Spezia-Juventus is a match of the twenty-third day of Serie A and is played on Sunday at 18:00: likely formations, predictions, TV and streaming.
The turnaround was in the air at home to Spezia, and the classic straw that broke the camel’s back was the comeback in Empoli last Saturday, despite the Bianconeri having taken a two-goal lead thanks to a brace from striker Verde.
In Tuscany it ended 2-2, with the Ligurians caught up in mid-recovery: two precious points were squandered, which would have kept intact the distance from the third-last place. And instead Verona, who won the direct clash with Salernitana in the post-match match, took advantage of it to get even closer to the salvation zone: after the last day only two points separate the two teams. A situation that has become critical in the space of a few weeks: if before relegation seemed far away, now it is again a real danger. The first to pay the consequences was Luca Gotti, who was removed from his post just a few days before the challenge against Juventus. Against Massimiliano Allegri’s bianconeri the former goalkeeper Lorieri will be on the bench, but on Monday Leonardo Semplici will most likely be made official, ready to get back on track after the disappointing experience in Cagliari.
Juventus always winning with Spezia in A
It will be up to him to shake up a team that hasn’t won for four rounds and has the third worst attack in the league. Spezia, however, will find Juve angry at the outcome of the first leg of the Europa League play-off against Nantes.
Rabiot
A real mockery for the Old Lady, who were denied a penalty kick in the second half due to a push by Bremer on the French defender: to the great surprise of the referee, once called back to Var, he decided not to punish the obvious hand foul. Against Kombouare’s yellow-greens, Vlahovic and his team-mates did not go beyond a disappointing 1-1 draw, and on Thursday they will be obliged to win away from home in order to pass the round and avoid elimination from the second continental event. Juventus are currently tenth in the standings and have won their last two league matches against Salernitana and Fiorentina without conceding a goal. In Serie A, the Bianconeri have never lost nor drawn with Spezia, winning all five meetings with the Ligurian side.
Spezia-Juventus: latest line-up news
Waiting for Semplici’s arrival, Spezia should take the field with the usual 3-5-2. Up front Nzola is not yet recovered and the attacking pair will be formed by Verde and former Roma player Shomurodov. Ferryman Lorieri’s other doubt concerns the right flank, where Gyasi should drop back given Holm’s sub-optimal form. Guarding Dragowski’s goal will be Amian, Caldara and Nikolaou.
In the press conference Allegri said that Chiesa is not at his best and will not be risked. The form could be 3-4-1-2, with Di Maria behind the Vlahovic-Kean tandem. Cuadrado will be back on the right, while Rugani will be back in the defensive trio.
The Prediction
Juventus’ victory does not seem to be in question, but the close Europa League fixture is a ‘distraction’ not to be underestimated. And that could affect the Ligurian trip in some way. It cannot be ruled out that the Bianconeri, after two clean sheets in a row, will return to conceding goals, within a match of at least three goals in total.
The likely line-up for Spezia v Juventus
- SPEZIA (3-5-2): Dragowski; Amian, Caldara, Nikolaou; Gyasi, Bourabia, Ampadu, Agudelo, Reca; Verde, Shomurodov.
- JUVENTUS (3-4-1-2): Perin; Rugani, Danilo, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Di Maria; Kean, Vlahovic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
