Juventus and Como face off at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a clash that could prove decisive in the race for European qualification. Just one place separates the sides in the Serie A table, with Juventus four points ahead but reeling from a bruising run of results domestically and in Europe.
Match Preview
Juventus come into this fixture under pressure after a chaotic week on two fronts. A thrilling but painful 3-2 defeat to Inter in the Derby d’Italia was followed by a disastrous 5-2 collapse away to Galatasaray in the Champions League playoff. In both matches, Juve showed character in spells but ultimately folded under pressure, conceding late goals and losing their discipline at key moments.
Despite that, their league position remains strong. They sit just outside the top four and are still unbeaten at home in Serie A this season, with the Allianz Stadium once again resembling a fortress. Under Luciano Spalletti, Juventus initially built their revival on defensive solidity, but that platform has crumbled in recent weeks as they have shipped 13 goals in their last four games in all competitions.
Como, meanwhile, arrive in Turin as one of the stories of the season. Less than two years on from their promotion from Serie B, they are mixing it with the traditional powers and harbour genuine ambitions of qualifying for European competition. Their 2-0 win over Juventus at the Sinigaglia earlier in the campaign served as a statement of intent and proved they can trouble the biggest sides.
However, Cesc Fabregas’s team are also in the midst of a slight downturn. A goalless draw against 10-man Atalanta, a surprise defeat to relegation-threatened Fiorentina and a hard-fought draw with AC Milan have combined to create their longest winless run of the league season. Even so, their resilience away from home remains impressive: Como have collected 19 points on the road and have not lost an away league match in 2026.
Tactical outlook
Spalletti’s Juventus are at a crossroads in terms of identity. Earlier in the season, they leaned on organisation, compactness and transitional efficiency, often winning tight games without conceding many chances. Recently, though, defensive lapses, individual errors and red cards have crept in, forcing Juve into more open, end-to-end contests that do not necessarily suit their current personnel and injury situation.
With several forwards sidelined, Juventus have often turned to a hybrid 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-1-1 shape, prioritising control in midfield and creativity between the lines through players like Kenan Yildiz. The wide players are crucial, providing both width and defensive security, while the centre-backs are asked to defend large spaces – something that has become more problematic as injuries and suspensions bite.
Como, under Fabregas, are tactically flexible and brave with the ball. They are comfortable building from the back, using short passing combinations to progress play and drag opponents out of shape. In possession, they can switch between a back four and a back three, depending on the phase of play and the state of the game. In attack, they have shown they can pose threats both through wide overloads and through the middle with intelligent movement from their forwards and attacking midfielders.
This match is likely to hinge on which team controls the tempo. Juventus will aim to reassert themselves in midfield, slow Como’s build-up and avoid being dragged into the kind of chaotic game that has recently exposed their defensive frailties. Como, by contrast, will want to test Juve’s confidence early, press selectively and exploit any nervousness among the home defenders.
Team News
Juventus are dealing with significant fitness and disciplinary issues. At the back, Bremer is out after limping off in midweek with a thigh injury, while Pierre Kalulu is suspended following his red card against Inter. Emil Holm, an alternative on the right, is also unavailable, leaving Spalletti short of options in defence and almost certain to reshuffle his back line.
Up front, there are further headaches. First-choice striker Jonathan David is battling a groin problem and already missed the trip to Turkey. With long-term absentees Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik still sidelined, Juventus may once again have to improvise in the number nine role. If David is not passed fit, Weston McKennie could be asked to lead the line as a makeshift centre-forward, with Lois Openda another possible option despite his limited minutes this season.
Kenan Yildiz is expected to retain his place in support of the striker, carrying much of the creative burden in the final third. Out wide, the likes of Andrea Cambiaso will be vital in both phases, providing overlaps and offering protection to a patched-up defence.
Como are not without problems of their own. Nico Paz, one of their standout performers this season and among the league’s most frequent shooters, is suspended and will miss the trip to Turin. He started as a false nine against Milan, so his absence forces a change in attack. Tasos Douvikas is a leading candidate to spearhead the forward line, while former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata is another option if Fabregas wants experience and narrative intrigue up front.
In midweek, Como shifted to a back three, but Fabregas may reconsider that approach against Juventus and revert to a more traditional back four for added balance. Assane Diao and Edoardo Goldaniga are ruled out through injury, but otherwise the visitors should have a largely settled core available, with the likes of Martin Baturina and Jesus Rodriguez offering creativity behind the main striker.
Probable Starting XI’s
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Gatti, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, McKennie; Conceicao, Yildiz; Openda
Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Vojvoda, Baturina, Rodriguez; Douvikas
Prediction
Given Juventus’s home record and the quality they still possess, they will expect to take something from this game, but their defensive issues and attacking absences make a straightforward win unlikely. Como are organised, confident on their travels and have already shown they can hurt Juve.
Prediction: Juventus 2-0 Como
