After Cagliari, Atalanta. The amarcord will bring tears to the eyes of the most attentive Juventus players, because this was precisely the combination that earned them the last Scudetto. The mathematical success came against the Sardinians on neutral ground in Trieste, but the party at the Stadium, enhanced by Del Piero's farewell, took place a week later, precisely with Atalanta. Coincidences that will make someone smile and curse the most superstitious, but after the "magic of 12" seen in the Italian Cup (Wednesday 12 December 2012 Giovinco, number 12, scored the match goal on the 12th minute of the second half) it seemed right to start like this .
But Juventus-Atalanta offers various food for thought, on all those relating to the standings.
In case of success, the bianconeri could be crowned winter champions even with one round to spare, thus repeating last year's result. Not bad for a team that has supported the double league-cup match like no one in Italy, and this despite Conte's disqualification and the absence of a striker up front. Now that the coach is back (by the way: but why yesterday's press blackout?) Juventus also seem to have rediscovered their old hunger, the one that a few months ago led them to win the title against all odds. However, woe to lose it, otherwise there will be pain. Colantuono's Atalanta clings to this, shaken this week by the Stendardo case, harshly criticized by the club and coach for having preferred the lawyer's exam to the match against Roma. However, public opinion sided with the defender, among other things a former Juventus player, and this should soften the tough Colantuono.
The Nerazzurri coach will have other things to think about, because he will be facing the battleship par excellence of Serie A. Conte has no doubts about his formation: the disqualified Bonucci will be replaced by Marrone, otherwise he will be Juve like. Vidal would also be fully recovered, but the Juventus coach does not want to risk uselessly and should focus on Pogba. In attack confidence in the couple Giovinco-Vucinic, with the latter desperately chasing a goal. The Montenegrin hasn't scored in the league since last September 16 (Genoa-Juve 1-3) and even in the Champions League the numbers are anything but exciting (the only goal came on October 23 against Nordsjaelland). But it is at home that the situation takes on disturbing contours: the goal at the Stadium is missing even from the match against Cagliari on 15 January. Sardinians again, before Atalanta. Numbers that add up and make this challenge even more tantalizing.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Marrone, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Vucinic, Giovinco.
On the bench: Storari, Rubinho, Lucio, Caceres, Padoin, De Ceglie, Vidal, Isla, Giaccarini, Quagliarella, Matri.
Coach: Antonio Conte.
Out: Bendtner, Pepe.
Suspended: Bonucci (1).
Atalanta (4-4-1-1): Advice; Bellini, Lucchini, Manfredini, Peluso; Schelotto, Radovanovic, Cigarini, Bonaventura; Moralez; Denis.
On the bench: Frezzolini, Stendardo, Ferri, Raimondi, Brivio, Cazzola, Biondini, Ferreira Pinto, Matheu, De Luca, Troisi.
Coach: Stefano Colantuono.
Unavailable: Capelli, Carmona, Parra, Marilungo.
Disqualified: none.
Referee: Davide Massa (Imperia).
Line assistants: Nicoletti – La Rocca.
Goalkeeper assistants: Calvarese – Baracani.
Fourth man: Padovan.
