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

The last week has been a good one for Juventus, recording two emphatic wins that have reinforced belief in the Bianconeri. A 3-1 win over Napoli extended their lead at the top of Serie A to three points, before a Coppa Italia tie allowed Massimiliano Allegri a chance to rotate his team and rest some key players.

A largely second-string XI demolished Hellas Verona—a result discussed in detail here—and the same opponent returns to Juventus Stadium this weekend. With their coach Andrea Mandorlini making a similar number of changes to his own lineup, this visit should prove to be a much more difficult matchup.

“It’ll be a completely different game, as Verona generally concede very little,” Allegri told RAI Sport shortly after the final whistle on Thursday evening (h/t Football Italia). “We have to improve, as we conceded from a corner again.”

That constant demand for perfection bodes well for the reigning champions, their coach dissatisfied even following a comprehensive 6-1 victory. Over the following pages is a look at the issues and decisions which are likely to shape the match, one Juventus will need to win to maintain their advantage in the table.

Can Hellas Improve Their Poor Defence?

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As Thursday’s demolition at the hands of Juventus showed, Hellas Verona have some serious defensive issues this term. They may sit 13th in Serie A, but only four teams have conceded more times than Mandorlini’s side in 2014-15.

The Gialloblu have managed just three clean sheets—although two of those have come in away games—and they will need to be at their best on Sunday. If not, with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente likely to return for the home side, it promises to be another daunting evening.

Will Luca Toni Recover in Time?

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Sadly for Hellas Verona, Luca Toni was ruled out of Thursday’s cup tie with flu-like symptoms per Football Italia. They will need him to return if they are to enjoy any success here, the 37-year-old leading the side with six goals so far this term.

Without the former Juventus man, Mandorlini’s side have struggled, despite for goals from Greek striker Nico Lopez.

Is Arturo Vidal Back to His Best?

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Having rested on Thursday while Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba played, it will be interesting to monitor Arturo Vidal’s performance on Sunday. The Chilean midfielder appears to have finally returned to full fitness, simultaneously rediscovering the form that saw him recognised as one of the best in the world at his position.

He netted the final goal against Napoli last week with an excellent finish, and the goal capped a stellar all-round performance from the 27-year-old. According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Vidal made five tackles and two interceptions at the Stadio San Paolo, earning their man of the match award in the process.

Juventus will need him to consistently achieve that level of performance if they are to reach their goals this term, and a fully-firing Vidal is difficult opponent for anyone. He may miss the game however, as he is reportedly struggling with tonsillitis and skipped Friday's training session per Football Italia.

Attacking Choices for Juventus

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One bonus of Thursday’s win was seeing Sebastian Giovinco and Kingsley Coman open their accounts, while Alvaro Morata also found the back of the net. With Carlos Tevez carrying much of the scoring burden this term, having others weigh in will be vital for Juventus in the second half of the season.

It also provides Allegri with an interesting selection dilemma, as he could now opt to field a number of those who shone in the cup on Sunday. With Llorente also in need of goals however, it would be no surprise to see him restored to the lineup and look to boost his own confidence with a long-overdue goal.

Can the Bianconeri Resolve Their Defensive Problems?

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As Allegri noted in his post-match interview on Sunday, Juventus still need to improve defensively. Their issues at the back were discussed at length here, with Hellas Verona the sixth opponent to score against the Bianconeri in their last seven outings.

Having begun the campaign with 12 clean sheets in their first 15 matches, they will look to return to that dominant form as quickly as possible.