Juventus will aim to keep their excellent start to the season going against Cagliari on Sunday night.
Juventus are riding high after back-to-back away wins and will return to their home ground on Sunday to face a struggling Cagliari side. With momentum in their favour, the Bianconeri are now within reach of the Serie A summit, and their latest victory, a thrilling five-goal encounter against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, further boosted their confidence.
Meanwhile, Cagliari head into this match fresh off their first league win of the season, which has lifted their spirits and helped them climb out of the relegation zone. Under the guidance of head coach Thiago Motta, Juventus showcased their resilience and determination in their UEFA Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.
Despite going down 2-1 with only ten men, Juve fought back, thanks to star striker Dusan Vlahovic, who netted two crucial goals to inspire a comeback. Despite an early setback due to Bremer’s injury and Michele Di Gregorio’s red card, the Bianconeri pulled off a memorable victory, with a stunning strike from Vlahovic followed by a late solo effort from Francisco Conceicao to seal the win.
Juve’s defence has been rock solid, allowing very few chances and goals across all competitions. However, the injury to Bremer will be a blow as they prepare for Cagliari. On the other hand, Cagliari’s recent form has been less impressive, but they finally broke their winless streak with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Parma. Goals from Nadir Zortea, Razvan Marin, and a late match-winner from Roberto Piccoli helped Davide Nicola’s men get their first Serie A win of the season.
While their defence has struggled, conceding goals regularly, they will hope to build on their latest win as they head to Turin. However, facing Juventus, who have dominated them in recent years, will be a daunting task. Historically, Cagliari have had a tough time against the Turin giants, losing 12 of their last 14 league meetings.
Juventus will look to extend their perfect defensive record in Serie A this season, having kept a clean sheet in each of their first six matches. Cagliari, meanwhile, will need to find some attacking inspiration to break down one of Europe’s most disciplined defences. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Juventus will likely line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Michele Di Gregorio starting between the posts. Danilo and Andrea Cambiaso are expected to occupy the full-back positions, while Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti will form the central defensive partnership, stepping in for the injured Gleison Bremer.
Manuel Locatelli and Weston McKennie are expected to hold the midfield in a double-pivot role, providing balance and support.
Further up the field, Francisco Conceicao, who played a key role in midweek, could slot into the right-wing position, with Teun Koopmeiners operating centrally and Kenan Yildiz on the left. Leading the attack will be Dusan Vlahovic, who has a strong track record against Cagliari and will look to add to his impressive goal tally.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Danilo, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, McKennie; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
Cagliari
Cagliari will likely set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Simone Scuffet guarding the goal. Gabriele Zappa and Adam Obert are expected to play as full-backs, while Sebastiano Luperto and Yerry Mina will likely form the heart of the defence.
In midfield, Antoine Makoumbou and Razvan Marin are expected to hold the double-pivot roles, providing stability and ball distribution. Zito Luvumbo could occupy the left-wing position, with Gianluca Gaetano playing centrally and Nadir Zortea on the right to support the attack. Roberto Piccoli will likely spearhead the Cagliari attack as the lone striker.
Unavailable for this match are key players Mateusz Wieteska, who remains sidelined, and forwards Leonardo Pavoletti and Gianluca Lapadula, both of whom are significant doubts due to injury concerns. These absences could leave the visitors a bit short-handed, especially in the forward positions.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Obert; Makoumbou, Marin; Zortea, Gaetano, Luvumbo; Piccoli
Key Stats
- Juventus have won 12 of their last 14 Serie A matches (D1 L1) against Cagliari, scoring at least two goals in 12 games during this period, including exactly two goals in each of their last four encounters.
- Juventus have won each of their last seven Serie A home games against Cagliari, keeping a clean sheet in five of those matches. Among teams currently in top-flight, only Venezia have a longer home winning streak against a single opponent than Juventus’ 10 home wins in a row.
- Juventus will play a ‘lunchtime match’ in Serie A for the first time since March 2024. Prior to their last game at 12:30, Juventus had won their six previous matches played in this timeslot, scoring at least two goals in each of those games.
- Juventus have kept a clean sheet in each of their first six Serie A games this season, marking the first time they have achieved this feat in their top-flight history. Only three teams have managed to keep clean sheets in their first seven Serie A matches of a season, including AC Milan in 1993/94, Cagliari in 1966/67, and Bologna in 1946/47.
- Following their victory against Parma, Cagliari have picked up five points in Serie A this season. In their previous two top-flight seasons (2023/24 and 2021/22), the Sardinian side had only collected two points in their first six Serie A matches, failing to win in this period.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
Dusan Vlahovic has been in fine form for Juventus this season, and his record against Cagliari makes him the standout player to watch in this encounter. The Serbian striker has scored six goals in nine Serie A appearances against the Sardinian side, including two direct free kicks.
With his ability to score in key moments, as seen in his recent match-winning performances in both Serie A and the Champions League, Vlahovic is set to be the main threat to Cagliari’s defence. His physical presence and clinical finishing make him a formidable challenge for any backline, and with Juventus looking to continue their strong start to the season, all eyes will be on Vlahovic to deliver once again.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Cagliari
Given Juventus’s stellar defensive record and their dominance over Cagliari in recent years, it is hard to see anything other than a home victory. The Bianconeri have kept clean sheets in all of their Serie A matches so far, and Cagliari’s struggles to score regularly, especially against top-tier opponents, make it likely they will be shut out again.
With Dusan Vlahovic in excellent form and the home advantage at Allianz Stadium, Juventus should have enough firepower to secure a comfortable 2-0 win.