Finally, an emblematic victory for Juventus, as Inter played directly into their hands, the defense kept the opponents at bay and Filip Kostic opened the game with his runs. For once, the Bianconeri managed to flip the script in a match in which they entered as the underdogs, unlike what happened in the Champions League, thanks to the opponents not taking advantage of their initial substitutions and proving to be more mentally. fragile than them.
The win may have more to do with the Nerazzurri’s woes than the Old Lady’s credits, but that doesn’t change the outcome. Cornering three more points in a tough situation pushes the team much closer to the top four. With other teams declining, Champions League qualification might not be much of a challenge in the second half of the season, when things are expected to pick up on the injury front. The landscape has changed quite dramatically in a month.
Four wins in a row do not happen by chance, even if only one was comfortable. There is no denying that Massimiliano Allegri can devise a proper defensive game plan when he has the horses to carry it out. Gleison Bremer looked like the star he was in Torino as a backline anchor, which could lead to some musings about how he and Leonardo Bonucci should be used. Doubts arise when Juventus have to take command and do something more offensive to break the teams that park the bus or come face to face with high-voltage front lines that cannot be controlled.
As suspected, being forced to consistently use the same scheme and line up youngsters proved fortuitous because Nicolò Fagioli and Fabio Miretti bring something more and different to the table than the other midfielders. The jury is still out on what role they should perfect for the prosecution of their careers. In the meantime, they need to play, and it is better that the first one has the freedom to attack, since he is hot in the last third. The latter has had opportunities in dynamic roles, but since he’s been a bit of a spendthrift, the right position for him might be the one he had last season. He’s a good vertical passer, but he hasn’t been able to make a play in the box when he’s had the opportunity. But that’s picky, and being available and energetic is already a bigger contribution compared to other possible options.
The infirmary is starting to empty out as Leandro Paredes and Moise Kean are ready to go. Angel Di Maria is unlikely to start, although he was reportedly tested among the starters midweek, while Federico Chiesa will be managed in this one, with Dusan Vlahovic remaining out. Needless to say, the Bianconeri need not waste time on this one against a wobbly opponent, and beating Lazio too before the break would be the icing on the cake. The coach has already earned the panettone, as they say in Italy about gangsters on the bench who avoid dismissal in the first half of the season. Patience, or perhaps simple hesitation in light of the financial ramifications, has paid off. Whether that’s good news for the future remains to be seen.
Leonardo Bonucci will be back in the XI in this one, with either Alex Sandro or Danilo having a day off. Daniele Rugani also has a chance to be in the XI. The midfield and attack could easily be the same as in the last two games, but that will depend on whether Kean, Di Maria or Paredes can start or not. The striker reportedly has the most chances.
likely alignment
3-5-2: Perin; Danilo, Bonucci, Bremer; Square, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Kean, Milik.
Absences:
Vlahovic (sports hernia), Chiesa (knee pain), McKennie (thigh strain), Pogba (meniscus tear), De Sciglio (thigh strain), Iling-Junior (sprained ankle), Kaio Jorge (hamstring rupture patellar), Aké (malleolus fracture).
Verona has been a disaster on multiple levels so far, and deservedly sits near the bottom of the rankings. After it worked in previous summers, the strategy of cashing in on multiple centerpieces and replacing them with stakes hasn’t worked, at least until now. The turmoil on the bench hasn’t helped, plus they’ve had to deal with a plethora of injuries each week. They lost coach Igor Tudor and long-time athletic director Tony D’Amico, which has apparently been too difficult to overcome. Gabriele Cioffi had done well in his brief time at Udinese, and they thought they hit the jackpot by keeping him away from Friulani. Firing early was a bit unfavorable, but that’s the standard move while spiraling.
On the other hand, there was no jump from new coach, so they are on an eight-fight losing streak. With Salvatore Bocchetti, who was a substitute for Tudor and was part of the squad in previous seasons, they returned to their daily routine: a very intense style with hand-to-hand duels all over the pitch, along the lines of Gian Piero Gasperini and Ivan Juric, as they lived off his legacy last season. But the team might be too different right now to keep working.
The rookie coach has regained some rhythm and vitality, and they have been unlucky with physical problems and early red cards since taking over. The stakes will be high for him in the next two games because the next move would inevitably be a clear change of direction with a veteran manager. If they wanted continuity, it would have been more understandable to go with Bocchetti in the summer, giving him time to prepare rather than hiring an outsider who has yet to be tested.
They sold Giovanni Simeone, Antonin Barak, Gianluca Caprari and Nicolò Casale, and have not recovered. That’s a lot of firepower out the window. Thomas Henry got off to a decent start, but then faltered. He’s a completely different forward, and he needs the offense to function as a whole to produce. There were some hints of a Kevin Lasagna revival early on, and he’s more like El Cholito, but he fell into a depression and got hurt too. Simone Verdi could potentially have replaced Caprari considering how well he did at Salernitana, but he spent the summer practicing alone and is still not in acceptable condition.
In addition, Ivan Ilic, Darko Lazovic, Marco Davide Faraoni and a number of centre-backs, including the brilliant emergent Diego Coppola, have lost time and would not be able to make up for the absences under normal circumstances. , and much less right after gutting the team and with a coach who has many things to solve.
They’ve landed two additions, Josh Doig and Isak Hien, but that’s not enough to replenish their level of talent. The former is a tremendous winger with an eye for goals, while the latter is a physical defender who adapted very quickly and helped them through some problems early on. He’s had some trouble with the recent change in style, so they could go with the veterans they’re more used to, even if they have less potential.
Faraoni is out again, while Lazovic is questionable. The absence of both would harm their lateral game, in which they rely a lot. Doig is still recovering after an injury. Fabio Depaoli has been his jack of all trades, but the second part of the saying is true for him. It is more common for headlines about him, especially the Serbian international, that he is a true playmaker. Ilic has been MIA for weeks, which took a lot of enthusiasm out of his midfield, even though Miguel Veloso is still pretty strong. But the wear and tear has been evident and that could be a problem in a busy week. The star is back for this one, though likely only for a small cameo appearance given the extended absence.
The lineup will be heavily dictated by who is fully fit and who is not. They have put Adrien Tameze in the whole formation, and he could play as number 10 if Lasagna or Verdi cannot start. That would add toughness but also take creativity away from his attack. Although they are in dire straits, most of their recent losses have been narrow. Taking on them won’t be the walk in the park it might seem on the surface. Roma, Milan and Sassuolo had to resort to late goals to beat them. The vigor that is the hallmark of this type of side is still there; maybe the quality will follow once they get it right.
likely alignment
3-4-2-1: Montipó; Dawidowicz, Gunter, Ceccherini; Depaoli, Hongla, Veloso, Doig; Thames, Greens; Enrique.
Absences:
Magnani (suspension), Hrustic (sprained ankle), Piccoli, Coppola, Faraoni (thigh strains).
