Juventus keen on returning to winning ways as Lazio clash looms.
Juventus vs
Lazio
Juventus, eager to reclaim their early-season form, face a high-flying Lazio side aiming for consecutive victories against the Old Lady in an intriguing Serie A clash at Allianz Stadium.
Juventus
Juventus will be hoping that their return from the international break brings good tidings, as they've lost their spark in recent Serie A outings. Although the Old Lady has yet to suffer a league defeat this season, they haven't quite met expectations despite a strong start under Thiago Motta.
Juventus have drawn four of their last five league games [DDDWD], with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Cagliari last time out, causing them to slip to third place in the standings. Dušan Vlahović gave Juve an early lead from the penalty spot but failed to secure the win, missing a rebound chance late in the game.
The missed opportunity was costly, as Juventus conceded shortly after, ending the game dramatically. Thiago Motta remarked, “You have to be precise and clinical to close the game out; instead, today we left it open,” criticizing his team’s inability to see out the match.
The Bianconeri will now look to return to winning ways when they welcome Lazio to the Allianz Stadium this Saturday. Juventus's dominant home record against Lazio, where they've won 15 of their last 20 league games, provides a boost of confidence.
Thiago Motta will hope this advantage plays a role as he deploys the 4-2-3-1 formation with Vlahović leading the attack. However, Francisco Conceição will be unavailable after receiving a red card for simulation, and Teun Koopmeiners, Weston McKennie, and Nicolás González are also ruled out.
Lazio
Lazio will aim to continue their impressive form following the international break, having achieved four consecutive wins across all competitions. Their latest league victory was a 2-1 triumph over Empoli, with Pedro coming off the bench to score a late winner and secure their fourth league win of the season.
Marco Baroni praised Pedro, calling him an "extraordinary guy" for his crucial contributions. Currently sitting in fourth place, Lazio will now travel to Juventus, seeking to extend their winning streak.
Having secured a 1-0 win against Juve in their last encounter, another victory this weekend would mark the first time since 2001 that Lazio has recorded consecutive league wins against the hosts. Valentín Castellanos is expected to lead the attack as Baroni deploys the 4-2-3-1 formation.
