Cesena vs. Juventus: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream, TV Info
Juventus travel to Cesena on Sunday, the league leaders hoping to continue their rich run of form against a side caught up in the battle to retain their Serie A status.
The Turin side are no strangers to the Stadio Dino Manuzzi, the atmospheric venue actually home to the Bianconeri for their successful run in the Intertoto Cup back in 1999.
European commitments will likely be at the forefront of their thinking once again this weekend, with Masimilliano Allegri likely to rest a number of his stars with an eye on the vital clash with Borussia Dortmund.
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That encounter looms large on the horizon, but his side will also want to claim three more points as their march to a fourth consecutive league title continues apace.
The Juventus boss will be without leading scorer Carlos Tevez, the Argentinian picking up a booking against Milan which sees him suspended for this encounter. Injuries to Martin Caceres and Kwadwo Asamoah further limit Allegri’s options, but his squad still contains more than enough depth to comfortably overcome Cesena.
On the opposite bench, Mimmo Di Carlo has concerns of his own, with regulars Guido Marilungo, Emmanuel Cascione and Francesco Renzetti all absent through injury.
With only three wins all season, Cesena face a mammoth task against the reigning champions, who will expect nothing less than victory here.
Date: Sunday, February 15
Time: 8:45 p.m. CET (7:45 p.m. GMT/12:45 p.m. EST)
Venue: Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena
TV Info: beINSports (US), BT Sport (UK)
Live Stream: beIN Sports CONNECT (US)
Form Lines
Predicted Formations
Cesena (4-3-1-2): Leali; Perico, Capelli, Lucchini, Magnusson; Giorgi, De Feudis, Ze Eduaro; Brienza; Djuric, Defrel
Player to Watch
For Cesena, Nicola Leali is arguably the man to watch, and the goalkeeper is likely to be kept busy on Sunday evening. Only rock-bottom side Parma (47) have conceded more goals this season than the 43 scored past the Seahorses, and the Juventus-owned shot-stopper has managed just one clean sheet this term.
He remains a talented prospect however, and the 21-year-old was one of the players this columnist expects to move to Turin this summer. Leali will be pitted against Serie A’s most prolific attack, Juve’s tally of 47 a surprising six goals better than any other side in the division.
Central to that has been the form of Alvaro Morata, the young Spaniard recently displacing compatriot Fernando Llorente from the regular starting XI. His form has certainly been worthy of that place, and he will look to improve upon his total of five goals against Cesena.
Key Battle
With both sides fielding narrow formations, the key battle could well come at full-back, with the ability of Hordur Magnusson expected to be a major factor in this encounter. Lining up directly against Stephan Lichtsteiner, the young Icelandic defender can expect a torrid evening against his former club.
According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Magnusson has averaged an impressive 1.9 tackles, 2.1 interceptions and 5.6 interceptions per game, but few players in Serie A possess the energy and drive of Lichtsteiner.
The Swiss international is a superb defender, but he is also a vital part of the Juventus attack and only Tevez (7) can better his tally of four assists this term. His understanding with Llorente has won numerous matches for the Bianconeri, and Cesena will face a tough task to prevent them doing the same here.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home win: 14-1
Away win: 25-147
Draw: 6-1
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