconeri could only draw against 18th-placed Hellas Verona last weekend.
Juventus are nine points off Inter Milan at the top of the summit, having played a game more. Any further slip-ups will more or less end their chances of securing a first Scudetto in four years.
Both teams have faced off twice this season, once in the league and one in the Coppa Italia. Juventus won 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the Stadio Benito Stirpe, while also securing a 4-0 win in the Coppa Italia clash in Turin. They will now fancy a third triumph as they aim to get the league campaign back on track.
Frosinone are yet to win away from home in the league, and a trip to Turin is hardly an easy matchup. With Juventus fired up to end their winless streak, the visitors might bite off more than what they can chew on the night. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Juventus won a ninth straight Scudetto in 2020 but have since seen Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Napoli finish on top. The title race this season appeared to be between the Bianconeri and Inter Milan, but the former has fallen by the wayside in recent weeks.
A poor run of just two points from four games has seen Inter Milan open up a significant chasm at the summit of Serie A. Juventus will need to be near perfect for the remainder of the campaign to be in a position to take advantage of any of the Nerazzurri’s slip-ups.
Star centre-back Gleison Bremer will return after a one game suspension, while Danilo is out with an ankle injury. He joins the injured trio of Moise Kean, Mattia Perin, and Mattia De Sciglio, who are all sidelines for the game.
Massimiliano Allegri is likely to form up his side in a 3-5-2 formation, with Wojciech Szczesny in goal. He should be protected by the back-three of Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer, and Alex Sandro. Andrea Cambiaso and Filip Kostic should act as the wing-backs providing width on the night.
Manuel Locatelli should act as the midfield anchor, with Adrien Rabiot and Weston McKennie making up numbers in the middle of the park. Dusan Vlahovic should start upfront alongside Kenan Yıldız. Federico Chiesa and Arkadiusz Milik should offer options off the bench if needed.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Sandro; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Yildiz, Vlahovic
Frosinone Calcio
The minnows have now lost three league games on the spin and are tumbling down the table. Unless they pick up points soon, relegation could be on the cards. With 14 games to go, it is in Frosinone’s best interests to stem the losing streak as soon as possible.
Having never ever beaten Juventus in nine previous meetings, Eusebio Di Francesco could make history should he pull off a shock on the night. However, they will have to do so without Anthony Oyono, Riccardo Marchizza, Kevin Bonifazi, and Mateus Lusuardi, all of whom are out injured.
It is not all bad news as Simone Romagnoli is back available after a suspension. Luca Garritano is also available giving Eusecio Di Francesco more options at his disposal.
Frosinone should set up in a 4-3-3 formation that can double up as a 4-5-1 when needed. Stefano Turati should start in goal behind the back four of Nadir Zortea, Ilario Monterisi, Caleb Okoli, and Emanuele Valeri.
Enzo Barrenechea should start in the middle of the pitch alongside the duo of Luca Mazzitelli and Marco Brescianini. Matias Soule and Abdou Harroui should start out wide, with Kaio Jorge leading the line. The Juventus trio of Barrenechea, Soule, and Jorge could prove to be the difference makers against their parent club.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Turati; Zortea, Monterisi, Okoli, Valeri; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea, Brescianini; Soule, Jorge, Harroui
Key Stats
- Frosinone Calcio have never beaten Juventus in the Serie A.
- Frosinone Calcio have lost all the games played against teams in the Serie A top two that particular matchday.
- Failure to win on the night will see Juventus go five league games without a win for just the second time in the last 14 years.
- Since December, Frosinone have conceded 31 goals in Serie A this season, more than nay other side this campaign.
- Since December, Frosinone have lost nine games in Serie A this season, the joint-most for any side in the Italian top flight.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
The Serbian international is not enjoying a particularly prolific season but has the minerals to make a real difference for Juventus on the field. Vlahovic is likely to lead the line and will be the home side’s pivotal goalscoring threat.
Vlahovic has eight goals and one assist in his last eight Serie A starts and is a man in form. He scored last time out against Hellas Verona and will be keen to keep that run going.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Frosinone Calcio
Juventus and Frosinone are going through a rut and will be keen to return to winning ways. Given the difference in quality between both the teams, Juventus are the heavy favourites for the match-up.
Frosinone defeated Napoli earlier this season, showing their ability to pull off a shock. However, Juventus are a far tougher opposition with a point to prove. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Massimiliano Allegri’s men.