Clean-sheet specialists Juventus take on Genoa, as Thiago Motta will aim to break a three-game winless run to get their season back on track.
Juventus can take solace from the fact that they are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues not to concede a league goal so far as they get set to lock horns with Genoa this weekend. On the statistical board, it makes for a brilliant reading. But after three consecutive draws in Serie A, the Bianconeri have lost six points in the title race.
These points are crucial for any team chasing the title, and as the season progresses, it could come back to bite Thiago Motta when it matters. Hence, Juventus must find a way to win games and also maintain their defensive solidity, with the clash with Genoa presenting that sort of an opportunity.
Juventus did start their season well with two victories. But as they have focused on not conceding, the firepower on the other end of the pitch has visibly dried up. Hence, it is a key area for Motta to solve, as once again his side were toothless against Napoli the last time out in Serie A.
Genoa, on the other hand, have been in a mixed vein of form since the season began. They did manage to get a draw against Inter Milan on the opening weekend and followed that up with a win over Monza. However, they have since failed to win any of their games but can take solace from a 1-1 draw to AS Roma.
However, they have since suffered back to back defeats to Venezia and Sampdoria, with the latter coming in the Coppa Italia. However, Alberto Gilardino could take some positives from their recent games against Juventus, as Genoa are unbeaten in three contests home and away.
Team News & Tactics
Genoa
There are a few fitness-related issues with Alberto Gilardino’s side, with Caleb Ekuban suffering from a muscular injury, that could keep him out of the contest. Junior Messias is also out of the clash, while last week, Ruslan Malinovskyi sustained a season-ending injury, so he will be out for the foreseeable period as well.
On the positive side Juventus-owned midfielder Fabio Miretti has returned to fitness and could be in shape to feature against his parent club. He might not have a place in the starting lineup, as Gilardino could go with Morten Thorsby, Milan Badelj and Morten Frendrup in his midfield.
At the back, Gilardino will have three centre-backs: Alessandro Vogliacco, Mattia Bani and Johan Vazquez. Genoa will rely on Vitinha and Andrea Pinamonti to lead the attacking lineup.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Gollini; Vogliacco, Bani, Vasquez; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Thorsby, Martin; Pinamonti, Vitinha
Juventus
Arkadiusz Milik and Timothy Weah are the only known absentees for Juventus, who will not make the matchday squad with their injuries. Francisco Conceicao has recovered from his fitness issue and could be named on the bench by Thiago Motta.
Federico Gatti has also returned to full fitness. He might be a contender to feature from the start against Genoa and alongside Gleison Bremer in the heart of the Juventus defence. Nicolo Savona could start at right-back, with Andrea Cambaiso, the candidate to play in the left-back berth for the Bianconeri.
Manuel Locatelli could be deployed as a lone midfielder at the base, with four ahead of him: Nico Gonzalez, Khephren Thuram, Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz. Dusan Vlahovic will continue to lead the line and is the best bet to end Juventus’s run of three Serie A games without a goal.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Perin; Savona, Gatti, Bremer, Cambiaso; Locatelli; Gonzalez, Thuram, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
Key Stats
- Genoa are unbeaten against Juventus in their last three games.
- Genoa have lost consecutive games in all competitions.
- Juventus are winless in their last three Serie A games.
- Juventus are the only club in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have not conceded a single league goal this season.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
The jury is out on the Serbian striker, who has always had an inconsistent time since his massive move to Juventus in January 2022. Vlahovic started things off brightly this season. But along with his other teammates he too has struggled for relevance when it comes to scoring goals.
With Juventus in need of a saviour in front of goal and break their three-game scoreless duck, Thiago Motta will want to place all his bets on Vlahovic to help them get out of this rut. Being the team’s primary goalscorer, all eyes will be on the Serb as Juventus travel to face Genoa.
Prediction
Genoa 0-2 Juventus
Genoa could be in better form, and with the pressure mounting on them to climb up in the table, Juventus could take full advantage of their situation. Alberto Gilardino’s men do have an excellent recent record against the Bianconeri to bank upon. But on Thiago Motta’s side, they might face a different animal compared to what Massimiliano Allegri had.
Juventus are desperate to stake their claim in the title race and will need to prove their worth by winning games. While his team are in a good position, Motta will feel the lack of goals and three consecutive draws has the pressure increasing on his shoulders. Hence, Juventus are expected to kill their scoreless run and take three points while keeping yet another clean sheet in the process.