As 2024 dawns, a stark contrast in fortunes hangs over the Coppa Italia clash between Juventus, riding high after back-to-back victories, and Salernitana, mired in travel woes.
Old Lady Eyes Polished Gem After Gritty Wins:
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus ended 2023 on a triumphant note, grinding out victories against Roma and Verona. Now, they face Salernitana, a team they’ve historically dominated. But Juve won’t underestimate their opponents, seeking a polished performance rather than another gritty grind.
Juventus v Salertertina Form
Juventus:
-
Current Form: Won 2 (Serie A), Lost 1 (Coppa Italia)
-
Coppa Italia: Beat Sampdoria 4-1 in Round of 16.
-
Serie A: Won last two matches against Roma and Verona.
-
Head-to-Head vs. Salernitana: Won 8 of last 9 meetings in all competitions.
Salernitana:
-
Current Form: Won 1 (Serie A), Drew 1, Lost 3 (Serie A)
-
Coppa Italia: Beat Empoli 2-1 in Round of 16.
-
Serie A: Won last away game against Verona 1-0, but haven’t won another away match all season.
-
Head-to-Head vs. Juventus: Lost 8 of last 9 meetings in all competitions.
Juventus v Salertertina Team News
Juventus:
-
Max Allegri is expected to rest some key players ahead of Sunday’s Serie A clash with Salernitana.
-
Rising stars like Iling-Junior, Huijsen, and Yildiz could be handed starts in the Coppa Italia.
-
Locatelli will be available for the midweek game as he is suspended for the weekend match.
-
Cambiaso is back from a ban and could feature on either flank.
-
Kean, Sandro, and De Sciglio remain sidelined through injury.
Salernitana:
-
The visitors will again be without star striker Boulaye Dia.
-
Simy has been reintegrated into the team and started against Verona last week.
-
Ikwuemesi provides competition for Simy up front.
-
Injuries to Pirola and Kastanos, along with Coulibaly’s AFCON absence, have depleted Inzaghi’s options.
-
Goalkeeper Ochoa might return from a shoulder issue and take a place on the bench.
Prediction
Salernitana is currently facing challenges in the league, yet Filippo Inzaghi sees the upcoming cup clash as an opportunity to inspire fresh strategies among his players. However, the outcome heavily depends on the quality of the opposing team, with Massimiliano Allegri’s squad being clear favorites to dominate and secure the victory.
While there are expectations of Allegri making significant changes to his lineup, Salernitana’s chances of overcoming the Bianconeri remain slim. Inzaghi’s team might attempt a different defensive approach to score in Turin. Nevertheless, Allegri aims to prevent further scoring, prioritizing a decisive win before the second leg in the opposite direction.
Leave a Reply