Cagliari vs. Juventus: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Serie a Game

December has so far been a month of mixed fortunes for Juventus, with qualification to the Champions League knockout rounds tempered by Sunday’s draw with Sampdoria. Now just one point ahead of Roma atop the Serie A standings, the Bianconeri will be seeking three vital points against Cagliari.

The poor result against Sinisa Mihajlovic’s impressive team at Juventus Stadium was in part due to some subpar performances from players of the home side. Arturo Vidal’s worrying current form—discussed in depth here—perhaps typifies those concerns, and Massimiliano Allegri will certainly be demanding more from his players on Thursday.

The coach addressed issues at both ends of the field in his post-match interview, bemoaning the fact his team “were defending too deep” per the official club website. The 47-year-old went on to tell reporters that Juventus “cost ourselves the victory in the first half by not converting all the chances we created.”

With those pointsin mind, over the following pages is a look at the key issues and decisions that will shape the encounter with Cagliari, looking at where the game could be won or lost.

Overcoming Another Defensive Reshuffle

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Having lost Giorgio Chiellini to suspension against Sampdoria, Juventus must now face Cagliari with another key defender missing. Leonardo Bonucci picked up his fourth yellow card of the season on Sunday and will miss the next game, forcing yet another reshuffle at the back upon Allegri.

With Andrea Barzagli out indefinitely and Martin Caceres still recovering from a thigh injury, the Bianconeri may pair Chiellini with Angelo Ogbonna at the Stadio Sant’Elia. With Zdenek Zeman’s penchant for attacking football, their cohesion and solidity will be vital if the visitors are to triumph.

One Eye on the Super Cup

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While a win against Cagliari is essential, Juventus will also understandable approach the match with one eye on their next fixture. Following the meeting with Zeman’s side, the Bianconeri will head to Qatar for the Italian Super Cup, played on Monday December 22 at Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Facing off against Coppa Italia winners Napoli, the match will be a difficult test for the season’s first silverware, and Allegri may opt to rest players with that in mind. One area where this is of extra concern is at full-back, with alternatives to Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner particularly limited.

As the coach noted in Wednesday's press conference, the Bianconeri also have four players—Lichtsteiner, Angelo Ogbonna, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba—one yellow card away from a suspension, which would cause them to miss the Super Cup.

Hunting for Goals

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A key issue for Turin’s grand Old Lady is undoubtedly the quest for goals, with Allegri pointing out their struggle in front of goal against Sampdoria, per the official Juventus website. While Carlos Tevez has netted 12 goals in 20 appearances this term, he last found the back of the net away to Malmo last month.

The Bianconeri have been held scoreless in two of the four matches since then, with the impact of the Argentinean perhaps never more telling. The other strikers in the squad have laboured all season, both Alvaro Morata and Fernando Llorente last scoring against Parma in early November.

Kingsley Coman (208 minutes) and Sebastian Giovinco (176 minutes) have only received limited opportunities for playing time. Neither has netted yet this term, and the Old Lady needs her five strikers to improve those records quickly.

Ending the Midfield Struggle

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While Allegri has discussed problems in attack and defence, perhaps it is in midfield where the true problems lie. The coach rested Andrea Pirlo against Sampdoria, and the team looked blunt and devoid of invention without the bearded genius available to pull the strings.

However—as discussed here—the 35-year-old turned in a superb display in the Turin derby but has otherwise struggled for form this term. With Vidal’s lack of fitness well-documented, the centre of the pitch is quickly becoming a problem for the Bianconeri, one that needs to be addressed quickly.

Paul Pogba has had an inconsistent campaign, his performances alternating between magnificence and mediocrity, while Claudio Marchisio has filled in well when called upon. Roberto Pereyra lacks the overall quality of that quartet, but he has also impressed in most matches.

Finding the right blend of players—both against Cagliari on Thursday and then for Monday’s meeting with Napoli—will be essential to Juve’s hopes of success in both encounters.