The Allianz Stadium in Turin is set to host a monumental Serie A encounter this Saturday evening as Juventus welcomes AC Milan. This highly anticipated match comes just two weeks after their dramatic Supercoppa Italiana face-off in Saudi Arabia, where Milan emerged victorious. Both teams, currently trailing behind Italy’s top four, are desperate for maximum points to revitalize their campaigns.
Juventus find themselves in an unusual position this season. Despite an impressive 20-match unbeaten run in Serie A, their campaign has been marred by an inability to secure victories. The Bianconeri have drawn an astounding 13 out of 20 league games, a statistic that has left them languishing in fifth place.
Their recent form exemplifies this struggle. Following their Supercoppa semi-final loss to Milan, Juventus has failed to hold onto winning positions in their last three league matches against Fiorentina, Torino, and Atalanta. The match against Atalanta particularly stung, as Pierre Kalulu’s goal wasn’t enough to secure all three points.
If Juventus draw on Saturday, it would mark their fourth consecutive home stalemate in Serie A, a feat not seen since 2009. Adding to their concerns, their once-dominant home record against Milan has crumbled, with no wins in their last four encounters and only two goals scored in their previous eight league meetings.
Fresh off their Supercoppa Italiana triumph, where they overcame both Juventus and Inter Milan, AC Milan have shown signs of resurgence under new manager Sergio Conceicao. However, their journey hasn’t been without hiccups.
A recent home draw against Cagliari briefly halted their momentum, but the Rossoneri quickly bounced back with a comeback victory against Como. This win featured milestone moments for the team, with Theo Hernandez becoming the first defender in club history to score 30 Serie A goals, surpassing the legendary Paolo Maldini.
Milan now aims to secure back-to-back league victories for the first time since September. With their Champions League campaign resuming soon against Girona, every point in Serie A becomes crucial in their quest to secure a top-four finish.
Team News
Malick Thiaw suffered the most severe setback, with medical tests revealing a left hamstring lesion. The German defender will miss the Juventus fixture and upcoming Champions League games, with Matteo Gabbia expected to replace him in Milan’s back four.
Christian Pulisic’s availability remains uncertain due to muscle fatigue, with his status to be determined closer to match day. Alvaro Morata, despite avoiding serious injury, will miss the Juventus clash due to suspension.Milan’s injury list continues to grow, with Samuel Chukwueze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Alessandro Florenzi already sidelined.
In contrast, Juventus’ injury situation is improving. Top scorer Dusan Vlahovic is poised to return, potentially featuring from the bench, while Francisco Conceicao might make the squad to face his father Sergio’s new team.
Juventus now only have long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, and Bremer unavailable as they prepare for the Milan clash and their upcoming Champions League fixture against Club Brugge.
Expected Starting XIs
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, McKennie; Gonzalez
Milan: Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Fofana, Bennacer; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham
Match Prediction
Given the recent history between these two sides and their current form, a tightly contested match seems likely. Juventus’ solid defence could prove crucial, potentially frustrating Milan’s attack. While both teams have shown flaws this season, Juventus might just edge this one in a low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
