Palermo v Juventus
Serie A Week 14 – Sunday, 29th November- 19:45 GMT – Stadio Renzo Barbera
Juventus
Four wins in a row are definitely a great confidence boost. What is most important is that the level of play is improving, even though it has not reached last year’s peak levels: the last two game were gut checks and Juventus passed both tests. As they say, winning helps winning and we should rejoices for advancing to the next Champions League stage, with a good chance to grab the first place too, and for getting back on track in Serie A too.
In the Manchester City clash, Massimiliano Allegri brought back an old friend: 3-5-2, which was used also in the second half of the Milan match. This underlines two facts: he believes that the team is more confident with that tactic, therefore it should be used in the tougher matches, which is true to some extent, even though we do not have many players left from the Conte era. Furthermore, he does not think that the squad can pull off 4-3-whatever without Hernanes or Roberto Pereyra in the hole, which is frustrating because I think he should find a way to integrate both Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado in the attack at the same time, maybe using both behind a striker.
Injuries continue to plague the roster: Hernanes, who got hurt in the last Serie A and will miss three weeks, and Kwadwo Asamoah, who is dealing with some knee soreness, and Roberto Pereyra are definitely out. The status of Sami Khedira is unclear: he did not suffer a new hamstring injury, but an old scar flared up and he will probably be preserved for one more week. This leaves the coach with only two choices in the midfield, alongside the centrepieces Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba: Stefano Sturaro and Mario Lemina. Sturaro is clearly ahead of the Frenchman in the pecking order, but Allegri has often spoken about the difficulties of playing three games in a week for the youngster who are not used to do it. Therefore, Lemina has a solid chance to start.
The same argument is valid for Dybala too, but it would be very unfortunate to spoil his grand comeback party in Palermo by benching him. Mario Mandzukic has left the midweek game with a muscular ailment but he should be good to go, however, Alvaro Morata is favoured to start after being benched for two games in a row, inevitably sparking silly buy-back clause rumours. With the BBC poised to start in the back, the real doubt is on the flanks: the coach will probably look to field a balanced lineup, with only one of the two offensive-minded fullbacks, therefore it will be probably either the Juan Cuadrado-Patrice Evra duo or Stephen Lichsteiner and Alex Sandro. Since the Colombian international has barely featured in the last two games, the first combination is most likely.
The real alternative to 3-5-2 is 4-3-3 with Morata and Cuadrado wide and either Mandzukic or Simone Zaza as it remains to be confirmed whether Allegri sees Dybala as a viable option as lone centre-forward.
UPDATE: Khedira has not been called up, while Mario Lemina is the latest addition to the injury list with a sore knee, therefore Sturaro will start. It looks like Mandzukic, after the high praise from Allegri in the pre-game presser, is the favourite to start.
Probable lineup:
3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Mandzukic, Dybala.
Injuries:
Khedira (hamstring), Pereyra (hamstring), Asamoah (knee), Hernanes (hamstring), Caceres (hamstring), Lemina (hamstring).
Suspended:
None
Palermo
Palermo have been lethargic this season but they do come off two positive results in a row. First, a lucky win against Chievo Verona at home that was not enough to save Giuseppe Iachini’s job, who received the boot after that Maurizio Zamparini had been voicing his disappointment for the team’s performances for weeks. Then an impressive showing at Olimpico against Lazio that earned them the first point with Davide Ballardini at the helm.
Ballardini had already coached Palermo in 2008, taking the reins after two games and leading his side to an almost historic eight place. His first version of Rosanero was well-known for up-tempo football and for being very stout at home. Their score at Barbera so far is two wins, two ties and three losses.
Ballardini is a fan of the diamond lineup, which he deployed in every stint. However, they do not really have two pure strikers: since Uros Djurdjevic broke his ankle few weeks ago, Alberto Gilardino and his bag of old man tricks is the only centre-forward available. They do have a bunch of second-strikers/no.10s, some of them are newcomers, and the coach is trying to figuring out who, among Robin Quaison, Gaston Brugman, Aleksandar Trajkovski and Matheus Cassini is more suitable for his idea of football. Luckily for them, they only need one to pan out because they have arguably the best no.10 in Italy in Franco Vazquez. Brugman started last week, Trajkovski was subbed in and played pretty well. Brugman is more of an advanced midfield, which allows them to advance Vazquez in the forwards’ duo, as he did last season when Dybala was there.
The first thing Ballardini changed was the defence, opting for the four-man formation and inserting Edoardo Goldaninga, who was briefly co-owned by Juventus before being included in the Dybala package, in the starting lineup, alongside the cornerstones Pipo Gonzalez and Achraf Lazaar. Aljaz Struna was fielded as right-back, even though Andrea Rispoli should see some playing time in matches where they are not expected to be primarily focused on the defensive phase like in the upcoming and in the last one. Compared to the XI used against Lazio, the only sure change is the return of Luca Rigoni replacing Ivaylo Chochev, who played well last season but has disappeared in this one, overshadowed by the Swedish starlet Oscar Hiljemark.
Palermo have always been a tough opponent at home in the last few years, but they have not fared particularly well this season. The coaching chance is always an injection of new energy and motivation as the players, especially the ones who had been overlooked, are trying to impress the new boss. However, Ballardini has not been in charge for much and probably it will take some time for him to forge something close to the excellent Palermo which accomplished a lot in 2008.
Probable lineup:
4-3-1-2: Sorrentino; Struna, Goldaniga, Gonzalez, Lazaar; Hiljemark, Jajalo, Rigoni; Brugman; Vazquez, Gilardino.
Injuries:
Djurdjevic (ankle), Vitiello (hamstring).
Suspended:
None
Formation
Stats and Facts
Infographics from www.sporticos.com
This is a must win game! Any result other than a win is a huge setback for the team’s morale and confidence. Juve is starting to show their real strength by winning the last 4 games including the CL match against Man City. Can’t afford to lose any points before playing Fiorentina and Lazio.
Hope Allegri Will transform to a 3-4-3 . Actually a 3-4-2-1
Rugani Bonucci chiellini
Licht marchisio Pogba Sandro
Cuadrado. Dybala
Morata/mandzukic
Would be assome .. A lot of potential in defence turn to 4-4-1-1 lichtsteiner to RB .. Cuadrado back in midfield .. Dybala between the lines
Brace yourself, Padoin is back to fitness
Really? Then we have nothing to fear, CL trophy here we come!
Even despite the fact he isnt in the CL squad! Or maybe just because this :p
Even from outside the stadium he can control the match.
It would be fun if Dybala decides this match.
I enjoyed that preview, Enrico. And doff my virtual hat accordingly…
Every game means so much to us presently, given our haphazard season to date where any semblance of form has been absent other than of late.
If Morata does not start I will begin to feel there is something surely amiss with his mentality or behind the scenes vis-a-vis his return to Madrid.
We are very solid with the 3-5-2 if Lichsteiner plays. If not, then Evra is required, for its dangerous to play two very attacking fullbacks. It makes sense to me to continue regaining our solidity and belief. For its more a matter of the latter which has been our downfall thus far this term. Too many players lacking belief. No serious reaction when we fall behind. Which encourages the opposition.
How to regain that grinta eh?? I am unsure, other than through more clean sheets, Allegri picking the most in form players and a healthy dose of luck. We need to win this game. We need to build upon the positives from the solid yet unspectacular showing against Milan and the encouraging signs, especially between Pogba, Sandro and Dybala seen against Man City. I hope to see the same side. Yet with Mandzukic replaced with Morata.
Continuity is important, it nourishes belief and confidence and cohesion.
forza juve.
It’s obvious that Rugani is going to be loaned out. He doesn’t have a rat’s hairs chance of getting a sniff of playing time. What a fuckin waste.
Same for Morata and AlexSandro.
I agree on Rugani, but I don’t think Morata and Alex Sandro will be loaned out.
Not that their getting loaned out … They’re being wasted.
There’s no fucking way that AlexSandro shouldn’t be seeing regular playing time.
Oh, yes you’re right.
Your knowledge of football and Juventus is so fucking horrible. Please stop commenting the same bullshit week after week.
Why should Rugani see more playing time when you have 3 of the best center backs in the league right now? I believe yesterday was the 4th clean sheet in a row? Or 3rd.
Morata is coming back from injury and I am pretty sure you would complain if Dybala was on the bench instead. So my guess is you wanna swap out Mandzukic? The guy who scored the goal against City and also the first one yesterday? Morata got minutes and is getting back into it which is fine – we will have a great rotation with those 3 plus Zaza.
Now for the Alex Sandro / Evra situation. There is no doubt Alex Sandro is the future for the club and I am pretty sure Juventus is also showing that by starting him in a crucial Champions League game against City. How can you talk about him being wasted? I am a huge fan of Alex Sandro btw.
If you watched Juventus last year – which I am not sure you did because you sound like a huge bandwagon fan that just hopped on recently – Evra was such an important part of our season and especially our Champions League run. The guy brings experience and that is important ESPECIALLY in a time like this where we have given up core veteran leaders such as Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez. This is not FIFA 16.
Relax dude. These are opinions.
I’ve watched more Juventus the last 10 years than you have in a lifetime.
I don’t want to see the club destroy the confidence of a kid like Rugani. Surely they could find some minutes for him once in a blue moon.
It’s week to week with people. A week ago people were saying that Mandzukic is not a good buy (which he is) then he scores two goals and everything changes.
Rugani is a huge talent and I expect him to be a core part of our defense one day. However, right now we need Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli to get back in the groove. We don’t help that by subbing in Rugani. On the other hand I think it’s important we build confident in our strikers and we all know the best way to do that is through goals and assists. Yesterday Morata and Zaza both got subbed in and delivered a goal/assist.
I am in no way a fan of Allegri and I honestly was very upset when it was announced. However, I think he has done a great job the last month and I am just tired of reading all these “FIFA 16”-like fixes to our team. No one is being wasted. Alex Sandro will get plenty of playing time this season. Rugani – sure he might be loaned out, but he could see a few starts down the stretch. Morata will work very well into the rotation with Dybala and Mandzukic.
My assumption of you as a bandwagon fan is due to your constant whine about the team – even when we are playing well. I am sorry if that is not the case. Your comments just reminds me of those spoiled kids who are all about Juventus as long as they are winning Serie A. But again, sorry if that’s not the case. However I have followed Juventus for over 20 years – through thick and thin – so don’t give me that bullshit. I have not missed a game in over 8 years. I travel to Torino whenever I can to watch my team play.
I get what you say … But calling me a band wagon fan is about as true Osama Bin Laden becoming the next pope.
It’s ridiculous. Like half the shit that comes out of your mouth.
Peace out. I’m done with you.
I always like the things you say. Who the fuck is fred?
If I whine about the team it’s because of passion. Even when they win, we sometimes expect more.
Bandwagon fan .. Lol.
What a joke.
I am sorry that I offended you. But let’s move on.
Can you stop with the personal attacks please?
Jawohl!! 5.
Only 3 behind Roma! They can start shitting themselves.
it cant be to difficult against lazio. without pogba. but finally Juve is near europe. tomorrow the 2 games end 1:1-
pray!