Sassuolo vs. Juventus: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Sitting in 12th place in Serie A, Juventus will hope to continue their recent unbeaten run when they face off against Sassuolo on Wednesday evening. The Bianconeri will be boosted by their most recent outing, emerging with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Turin.
That came after two goalless draws, and the much-improved attacking display bodes well for the reigning champions, with director general Beppe Marotta insisting the team are much better than they appear.
โThis position in the table does not reflect our value,โ he told Mediaset Premium recently (h/t Football Italia), going on to say that it is โa long campaign and thereโs time to recoverโ for the Bianconeri.
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Yet their visit to the Mapei Stadium will be a difficult test, with their opponents currently six places above them. Indeed, despite dropping points away to Milan, Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco told Radio RAI (h/t Forza Italian Football) that his team โhave proven we are good enoughโ to compete with the divisionโs leading sides.
For their part, the visitors will be encouraged by their current form as they seek to put their poor start to 2015/16 behind them and can look to three consecutive shut-outs as a major factor in that improvement.
โWeโve come on a lot physically,โ coach Massimiliano Allegri told a recent press conference. โThe boys are working well as a unit and if you do that you can cause the opposition problems and keep clean sheets.โ
Juve have recorded three wins and a draw in their four Serie A clashes with Sassuolo, with the tactical approach of both teams making for an interesting battle. Di Francescoโs 4-3-3 places emphasis on attacking intent and drawing the best from talented wingers Nicola Sansone and Domenico Berardi.
Allegri will need to ensure his team are prepared to counter that while continuing the freedom of his own front players, with a win vital to Juveโs hopes of climbing in the standings.
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Time: 7.45 p.m. GMT (2.45 p.m. ET)
Venue: Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia
TV Info: BT Sports Europe (UK) beINSPORTS (USA)
Live Stream: beINSPORTS Connect (USA)
Form Lines:
Last 5 domestic results:
Probable Formations
Sassuolo (4-3-3): Gianluca Pegolo; Sime Vrsaljko, Francesco Acerbi, Paolo Cannavaro, Federico Peluso; Simone Missiroli, Francesco Magnanelli, Alfred Duncan; Domenico Berardi, Gregoire Defrel, Antonio Floro Flores
Unavailable: Andrea Consigli (suspended), Luca Antei (injured)
Juventus (4-3-3): Neto; Andrea Barzagli, Daniele Rugani, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Stefano Sturaro, Hernanes, Claudio Marchisio, Juan Cuadrado; Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala
Unavailable: Martin Caceres, Stephan Lichtsteiner (both injured)
Key Battle
Domenico Berardi needs little introduction to regular watchers of Serie A; the Sassuolo forward was once again on the scoresheet against Milan this past weekend. That took his tally against the Rossoneri to eight goals in five appearances, further enhancing his high-profile reputation.
He has been linked with Juventus for some time, with the Turin clubโs director general noting their โexcellent relationship with Sassuolo,โ when he was asked about Berardi at a shareholders meeting, per FourFourTwo.
While that is a matter for the future, his head-to-head clash with either Patrice Evra or Alex Sandro could be key to deciding the outcome of Wednesday eveningโs encounter at the Mapei Stadium.
Player to Watch
If Berardiโs impact is key at one end, perhaps the one man to watch in this game will be Juventus striker Paulo Dybala. Much was made of the way the Bianconeri have been using the Argentinian striker recently, with the widespread criticism discussed at length here.
He answered that with a stellar performance against Atalanta, netting the opening goal of the game before laying on a second for Mario Mandzukic. It was the kind of display that vindicated Allegriโs handling of the 21-year-old, and it will be interesting to see how he follows that up here.
Faced with Sassuoloโs veteran defence, Dybala could enjoy another impactful display and help Juventus gain three crucial points as they bid to climb further up the table as quickly as possible.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Away win: 25-43
Home win: 261-50
Draw: 69-25
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