Juventus vs Como – News and Probable Lineups

Separated by just one spot in the Serie A table, Juventus and Como, both aiming for a top-four finish, will meet in Turin on Saturday afternoon.

The fallen powerhouse Juventus holds a four-point advantage over their ambitious visitors, but they are facing a potential early exit in Europe after a disastrous midweek outing in Turkiye.

Match overview

As various Italian clubs struggle on the European stage, including Juventus, it seems there will be only four Champions League spots up for grabs this season due to decreasing UEFA coefficients.

On Tuesday, Juventus complicated their situation significantly, as a 5-2 thrashing by Galatasaray also leaves them with a significant challenge in their Champions League playoff.

The first half in Istanbul saw Teun Koopmeiners score twice to give the Bianconeri a 2-1 lead, but they collapsed under relentless pressure during a lopsided second half.

Substitute Juan Cabal’s disastrous performance culminated in a red card, while Napoli loaner Noa Lang scored two goals as Galatasaray raced to the final whistle.

This loss was particularly demoralizing for Juventus, who had previously enjoyed a five-match unbeaten streak in Europe since Luciano Spalletti took charge, including three successive clean sheets.

In the days leading up to this, they left empty-handed from yet another thrilling Derby d’Italia, succumbing to a late 3-2 defeat against their long-time rivals Inter de Milão at the San Siro.

Despite making a spirited comeback after going a man down due to Pierre Kalulu’s controversial red card, the Bianconeri were still defeated, hampering their quest for a top-four finish in Serie A.

However, they sit just one point beneath fourth-placed Roma, who they are set to visit next week, and remain unbeaten at home this season, having last lost a league match in Turin nearly 12 months ago.

Como’s last victory away against Juventus was back in 1951, although they achieved a 2-0 victory when the clubs faced each other at Stadio Sinigaglia in October, giving hope that the Biancoblu could contend for European qualification.

Only two years after their return from Serie B, the ambitious club is already aiming for a top-four spot while also competing for their first Coppa Italia after reaching a two-legged semi-final against Inter de Milão.

Nonetheless, Cesc Fabregas and his teammates are currently on their longest winless streak of the Serie A season, having drawn against 10-man Atalanta, suffered a surprising defeat to relegation-threatened Fiorentina, and drawn with AC Milan.

Originally slated to occur in Australia due to San Siro hosting the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Como now only needed to travel across Lombardy to face their Rossoneri rivals, who had claimed a 3-1 win at the Sinigaglia back in January.

Lingering resentment from that encounter persisted between Fabregas and Milan coach Max Allegri, the latter of whom was again dismissed, as Como took advantage of a rare error from Mike Maignan to score via Nico Paz, before Milan equalized midway through the second half.

This brought Como’s tally to 19 away points this season, having lost only three away games – and none in this calendar year.

With a resurgent Atalanta also in the mix, Como must maintain form by defeating Juventus in Turin; otherwise, their Champions League aspirations may begin to diminish.

Team News

Following a thigh injury suffered during Tuesday’s defeat, Juventus’ defensive stalwart Bremer may be out for this weekend’s match; meanwhile, Kalulu is facing a suspension, and his replacement Emil Holm is also unavailable.

This will necessitate changes in defense, while it remains uncertain whether Spalletti’s preferred striker Jonathan David can shake off a groin injury: like fellow forwards Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik, both of whom are long-term absentees, he missed the trip to Turkiye.

If David is unable to recover, utility player Weston McKennie or rarely used Lois Openda could take the role as the Bianconeri’s lone attacker, with support from Kenan Yildiz.

Both Yildiz and Como standout Paz rank in Serie A’s top five for attempted shots, but Paz will miss Saturday’s match due to a suspension.

Paz featured as a false nine against Milan, but now either Tasos Douvikas or former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata may step in to lead the attack.

Fabregas switched to a back three midweek, but that could alter at the Allianz Stadium, where only Assane Diao and Edoardo Goldaniga will be absent due to injury.

Juventus probable starting XI:

Di Gregorio; Gatti, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Cabal; Conceicao, Yildiz; McKennie

Como probable starting XI:

Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Vojvodina, Baturina, Rodriguez; Douvikas

With recent setbacks and several key absentees, Juventus may find it challenging to contain Como, making a draw a satisfactory outcome under the current circumstances.

Still unbeaten at home, Juve started off solidly under Spalletti, but they have recently leaked 14 goals in five matches; meanwhile, their visitors are starting to drop points.