Sunday’s Serie A action closes out with Juventus travelling to the Mapei Stadium to face Sassuolo, as the Bianconeri look to bounce back from a stuttering draw and the Neroverdi aim to build on an encouraging start under Alberto Aquilani.
Match preview
Juventus travel to the Mapei Stadium this weekend looking to shake off a stuttering display against AC Milan, having been pegged back to a 1-1 draw last time out after Federico Gatti’s late header rescued a point from the bench.
That result leaves the Bianconeri unbeaten after three matches, with seven points collected from wins over Frosinone and Parma either side of the Milan stalemate, though a lack of firepower up front has become a growing concern — the new-look attack has struggled to turn possession into goals in recent weeks.
With a Europa League opener against NEC Nijmegen looming next week, Luciano Spalletti will be keen to find a more reliable attacking rhythm before rotation becomes unavoidable, and a trip to Sassuolo — a fixture Juventus have historically dominated — offers an opportunity to do just that.
Sassuolo, meanwhile, arrive full of confidence under Alberto Aquilani, having claimed their first top-flight win of the season before pushing Bologna to a stoppage-time equaliser in an entertaining derby. The Neroverdi have shown they can compete physically and have the quality in wide areas, through Domenico Berardi and Armand Lauriente, to trouble even a well-organised back line.
Team News
Juventus have been hit hard on the injury front, with captain Manuel Locatelli sidelined for the long term after a serious knee issue, while Jeremie Boga will also be out through a hamstring tear. Khephren Thuram and Kenan Yildiz remain unavailable, alongside Juan Cabal, Jeff Ekhator, Andrea Cambiaso and Pape Sarr, though Weston McKennie could return to contention this weekend.
For Sassuolo, the squad is relatively settled despite a handful of absentees — Fali Cande, Edoardo Pieragnolo and Ismael Kone remain out long-term, with Sebastian Walukiewicz, Daniel Boloca and Cristian Volpato also missing. Berardi is expected to lead the line alongside Lauriente, while Juventus loanee Vasilije Adzic could feature against his parent club having found the net in recent weeks.
Probable Starting XI’s
Sassuolo (4-3-3): Muric; Cinquegrano, Idzes, Leysen, Doig; Adzic, Matic, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Bowie, Lauriente
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumi, Celik; Luiz, Koopmeiners; Conceição, Gonzalez, Alajbegovic; Woltemade
Prediction
Both sides go into this one with injury problems, but Juventus retain the greater squad depth and a defensive record that should hold up against a Sassuolo attack still finding its feet under a new coach.
Expect a tighter contest than the scoreline suggests, with the visitors’ quality eventually telling in the final third.
Prediction: Sassuolo 1-2 Juventus
