Juventus will be eager to revive their ailing top-four chase, as new manager Igor Tudor will be eying a first win as they host Genoa in Turin.
Thiago Motta had been decent at best despite embarking on a long unbeaten run in Serie A after he took over as the Juventus manager last summer. There were some doubts owing to a large number of draws this term, which had prematurely killed any hope for the title and recent results have put a top-four finish in jeopardy.
A tough few weeks for Motta saw Juventus being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and then in the Coppa Italia at the hands of PSV Eindhoven and Empoli respectively. In the league, they suffered a monumental home loss to Atalanta with a 4-0 reverse scoreline and followed that up with a 3-0 loss away at Fiorentina, as the Bianconeri board decided to sack Motta in the aftermath of those results.
Igor Tudor has been installed as the new manager at Juventus, and the former Marseille and Lazio boss will hope to kick-start his reign with a win on home soil as they host Genoa. In terms of the top four race, the Bianconeri are only a point shy of fourth-placed Bologna, as a good run of games will ensure they can finish in Champions League places, which until two weeks ago looked like theirs to lose.
Meanwhile, Patrick Vieira has done a phenomenal job since taking over as Genoa’s manager, with the Frenchman steering the club clear of any talk of a relegation fight. After their 3-0 reverse loss to Juventus earlier in the season, the club seemed destined to languish in the danger zone, although since Vieira’s arrival, they have climbed up the ranks and currently sit comfortably in 12th spot.
That alone could allow Genoa to play without any real pressure, as they are very far away from the last European places in the standings. Vieira might want to prove a point against one of the biggest teams in the country, as Genoa have not beaten Juventus in 34 years heading into this fixture on Saturday.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Igor Tudor will bring about his style on the pitch, which does point towards a move back to a back three. The new Juventus boss has also named Manuel Locatelli as his new captain while speaking positively about striker Dusan Vlahovic, so the duo might be in line for starts against Genoa.
Among those out injured, there are no surprises in the list, although Douglas Luiz and Francisco Conceicao are the absentees that will come back sooner rather than later. The shape that Tudor might prefer could look like a 3-4-2-1, with Vlahovic leading the line.
There are some issues in the attacking third for Juventus, where striker Randal Kolo Muani, after a blistering start that saw him score five times in three games has failed to do so again in the subsequent eight games. The other problem is with the form of Teun Koopmeiners, and based on style, the Dutchman could pip Kolo Muani for a spot in the attacking setup.
Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie will start as the wing-backs, with Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli stationed in the central midfield unit. At the back, Renato Veiga, Federico Gatti and Piere Kalulu are set to start in that back three for Juventus.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Viega; Weah, Locatelli, Thuram, McKennie; Yildiz, Koopmeiners; Vlahovic
Genoa
Patrick Vieira has a long injury list to contend with with as many as eight first-team stars are missing from action due to fitness concerns. Aaron Martin is an additional absentee through suspension, and the Genoa manager will have to tinker with his selections ahead of this trip to Turin to take on Juventus.
Alan Matturro should be able to fill in for the suspended Martin in the left-back slot. Vieira will continue to deploy a 4-2-3-1 shape, with key defender Koni De Winter and Johan Vasquez featuring in the heart of the Genoa defence, while Stefano Sabelli completes the back line from his role at right-back.
Patrizio Masini and Morten Frendrup should slot into the central midfield spots, while Ruslan Malinovskyi might play in the attacking midfield role. Fabio Miretti returns to his parent club in good form, as his brace before the international break secured Genoa a win over Lecce. Alessandro Zanoli will feature on the right wing, while Andrea Pinamonti will lead the line for Genoa against Juventus.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leali; Sabelli, De Winter, Vasquez, Matturo; Masini, Frendrup; Zanoli, Malinovskyi, Miretti; Pinamonti
Key Stats
- Juventus are undefeated in their last 19 home matches against Genoa in all competitions.
- Juventus are with fewest league wins at this stage of any campaign since 2011.
- Genoa have not beaten Juventus in the last 34 years.
- Genoa are yet to win an away league game in 2025.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
The Serbian striker may be one of the players that benefit from Thiago Motta’s dismissal, with the former Juventus boss barely trusting him in the latter stages of his reign at the club. The Serb has further benefitted from the lack of goals from Randal Kolo Muani in the last eight games, which has coincided with the club’s dismal form across all formats.
Either way, Vlahovic might begin Igor Tudor’s reign as his starting centre-forward, and these games like the ones against Genoa might be a big chance for him to prove his worth. There is also a new contract at stake for the in-demand striker, and there is enough evidence he likes the club, as a few good performances and a finish in the top four might convince the Bianconeri to hand him a new deal.
Prediction
Juventus 2-1 Genoa
Genoa are in a comfortable mid-table position heading to this clash in Turin, as they are barely under any pressure to win. Hence, Patrick Vieira might have his players attack the ball without fear, although it is the Juventus defensive setup that might prove worthy in this clash.
Juventus, on the other hand, are under massive pressure to finish in the top four at the very least. This element alone could see the Bianconeri rush for three points, and with fresh ideas from a new manager, they might just get a narrow win to kickstart Igor Tudor’s reign on a high note. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Tudor and his charges.
