And now down with Chievo! After the draw at Stamford Bridge, Juventus plunges back into the championship with the aim of defending their lead in the standings, albeit in cohabitation with Lazio and Napoli. On paper there would be no game, but the unknowns of this advance are many. First of all it will be interesting to understand if the battle of London will have left some waste in the legs of the black and whites, which appeared rather tired at the end of the match. A rather concrete possibility, which is why tonight at the Juventus Stadium we will see many new features. “They're all available, so we'll evaluate the best formation as always - Massimo Carrera scoffed at the press conference. – We have many important players, so whoever plays manages to fit well into the team's formation. We have ample guarantees”. So it will be turnover, just like in the first half in Genoa.
Here it is the second unknown: will the second lines manage not to make the owners regret? Carrera obviously flaunted confidence, even if he urged everyone not to underestimate Chievo, who held the black and whites to a draw in both matches last year: “It's true, they are our bete noire. We will need to enter with the right mental approach knowing that a very difficult match awaits us, as has happened in recent years. We are comforted by the performance in London, where Juve were aggressive at times, as bad as last year's, so this bodes well for us”.
Compared to the match in London there will be at least 4 changes, maybe even more. Lucio should see himself in defense, even if it remains to be understood in whose place: Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini have played both in Genoa and at Stamford Bridge, so they are all suspects for the bench. Vidal will certainly rest in midfield (it will be Jackets again), and most likely also Pirlo: to replace the playmaker, it's a two-way race between Pogba and Marrone, with the French favorite. Pause also for Lichtsteiner (Isla will make his debut from the first minute) and Giovinco, who will be replaced by Quagliarella, the hero of London. The conditions of Vucinic, who appeared tired at the end of the match against Chelsea, should also be checked: Conte would never give up on the Montenegrin, so if he's in good health he will play, otherwise there will be room for Matri (favourite) or Bendtner. Speaking of the Juventus coach, yesterday in Rome the hearing was held at the National Court of Arbitration for Sport, the first attempt at conciliation with the Federcalcio. No news for now, the next appointment is set for October 2nd. Hoping it's the right one to put an end to this story.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Lucio, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Marchisio, Pogba, Giaccarini, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Vucinic.
On the bench: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Barzagli, De Ceglie, Marrone, Pirlo, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Giovinco, Matri, Bendtner.
Trainer: Antonio Conte (suspended, Massimo Carrera on the bench).
Unavailable: Padoin, Pepe.
Disqualified: nobody.
Chievo (4-3-2-1): Sorrento; Frey, Dainelli, Cesar, Jokic; Vacek, L. Rigoni, Hetemaj; Thereau, M. Rigoni; Pellissier.
On the bench: Puggioni, Viotti, Andreolli, Papp, Sardo, Guana, Cruzado, Di Michele, Samassa, Moscardelli, Stoian.
Trainer: Dominic DiCarlo.
Unavailable: Luciano, Paloschi, Squizzi.
Disqualified: nobody.
Referee: Carmine Russo (Nola).
Line Assistants: Altomare – Nicoletti.
Port Assistants: De Marco – Palazzino.
Fourth official: Iannello.
