Two of Italian football’s biggest names meet in Turin this weekend as Juventus host Milan, with both sides having taken maximum points from their opening two league fixtures and eager to keep their perfect records going.
Match preview
Spalletti’s Juventus began the season with a nervy win on the road before needing a couple of second-half goals to see off a stubborn Parma at home — Nico Gonzalez, back in the fold after a proposed move to Atletico Madrid didn’t materialise, broke the deadlock with his first league goal since last spring, and Teun Koopmeiners added a second soon after.
Having missed out on Europe’s top table again last season, Juventus will be desperate to avoid a repeat and have made a strong habit of starting campaigns well under Spalletti — though previous coaches have found that form difficult to sustain into the winter.
Milan, under new boss Ruben Amorim, arrive full of confidence having also won their first two matches, including a victory over city rivals Torino followed by a home win over Venezia in which record signing Gonçalo Ramos got off the mark for the club.
History points to a tight, low-scoring affair — Milan haven’t found the net in any of their last six meetings with Juventus, and it’s been several years since they scored at this ground. That said, the Rossoneri have also lost just once in Turin across their last six visits.
Team news
Juventus will be without Kenan Yildiz and Khephren Thuram for the medium term through injury, but the club were busy in the closing days of the transfer window. Loan arrival Nick Woltemade is now in contention to challenge Randal Kolo Muani up front following Jonathan David’s move to Atletico Madrid, while new signing Pape Matar Sarr will need to dislodge either Douglas Luiz or Manuel Locatelli to force his way into the XI. With Yildiz sidelined, Gonzalez, Jeremie Boga and Kerim Alajbegovic are all options in the final third. Andrea Cambiaso and Weston McKennie are doubts.
For Milan, only Matteo Gabbia is a fitness concern, with Amorim expected to stick with the same back three that has started the season. Fikayo Tomori returns to the squad as cover after a move away failed to go through, while summer arrivals Omari Hutchinson and Diego Moreira could be in line for their first involvement. Adrien Rabiot, now settled into an advanced role behind Ramos, returns to face the club where he spent several seasons.
Probable Starting XI’s
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumi, Celik; Locatelli, Douglas Luiz; Conceição, Gonzalez, Boga; Kolo Muani
Milan (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Modric, Musah, Bartesaghi; Rabiot, Cissé; Ramos
Prediction
Given how tight recent meetings between these two have been — four of the last five ending goalless — another cagey, low-scoring contest looks likely.
With a strengthened squad behind him, Spalletti should have just enough know-how to edge out Amorim’s still-settling Milan and make it three wins from three.
Prediction: Juventus 1-0 Milan
