Aiming to back up an impressive win in their opening Serie A fixture, Juventus take on Sampdoria at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Monday.
A 3-0 win over Sassuolo set the Bianconeri on course for a fast start to their league campaign, while Samp suffered defeat at home to Atalanta.
Match preview
© Reuters
Seeking a path back to Serie A supremacy this season, Juventus kicked off their quest for a first Scudetto in three years by hosting Sassuolo last Monday.
After Massimiliano Allegri's side finished fourth for the second straight season back in May, a summer rebuild ensued, and while Paul Pogba's comeback has been delayed by a knee injury, fellow signings Filip Kostic, Bremer and Angel Di Maria all made their debut against the Neroverdi.
Indeed, the latter proved instrumental in Juve's 3-0 victory at the Allianz Stadium, providing the opening goal and an assist for January's big-money buy Dusan Vlahovic, who bagged a brace to start his personal pursuit of the Capocannoniere crown.
Going against type, Allegri fielded four players born in the 21st century on the opening day, and only promoted Lecce featured more in that age bracket - however, Vlahovic was the only one to be awarded a start.
Turning to youth seems apt given the club's name, but it will again be the Bianconeri's established stars who attempt to steer their side to two wins from two on Monday: Juventus have taken maximum points from their first two games of the season in eight of the last 12 years, and on each occasion they went on to claim the title.
© Reuters
Given recent precedent, Sampdoria's chances of stopping Juve seem slim, as the Genoese outfit have lost every one of the clubs' last six meetings in the Italian top flight.
In fact, their visitors have won by scoring at least twice in the last three games between the pair at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, so Samp will be seeking to reverse that trend in their third successive home fixture.
Having enjoyed a morale-boosting victory in the first round of the Coppa Italia to kick off their campaign - beating Reggina 1-0 earlier this month - Marco Giampaolo's side welcomed Atalanta to Marassi on Serie A's opening day.
However, after a difficult 2021-22 season in which they flirted with relegation, Samp began with yet another defeat, as they went down 2-0 to La Dea despite putting up a fair fight.
Under Giampaolo, who returned to the club in January for a second spell in charge, the Blucerchiati retained top-flight status more due to other teams' failings than their own resilience: in 2022, they have lost more Serie A matches than any other side - now 13 of 20 following last week's defeat.
Signings have been in short supply, too, and as Sampdoria have previously collected just a single point from their first two fixtures across the last four years, the odds are stacked against them on Monday night.
- L
- D
- W
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- D
- L
- L
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Though an impressive time in the transfer market has renewed optimism in Turin, Max Allegri's hopes of fielding his best side remain hindered by absences in the early weeks of the season.
Having suffered an injury on his debut, Angel Di Maria will sit out the rest of the month at least, joining Paul Pogba, Federico Chiesa and first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny on the sidelines. However, Moise Kean and Adrien Rabiot are both back from suspension.
As Allegri could also be without defensive mainstay Leonardo Bonucci on Monday, either Daniele Rugani or Federico Gatti may be called upon to partner Bremer in the visitors' back four.
In the absence of Di Maria, Filip Kostic is set to play a role in supporting his fellow Serbia international Dusan Vlahovic up front. The latter has faced Sampdoria four times as a starter in Serie A, scoring five goals altogether; with three coming in two games at Marassi.
Meanwhile, Samp have an almost clean bill of health heading into their third competitive game - though Andrea Conti is still sidelined - as long-term absentee Manolo Gabbiadini returned as an unused substitute against Atalanta.
Once more playing a lone role up front, 35-year-old Francesco Caputo will aim to get off the mark for this season, having registered 11 goals and six assists last term.
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Bereszynski, Ferrari, Colley, Augello; Vieira; Leris, Rincon, Sabiri, Djuricic; Caputo
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Perin; Danilo, Rugani, Bremer, Sandro; Locatelli, Zakaria, McKennie; Cuadrado, Vlahovic, Kostic
We say: Sampdoria 0-2 Juventus
Even with some of their top talent culled by injury, Juventus should have more than enough guile to pick off a Sampdoria side which has endured abject form for many months now and have failed to benefit from a summer refresh.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
