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It has been a strong start to life as Juventus boss for Thiago Motta and that continued in midweek with a victory against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League as they now take on a struggling Cagliari side at the J Stadium.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 6th October, 2024 - UK – 11:30am / US ET – 6:30am / US PT – 3:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
JUVENTUS PREVIEW: NEW LOOK FOR OLD LADY
Over the summer, Juventus began the first proper shift away from their ‘win at all costs’ plan and mentality to something a little more ideological and progressive with an emphasis on a progressive style of football under the management of former Internazionale defensive midfielder Thiago Motta.
The Bianconeri are unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions so far this season after their come from behind defeat of RB Leipzig with ten men in the UEFA Champions League in midweek. They have been frustrated with three goalless draws in Serie A so far this season but are yet to concede a single goal domestically.
CAGLIARI PREVIEW: STRUGGLING SARDINIANS
Last season, Claudio Ranieri led Cagliari to survival in Serie A in their first season back in the top-flight following their promotion via the Serie B playoffs the year before. His retirement prompted the appointment of Serie A’s so-called ‘miracle worker’ Davide Nicola to the Sardinian hotseat but it has not quite gone to plan.
With supporter unrest and unhappiness, the visitors were winless with just two points collected in their opening five matches but they come into this one on the back of picking up a crucial three points last weekend. They faced Parma at the Ennio Tardini and managed to overcome them by three goals to two in a dramatic and entertaining affair.
JUVENTUS TEAM NEWS: MIXED REPORT
After joining in the summer transfer window, Francisco Conceicao has now returned from injury and scored Juve’s winner in midweek against Leipzig but Bremer has now picked up an injury that will see him sidelined.
The hosts also have a couple of other key injuries in attack as another summer signing, Nicolo Gonzalez, is out injured alongside both Timothy Weah and Arkadiusz Milik.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Perin; Danilo, Kalulu, Gatti, Juan Cabal; Fagioli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
UNAVAILABLE: Adzic (Injured), Bremer (Injured), Weah (Injured), Gonzalez (Injured), Milik (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CAGLIARI TEAM NEWS: INJURIES IN ATTACK
Cagliari did get their first win of the season last weekend so will want to be unchanged this weekend with Polish defender Mateusz Wieteska still a long-term absentee.
However, he has now been joined on the sidelines by two attackers as Leonardo Pavoletti and Peru international Gianluca Lapadula are both unavailable for the Sardinians.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Scuffet; Zappa, Yerry Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Makoumbou, Adopo, Obert; Nicolas Viola; Piccoli, Luvumbo
UNAVAILABLE: Wieteska (Injured), Pavoletti (Injured), Lapadula (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
JUVENTUS VS CAGLIARI PREDICTION
Juventus, as mentioned, have yet to concede in Serie A so far this season and that isn’t because of a defensive style of football but more just the ability to control possession and control matches – yet still being able to excite. Cagliari did get their first win of the season last weekend but this is now an extremely tough test going to the mainland to Turin with Juve keeping a clean sheet not remotely unlikely
JUVENTUS VS CAGLIARI TIP: JUVENTUS TO WIN TO NIL