Juventus will look to rebound from a challenging weekend as they prepare to face Sassuolo in Serie A on Tuesday evening. The match comes on the heels of a disappointing 1-1 draw against Lecce, a result that has left the Turin side six points adrift of league leaders despite having played one game more.
Pre-match reports suggest that Jonathan David, despite facing criticism for a lackluster performance which included a failed Panenka penalty, is set to retain his spot at center-forward in Luciano Spalletti’s starting XI. The Canadian forward will be looking to regain form against a Sassuolo side that has struggled in recent outings, recording two consecutive 1-1 draws against Bologna and Parma.
Sassuolo’s head coach Fabio Grosso is not expected to drastically change his starting line-up, although Ismael Kone may replace Luca Lipani in the midfield. The attacking trio of Alieu Fadera, Andrea Pinamonti, and Armand Lauriente is anticipated to remain intact as they aim to add pressure on the Juventus defense.
Juventus faces some injury woes, with doubts surrounding the fitness of key players Manuel Locatelli and Lloyd Kelly. However, it is predicted that Locatelli will start alongside Khephren Thuram in midfield, while Teun Koopmeiners will step into the back three for the absent Kelly.
Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 19:45 GMT, with fans able to catch the action live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and via Paramount+ in the USA. The match promises to be crucial for both teams, as Juventus seeks to close the gap at the top of the table and Sassuolo looks to secure a much-needed victory to boost their season. Fans are encouraged to follow the Football Italia Liveblog for comprehensive pre-match coverage, in-game updates, and post-match reactions.