Juventus vs Lazio – Serie A – Preview, Team News and Updates

Following a fortnight’s break, Serie A football is back. And oh boy, do we have some exciting fixtures lined up for the weekend. A fixture that is surely going to pique fan’s interests is a crunch clash between Italian heavyweights – Juventus and Lazio. Le Aquile are set to travel to Turin for a crucial clash against the Bianconeri, and it’s a fixture that’s bound to grab everyone’s attention.

Both Juventus and Lazio have started the 2024/25 season in promising fashion under new management. Both the clubs are currently locked together on 13 points in Serie A standings. Therefore, securing a positive result on Saturday night would be of utmost importance for both sets of players. Lazio, under the management of Marco Baroni, have turned heads with some standout performances this season. But it's Thiago Motta's Juventus who have really stolen the spotlight—remaining the only unbeaten team in the league after seven games. With that unbeaten streak hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on Juventus as they look to continue their strong start. However, can Lazio spoil the party and deliver an upset, or will the Bianconeri extend their unbeaten run? This is shaping up to be an unmissable contest. 

Juventus vs Lazio – Match Preview 

Though four draws in seven games might not seem like ideal reading, Juventus have still been one of the standout teams in Serie A this season. After years of dull, pragmatic football under Massimiliano Allegri, the Juve board decided it was time for a fresh approach. Enter Thiago Motta. The former Inter Milan player arrived fresh off guiding Bologna to their first-ever Champions League qualification, and his early impact at Juventus has been encouraging. Despite the draws, Juve sit just three points behind league leaders Napoli—a solid position considering the transition period. 

While Motta’s appointment was aimed at reigniting Juve’s attack, it’s actually the defense that has been turning heads. Even with the long-term loss of Geilson Bremer to injury, the Bianconeri have conceded just one goal in seven Serie A matches, and that came from a penalty. This rock-solid defense has given Juve the platform to dominate domestically and compete on the European stage. What’s more, Motta has freshened up the squad by introducing youth. Promising talents like Samuel Mbangula, Nicola Savona, and Andrea Cambiaso have been given the chance to shine, which has lowered the age profile and injected new energy into the team. Having said that, the Bianconeri have secured a win in just one of their last five games. So, a win feels long overdue.  

However, securing a win against an in-form Lazio side won’t be easy. The Biancocelesti are on a run of four consecutive victories in all competitions, which marks the capital club's finest run of form since the beginning of the year. In their most recent fixture, Lazio secured an impressive comeback win over Empoli thanks to goals from Mattia Zaccagni and veteran Pedro. Their comeback win against Empoli meant that Lazio now have gained more points (7) from losing positions than any other club in the Serie A.  

Moreover, Lazio’s form isn’t just restricted domestically, they have dominated their first two opponents in the Europa League, securing two wins by an aggregate scoreline of 7-1. Having said that, Le Aguile’s record against Juventus is abysmal. They have secured just one win against the Bianconeri in their last 20 meetings, losing a staggering 15 times during that stretch. So, can Lazio buck the trend, or will Juve maintain their dominance over the capital club? 

Juventus vs Lazio – Team News and Updates 

Lazio boss Marco Baroni heads into the clash with better luck on the injury front than his Juve counterpart, with only Manuel Lazzari (thigh injury) set to miss the trip to Turin. Matteo Guendouzi could also feature if he recovers from a bruised toe picked up during his international duty with France. If not, Matias Vecino is ready to step in for central midfield duty. Meanwhile, left-back Nuno Tavares has hit the ground running at his new club, racking up five assists in just as many Serie A games. Only Bukayo Saka has managed more assists (seven) across Europe’s top five leagues this season. 

On the other hand, Juventus will be without several key players. Long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik and Bremer, both of whom recently underwent knee surgeries, remain sidelined. Summer signings Teun Koopmeiners and Nico Gonzalez are also ruled out for the weekend, while Weston McKennie and Nicolo Fagioli returned from international duty nursing minor knocks. To add to Juve’s woes, Francisco Conceicao is suspended for the game. 

There’s some good news for the Bianconeri, though, as winger Timothy Weah is set to return from his ankle injury. However, Thiago Motta will still need to reshuffle his lineup given the absentees. Up front, Dusan Vlahovic is a certain starter, and the Serbian striker will be aiming to continue his fine form. If he finds the back of the net again, it will mark the first time he's scored in four consecutive matches since joining Juve. His record against Lazio is impressive too, having netted six goals in seven league games against them. 

Juventus vs Lazio – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 20th October 2024 (Sunday) at Allianz Stadium in Turin. The match will kick off at 12:15 AM (Indian Standard Time).   

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