Juventus close out a hectic week with a home clash against Atalanta on Sunday, as Luciano Spalletti’s side try to build on a bounce-back Europa League win before the squad breaks up for international duty.
Match preview
It’s been a rollercoaster fortnight for Juventus. A promising 2-0-and-1-draw start to the season was interrupted by a chastening 3-2 defeat at Sassuolo, where a loanee — Vasilije Adzic, still owned by the Bianconeri — struck a late winner against his parent club. Spalletti’s side responded in style, though, putting five past NEC Nijmegen in their Europa League opener, with misfiring forwards Nick Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani both getting off the mark.
Now attention turns back to the league, where Juventus will hope home advantage counts for something — they’ve lost just once in their last 10 at the Allianz Stadium — even if Atalanta have historically been an awkward visitor, going unbeaten there in recent trips.
Maurizio Sarri’s Atalanta arrive under a bit of a cloud themselves. After a decent run through August and early September, back-to-back defeats to Roma and Cagliari have dented confidence, and a side that once looked capable of pushing for Europe now needs a response of their own. Sarri, who won a Scudetto with Juventus during his time in Turin, knows this fixture and this ground better than most.
Team News
Spalletti’s options remain limited. Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram, Juan Cabal, Jeremie Boga and Jeff Ekhator are all still sidelined, and captain Manuel Locatelli’s recent knee surgery could keep him out until the spring. There is better news at the back, though, with Lloyd Kelly available again after suspension and Weston McKennie back involved following his return from injury.
Up front, one of Woltemade or Kolo Muani is expected to lead the line again after both found the net in midweek, while Francisco Conceição and Nico Gonzalez look set to support from wide areas.
For Atalanta, Sarri has a near-full squad to choose from, with only Isak Hien and Kamaldeen Sulemana ruled out. Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Krstovic continue to compete for the central striking role, while Giacomo Raspadori — who has a strong scoring record against Juventus — is among the options to support from deeper.
Probable Starting XI’s
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Gatti, Lucumi; McKennie, Luiz, Sarr, Celik; Gonzalez, Alajbegovic; Woltemade
Atalanta (4-3-3): Carnesecchi; Bellanova, Kossounou, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Kessie, Gaetano, Ederson; De Ketelaere, Scamacca, Rowe
Prediction
Two well-regarded, experienced coaches go head-to-head here, and it should be tight, but Juventus’s recent attacking output and home comforts should just about see them through against a shakier Atalanta side.
Expect goals at both ends before the visitors run out of steam late on.
Prediction: Juventus 2-1 Atalanta
