Juventus vs. Atalanta: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream, TV Info
Perhaps the most important part of the season begins for Juventus on Friday, the Bianconeri welcoming Atalanta to Turin before a run of fixtures that will arguably shape the view of Massimiliano Allegri’s first year in charge of the reigning champions.
After the meeting with the Bergamo-based side, the two legs of their Champions League last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund sandwich clashes against nearest challengers AS Roma, bitter rivals Fiorentina as well as Sassuolo and Palermo. If they can emerge unscathed from that difficult period, they will undoubtedly be on their way to a fourth consecutive league title.
The meeting with Jurgen Klopp’s side overrides domestic concerns however, meaning it is likely to be a heavily rotated lineup that takes to the field against Atalanta. While he will welcome back Carlos Tevez from suspension, Allegri will likely rest a number of other players, with a slight thigh strain likely to rule out Arturo Vidal.
For the visiting side, coach Stefano Colantuono has his work cut out to keep the Orobici out of the Serie A relegation zone, and they currently sit just three points above the bottom three. His task is made much harder with the news Maxi Moralez—the side’s most creative player and leading scorer—will miss the match due to injury.
In addition, Nicolo Cherubin, Cristian Raimondi, Giuseppe Biava and former Juve man Marcelo Estigarribia are also sidelined with various knocks. With only five sides having conceded more goals, Juve’s league-best attack is likely to cause serious problems for the Atalanta defence.
Date: Friday, February 21
Time: 20.45 CET (19:45 GMT/12:45 EST)
Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin
TV Info: beINSports (U.S.), BTSport (UK)
Live Stream: beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
Last five Serie A results:
Probable Formations
Atalanta (4-4-1-1): Sportiello; Bellini, Masiello, Stendardo, Del Grosso; Zappacosta, Cigarini, Migliaccio, Emanuelson; Gomez; Denis
Player to Watch
For Juventus, this could be a game in which Kingsley Coman gets some playing time, and the exciting Frenchman is certainly a man to watch. However, perhaps the key figure is Leonardo Bonucci, the defender turning in arguably his worst display of the season against Cesena last weekend.
He has been superb for the Bianconeri, and his ability to marshal German Denis could well decide the outcome of this matchup. According to stats site WhoScored.com, the 27-year-old is averaging 1.1 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 4.5 clearances per game, whilst also netting vital strikes against Roma and Milan.
Without Moralez, the Argentinean striker is certainly the central figure in the Atalanta XI, but he is struggling to replicate the excellent form he displayed last term. The 33-year-old has just four goals to his name, falling some way short of his 13-goal, five-assist haul in 2013-14.
Key Battle
Perhaps the key battle in this encounter will be between Atalanta’s Marco Sportiello and the Juventus attack. No team in the league has scored more than the Bianconeri tally of 49 this term, but the goalkeeper has been in similarly impressive form too.
According to statistics from Fox Soccer, the 22-year-old has made more saves (91) than anyone else in Serie A, while he has also kept six clean sheets. With only five men able to boast a better record of shutouts, the Turin giants will have to be at their best.
Tevez’s return helps their cause, the Argentinean currently topping the scoring charts thanks to his 19 goals in all competitions, also weighing in with seven assists. Alvaro Morata has improved recently, netting three times in his last four outings to supplant Fernando Llorente in the starting lineup.
Odds (via OddsShark)
Home win: 25/147
Away win: 14/1
Draw: 6/1
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