Juventus will get a second chance this weekend to officially win the championship. This time it can be with the base eleven, saving players for the Champions League is no longer necessary for Ronaldo and co. Normally opponent Fiorentina should not cause any problems. The past three mutual matches were won by the Dutch champion, last December it even became 0-3.
Juventus:
Due to the good performance this season, Juventus had the luxury of leading many players to rest in the run-up to the Champions League matches, something that was also necessary given the large number of injured players and players who had just come from an injury. Against SPAL the Cypriot midfielder Grigoris Kastanos and the Nigerian defender Paolo Gozzi Iweru were allowed to make their debut in the base for Juve, and the talent Moise Kean again got a base place. Just like in his previous games, Kean was accurate. Prior to this match, he scored on average once every fifty minutes, this time he already had his first in the net after thirty minutes. It was the only good chance in the first half for the Old Lady, so it was extremely effective.
Early on in the second half, SPAL made it 1-1, a nicely headed corner by Bonifazi, who simply put rookie Kastanos aside. The occasional team of Juve was also unable to break pots in the second half and even gave up the 2-1 in the 74th minute after fumbling from the other debutant, Gozzi Iweru. Twice badly defending by the newcomers, the national champion therefore put on a tie, as a result of which a new champion party was postponed by at least a week.
That upcoming national championship, however, will feel like a consolation prize. All arrows were aimed at the cup with the big ears and with Cristiano Ronaldo in the ranks Juve thought he had a good chance. Last Tuesday they were knocked out of the ball by Ajax despite a Portuguese goal. Juventus had full control in the opening phase but did not create any great opportunities there, in the end the 1-0 had to come from a standard situation. After Van de Beek was able to shoot the equalizer in a very happy way, the battle plan was unclear with the Italians and Ajax was lord and master in the second half, De Ligt signed a corner for the decisive 1-2. For Juventus this means that in terms of prices they are experiencing the worst season in four years, as they were eliminated by all Atalanta in the Coppa Italia.
Paolo Dybala was added to the long list of injury cases, he was replaced at halftime against Ajax due to a thigh injury. Kean was his replacement in this competition and will probably start again in the base during this championship competition, but also the restored Juan Cuadrado is an option in the front.
Fiorentina:
Fiorentina is the team of draws this season, in the major competitions only Valencia is an equal in that regard. Fio tied 16 of the 32 games, in the last twelve games it even happened eight times (67% of the games). Last week, the club appointed Vincenzo Montella as a new trainer after a series of eight non-win games, but for the time being the former striker was unable to end that series. Relegation candidate Bologna visited the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence and returned home with a precious point. Fiorentina had better chances in both halves but La Viola was unable to find the goal. Dabo and Muriel in particular should have done more with the great opportunities they were given to make Montella’s return successful.
Due to the mediocre series, Fiorentina has now dropped out in the battle for European tickets, it has a ten-point deficit on number seven, Torino and also has to tolerate Lazio and Sampdoria. Montella has therefore mainly been brought back to ensure a stunt in the semi-final of the cup at the end of this month, because of the 3-3 at home against Atalanta in the first game, only a win in Bergamo will be enough.
PREDICTION: Juventus to win @ 1,44
