The Serie A has produced some tight top-four races over the last few years, and this season promises the same. Boosted by Como’s big win over AS Roma last weekend, which allowed Cesc Fàbregas’s side to climb into fourth spot, Juventus also did their job by defeating Udinese away from home, and they will aim to do a repeat act against Sassuolo this weekend.
A goal from loan signing Jeremy Boga proved enough to seal three points, as Juventus extended their winning run to two. With another game on the horizon, Luciano Spalletti will be aiming to become only the fourth manager in Serie A history to record 300 wins, and he will want that milestone against Sassuolo to help the Bianconeri boost their top-four chances.
Meanwhile, Fabio Grosso will know history is not on the side of Sassuolo as they make this trip to Turin, where they have only won once during their clashes with Juventus. Moreover, they have failed to keep a clean sheet against the Bianconeri in their last 11 visits, while conceding at an average of 2.27 goals in that period.
Overall, Grosso’s side have a big task on their hands during this visit to Turin, while their recent form in the league is also a bit of a concern. For now, they are in a comfortable mid-table position, far away from the relegation zone, but the manager will want a big win against tough opponents to boost what could be the final chance to make a run for a European place.
Emil Holm is probably the only player completely ruled out of the weekend with an injury, and Luciano Spalletti was given a boost by Arkadiusz Milik and Dusan Vlahovic resuming training recently.
There are still doubts over whether the attacking duo are ready to play games, but they are an option if the manager does consider it. However, he might have a settled setup at the moment, one that has won back-to-back league games, and might lean towards selecting a similar side.
Gleison Bremer and Lloyd Kelly might continue in the central defensive roles, while Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso are pencilled in to start in the full-back roles. Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli are likely to continue their midfield partnership, while Francisco Conceicao, Weston McKennie and Boga will play behind the striker.
With options like Jonathan David and Lois Openda available, as well as the possibility of including Vlahovic, Spalletti might use Kenan Yildiz in a false-nine role.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Perin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Conceicao, McKennie, Boga; Yıldız
Fabio Grosso has his share of injury issues, with Alieu Fadera, Daniel Boloca, and Fali Cande ruled out with respective fitness problems. Edoardo Pieragnolo is also ruled out with a knee issue for this clash, while Grosso will continue with a more attack-minded setup against Juventus in Turin.
Former Juventus man Tarik Muharemovic will lead the defensive setup for Sassuolo, with Jay Idzes partnering him at the heart of the defence. Sebastian Walukiewicz and Ulisses Garcia will take up the full-back roles.
A midfield trifecta of Kristian Thorstvedt, Ismael Kone, and Nemanja Matic will feature for this clash, while Grosso will rely on his prolific front three for answers in the attacking third. The attacking setup of Armand Lauriente, Andrea Pinamonti, and Domenico Berardi have 18 league goals between them and will feature in the front line against Juventus.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz, Muharemovic, Idzes, Garcia; Thorstvedt, Kone, Matic; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente
After failing to win four games on the bounce, Juventus have hit a good vein of form, and it is no coincidence that Yildiz has been firing on all cylinders in those two victories. A goal and two assists in the wins over Pisa and Udinese have the Turkish star now leading the line ahead of other striker options. This game against Sassuolo could be another instance where he plays the false-nine role.
For Spalletti’s idea of a tactical evolution at Juventus, the form and attacking ideas that Yıldız brings to the pitch will be crucial. Another game where the Turkish international produces more numbers could see him nail down the No. 9 role for the remainder of the season, which makes this Sassuolo clash very important for the attacker.
Sassuolo have not had a draw in their last 11 Serie A games, juggling between winning and losing in that period. However, that might not be the case in Turin, as they are either expected to cause an upset or lose here, with the prediction leaning more towards the latter.
Juventus are building momentum, and back-to-back victories in the league are helping them push for a top-four place. With the pressure truly on Luciano Spalletti to secure a third win on the bounce, Juventus are well equipped to deliver when they host Sassuolo in Turin and could even keep a clean sheet in the process.
