Call it direct confrontation. Juventus-Atalanta, standings in hand, can only be defined in this way and the merit, obviously, goes above all to the team from Bergamo, author of a truly sensational championship so far. That Allegri's eleven would have been in the lead was more than predictable, that Gasperini's could be only 5 points away, much less. And then at the Stadium (20.45 pm) we will witness a match from the upper part of the village, an absolute novelty for two teams that have faced each other 54 times in Serie A (in Turin) but never so close in the standings. Suffice it to say that Atalanta's last victory at Juve dates back to 27 years ago: on that distant 8 October 1989, the Bianconeri coached by Dino Zoff bowed to a goal by Caniggia. Since then almost only victories of the Lady, but this time the fans of the Goddess, galvanized by the incredible results of the last two months, dream of the coup with open eyes. Scenario which, should it materialize, would really reopen the championship and make life difficult for Massimiliano Allegri, already forced to deal with last Sunday's bad defeat in Genoa. “There we made many mistakes, the important thing will be not to repeat them – commented the Juventus coach. – Marassi's first half hour was bad but this doesn't mean that the team has problems or difficulties, I remind everyone that we are first in the league and already qualified for the Champions League. Mine is a group of champions who know how to bring out pride and character, we've been together all week to work: we want to emerge fortified from this beating".
Important proclamations, which promise a bad evening for Gasperini's team. It is no coincidence that the Nerazzurri coach, in the hope of not "turning on" the Lady too much, has chosen a low profile, despite the 8 victories in the last 9 games (6 consecutive) authorizing a very different attitude. “We're not people used to proclamations, we'll never say it's a Scudetto match or something like that – he explained at the press conference. – They come from a bad defeat, they will be attentive and concentrated: they won't have the derby, the Champions League or Roma in mind. That they can stop our race is quite obvious, let's say I'm curious to see where we've come". Allegri finally recovers Dybala after a month and a half break, but for the rest he has to deal with numerous absences especially in defense, where Bonucci, Barzagli and Dani Alves will be missing. The Juventus 3-5-2 will see Buffon in goal, Rugani, Benatia and Chiellini in defence, Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio, Pjanic and Evra in midfield, Higuain and Mandzukic in attack. Gasperini, forced to give up the suspended Gagliardini (in Juve's sights like Kessié, Caldara and Conti), will respond with the usual 3-4-1-2: Sportiello between the posts, Masiello, Caldara and Zukanovic in the back department, Conti , Kessié, Migliaccio and Spinazzola in the midfield, Kurtic behind the Petagna-Gomez offensive couple.
