Socrates

Juventus vs. Empoli match preview As things currently stand, Juventus’ path to another Coppa Italia final is looking about as favorable as it has been in years. Considering that the Coppa — no matter how you feel about it — was probably going to be Juve’s best shot at silverware this season, that is probably something that is a little reassuring despite all of the despair lately. The bracket as certainly fell in Juve’s favor. And now, as we hit the quarterfinals, they look to further exploit that fact. All that stands in the way of Juventus and a two-legged Coppa Italia semifinal matchup against Thiago Motta’s former squad, Bologna, is a quarterfinal clash against an Empoli squad that has not won in nearly three months. That’s it. That’s what Wednesday night will provide Juventus with — one of the most out of form squads in Serie A to try and get past and then you’re in the Coppa semifinals and path to the final in Rome that is quite manageable as compared to the other side of the bracket that has a very Milan flavor to it. ............ But Empoli are in an awful run of form. They have tumbled down the Serie A table over the last couple of months. They are winless in their last 11 games, with nine of them being losses. Since De Sciglio’s goal against Juve at the Allianz on Feb. 8, Empoli haven’t found the back of the net again. They’ve lost their last three games by a combined score of 10-0, with the most recent loss coming in a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Atalanta, who are dealing with their own problems right now. In short: Ever since Empoli’s last win on Dec. 8, no team in Serie A has earned fewer points than Roberto D’Aversa’s squad. So, as you can probably figure out, Juventus — as they should be — are a massive favorite to go through to the Coppa semifinals considering just how bad their opposition has been since the beginning of December. ............ TEAM NEWS Thiago Motta did not hold a pre-match press conference Tuesday, so we don’t know for sure about the condition of some players, but it’s safe to say that there will be several players out injured that were available at this point last week. The two main names added to the injured list coming out of the weekend are Douglas Luiz (again) and Nicolo Savona, with both players picking up thigh injuries against Cagliari and PSV Eindhoven, respectively. ............ Despite coming off injured over the weekend against Cagliari, Andrea Cambiaso is being tipped by the Italian media to start at left back. If not, it will likely be Jonas Rouhi getting the start because there really isn’t anybody else available to play at left back. Another note from the Italian press, namely Sky Italia: This could be the game in which Motta plays both Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani from the start, with the Frenchman likely to play out wide on the right like he did in the second half against Cagliari. As is the case in the Coppa Italia, Mattia Perin will get the start in goal for Michele Di Gregorio. It will be just Perin’s second appearance in the 2025 calendar year after he got the start in the Champions League league phase finale against Benfica last month. JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH ............ Considering just how limited options are all throughout the defense, having Cambiaso available is a positive development no matter if it’s Empoli in the Coppa Italia or a big matchup in Serie A. Juve need Cambiaso out there both because he’s a good player but also because they are simply in dire need of actual fullbacks to play, you know, as fullbacks. (That is to take nothing away from what Timothy Weah is currently doing, but as we know he is not a natural fullback.) How will Cambiaso move now that he’s likely to be playing on a short rest for the first time in a while? How many minutes will have in his legs after starting his first game in a good amount of time? How much of a leash will Motta have because of both having to take Cambiaso off over the weekend and the limited options in defense? ............ MATCH INFO When: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy. Official kickoff time: 9 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 8 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 3 p.m. Eastern time, 12 p.m. Pacific time. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/2/26/24371629/juventus-empoli-2025-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

Juventus vs Empoli: Preview and Prediction Coppa Italia holders Juventus will aim to continue their title defence when they host Empoli at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday in the quarter-finals. Despite an underwhelming season, Juve remain in contention for silverware and will be eager to take a step closer to a 16th Coppa Italia crown. On the other hand, Empoli, battling relegation in Serie A, have defied the odds to reach this stage but now face a monumental challenge against a team they recently lost to in emphatic fashion. ............ Historically, Juventus have dominated head-to-head encounters against Empoli, winning 80% of their league meetings in Turin. Their most recent meeting, a 4-1 league win earlier this month, saw them dismantle their Tuscan opponents in the second half, scoring four times after initially falling behind. With four wins from their last five matches, Thiago Motta’s side come into this clash in solid form and will be the strong favourites to advance to the semi-finals, where Bologna await them. ............ However, Empoli's Serie A form is a major concern. With six defeats in their last seven league matches, Empoli have been free-falling towards relegation, now sitting two points adrift of safety. Their latest 5-0 thrashing by Atalanta BC only worsened their troubles, leaving them in desperate need of a turnaround. ............ Team News & Tactics Juventus Juventus continue to struggle with multiple injury concerns, particularly in defence, which could force Thiago Motta to make significant adjustments. Full-back Nicolo Savona and Chelsea loanee Renato Veiga have recently joined the injury list, adding to the club’s defensive woes. The hosts are already without Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal, both of whom have been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Pierre Kalulu is also sidelined, further limiting Motta’s defensive options. Adding to the concerns, Andrea Cambiaso had to be substituted against Cagliari, making him a doubt for this match. The midfield is also affected, as Douglas Luiz, who had just returned from an injury layoff, suffered a flexor strain and will be unavailable. His absence reduces the number of options Motta has in central midfield. Meanwhile, upfront, Dusan Vlahovic marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal against Cagliari, but it remains to be seen whether he can hold off Randal Kolo Muani, who has made a significant impact since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, offering them defensive stability while allowing their attacking players to exploit Empoli’s vulnerabilities. Mattia Perin will start in goal, stepping in for the usual first-choice keeper. The back four will see Timothy Weah at right-back, with Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly forming the central defensive pairing. Jonas Jakob Rouhi will likely be deployed at left-back in the absence of other available options. In midfield, Khephren Thuram and Teun Koopmeiners will operate as a double pivot, with Thuram tasked with breaking up play and Koopmeiners providing forward distribution. Further up, the attacking trio will feature Nico Gonzalez on the right flank, Weston McKennie in a central attacking role, and Samuel Mbangula on the left. Their creativity and movement will be key in unlocking Empoli’s defence. Leading the line will be Randal Kolo Muani, who is expected to start ahead of Dusan Vlahovic. Kolo Muani’s pace, dribbling, and ability to link up with his teammates will be crucial in breaking down Empoli’s defence and securing Juventus’s passage to the semi-finals. Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Perin; Weah, Gatti, Kelly, Rouhi; Thuram, Koopmeiners; Gonzalez, McKennie, Mbangula; Kolo Muani Empoli ............ Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Cacace; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo Key Stats Juventus have won 80% of their home matches against Empoli in Serie A history, showcasing their superiority in Turin. Their most recent meeting ended in a 4-1 victory for the Bianconeri earlier this month. Empoli have conceded 18 goals in their last five matches across all competitions, including a 5-0 thrashing by Atalanta BC in their last outing. Their defensive struggles could be further exposed by Juventus’ attacking firepower. The Bianconeri have reached at least the semi-finals in five of the last six Coppa Italia campaigns. They began their title defence with a 4-0 win over Cagliari in the last round, showing their dominance in the competition. While historically dominated by Juventus, Empoli have lost only two of their last five league meetings with the Bianconeri, having previously suffered 10 defeats in 11 encounters. However, they will need a massive performance to pull off an upset in Turin. Player to Watch Randal Kolo Muani As Juventus push for Coppa Italia glory, Randal Kolo Muani is expected to play a pivotal role in leading the attack. Since arriving on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, the French forward has quickly made an impact, adding pace, creativity, and clinical finishing to Thiago Motta’s frontline. With Dusan Vlahovic returning to fitness, Kolo Muani faces competition for a starting role, but his versatility and ability to stretch defences make him a key asset. ............ Against an Empoli side that has conceded 18 goals in their last five matches, Kolo Muani has the perfect opportunity to exploit their defensive weaknesses. ............ Prediction Juventus 3-0 Empoli The hosts should cruise into the semi-finals with a dominant display. Juventus’s superior squad depth, home advantage, and recent dominance over Empoli make them the overwhelming favourites in this quarter-final tie. While Empoli have defied expectations in the Coppa Italia, their poor form and defensive vulnerability will likely be exposed by a Juventus side desperate for silverware. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Thiago Motta and his charges. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/02/25/juventus-vs-empoli-preview-and-prediction-3/

Preview: Juventus vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups Still in the hunt for silverware despite another sub-par season, Coppa Italia holders Juventus will host Serie A strugglers Empoli in Wednesday's quarter-final clash. The 15-time winners, who strolled through the last round, must eliminate their Tuscan counterparts to meet Bologna in the semi-finals. Match preview Continuing their largely disappointing campaign, Juventus recently followed victory in the Derby d'Italia by slumping out of the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, before returning to winning ways last weekend. Back in from the cold, Dusan Vlahovic scored 12 minutes into his first Serie A start of 2025 to secure three precious points in Cagliari, as Juve tightened their grip on fourth place in the standings. While they are therefore on track to book a Champions League spot for next season, the Bianconeri's final chance of collecting some silverware rests on the cup. ............ While results have been mixed since then, Thiago Motta has seen his team win four games out of five to start February; so, having prevailed in 80% of their league games against Empoli in Turin, there is no doubt that Juventus will expect to progress. ............ Team News Juventus are burdened by a depleted defensive department, as full-back Nicolo Savona and Chelsea loanee Renato Veiga recently joined several others on the sidelines. Already missing Bremer and Juan Cabal - both of whom are out for the rest of the season - and Pierre Kalulu, Juve coach Thiago Motta also had to replace utility man Andrea Cambiaso in Cagliari, so he might need to improvise. Just back from another layoff, Douglas Luiz was forced off by a flexor injury, so the hosts will have one less option in midfield, too. As Dusan Vlahovic found the net on a rare start, it remains to be seen whether he can hold off competition from Motta's first-choice striker Randal Kolo Muani, who has made a major impact since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. ............ Juventus possible starting lineup: Perin; Weah, Gatti, Kelly, Rouhi; Thuram, Koopmeiners; Gonzalez, McKennie, Mbangula; Kolo Muani Empoli possible starting lineup: Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Cacace; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo We say: Juventus 2-0 Empoli Both clubs have other priorities - finishing in the top four or avoiding relegation - so it may be a somewhat disjointed game between two injury-hit sides. Given their greater resources - and Empoli's crisis of confidence - Juventus should book their place in a two-legged semi-final tie with Bologna. . Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/coppa-italia/preview/preview-juventus-vs-empoli-prediction-team-news-lineups_566433.html

Thiago Motta plans Vlahovic-Kolo Muani experiment for Empoli Tuesday’s reports claim that Thiago Motta is planning on testing Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani together for the first time for the upcoming Coppa Italia quarter-final between Juventus and Empoli. Vlahovic has started just once in Serie A since Kolo Muani’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in January, but took advantage of that opportunity by scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday. ............ Vlahovic is in line to keep his place in the starting line-up for the Coppa Italia quarter-final, while Kolo Muani could start out wide on the right flank. ............ Thiago Motta reportedly has several changes in mind. Mattia Perin could be given an opportunity over Michele Di Gregorio in goal, Khephren Thuram could be given a run-out in midfield after a run of consecutive games starting from the bench. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-plan-vlahovic-kolo-muani-experiment/

Spalletti hints that Juventus star could be back in the next Italy squad One of the most notable exclusions from Italy’s squad for Euro 2024 was Manuel Locatelli, with manager Luciano Spalletti opting to place his trust in other midfielders. Locatelli was a key figure in Italy’s triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s success, earning a move to Juventus shortly after. At Juventus, he quickly established himself as one of the club’s best players, remaining prominent under the leadership of new manager Thiago Motta. ............ However, much to the surprise of many, Spalletti chose to leave him out, opting instead for Juventus teammate Nicolo Fagioli. ............ In a recent interview, Spalletti commented on Locatelli’s development: “But now Locatelli is starting to verticalize and makes fewer obvious passes, he is always good in the break-up phase and above all he has a great personality.” Locatelli’s growth under Motta has made him one of the best midfielders in Italy, and it would come as a surprise if he were not named in the next Italy squad. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/spalletti-hints-that-juventus-star-could-be-back-in-the-next-italy-squad/

Rimedio says Juventus must do better in closing out matches Juventus is currently enjoying an impressive winning run in Serie A, establishing themselves as one of the most closely watched teams in the competition. The Bianconeri have been delivering the results their fans expect, securing victories and maintaining a strong presence in the league. However, despite their good form, doubts remain over their consistency. Throughout this campaign, Juventus has struggled to see out matches, frequently dropping points from winning positions. While their recent performances have been promising, their inability to close games effectively raises concerns about their long-term prospects. ............ Italian football commentator Alberto Rimedio has been closely monitoring Juventus and emphasised the importance of improving their game management. He said: “In a match like the one on Sunday evening, in which they had so many chances, they shouldn’t have reached half-time only 1-0 up, because in the past they have already shown that they are too often exposed to comebacks that have cost them important points in the standings. There are the mitigating factors of their low average age and consequently their lack of experience, but Motta absolutely must correct this defect, because in the final phase of the season the points become very important.” ............ If Juventus fails to improve in this area, they could find themselves struggling in the decisive moments of the campaign. Strong performances alone will not be enough—they must develop the mental toughness and tactical discipline required to maintain their advantage in matches. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-says-juventus-must-do-better-in-closing-out-matches/

DIEGO PUGNO https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campionato_Primavera_1 Nazione: Italia Luogo di nascita: Borgaro Torinese (Torino) Data di nascita: 07.07.2006 Ruolo: Attaccante Altezza: - Peso: - Soprannome: - Alla Juventus (Primavera) dal 2024 Esordio: 01.12.2024 - Serie A - Lecce-Juventus 1-1 1 presenza - 0 reti

Juventus confirm Douglas Luiz injury blow: Recovery time revealed Juventus have confirmed that Douglas Luiz is set for another spell on the touchline after suffering an injury to his thigh in the second half of his side’s recent 1-0 victory over Cagliari in Serie A. The former Aston Villa midfielder came on as a second-half substitute during the Cagliari match, but he was forced off just 20 minutes later after feeling a tweak. ............ The results show that he has sustained an low-grade lesion to the femoral biceps of the thigh in his left leg. Douglas Luiz is expected to miss a minimum of 15 days of training, which is likely to keep him out until after the next international break in March. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-confirm-douglas-luiz-blow/

Thiago Motta urged to investigate the medical staff at Juventus Juventus have faced several injury problems this season in their pursuit of a successful campaign under their new manager. ............ In the January transfer window, the manager added defenders and an attacker to his squad. Some of these signings were a direct response to the injury crisis that Juventus has been struggling with, as the team has been plagued by injuries throughout the season including to key players like Gleison Bremer. ............ There has now been growing concern about the number of injuries within the squad, and Motta has been urged to investigate the reasons behind the recurring physical issues. Piero Calabrò suggested that Motta should closely examine the club’s medical department. “The Italian-Brazilian coach has some mitigating factors. First of all, the many and recurring injuries. In this respect, if I were a club manager, I would investigate the preparation and the medical staff. Juventus has been plagued by these physical problems of the players for too long,” Calabrò said. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/thiago-motta-urged-to-investigate-the-medical-staff-at-juventus/

Spalletti offers suggestion to Thiago Motta: He must ‘know’ one thing Italy coach Luciano Spalletti admits he ‘really liked’ Thiago Motta at Bologna but suggests to the Juventus coach that he has to ‘know when opponents figure you out.’ ............ “I really liked Thiago Motta at Bologna; even there, he was changing players’ positions and gaining big advantages. It’s a relational style of football, focused on ball possession, that avoids wasting the ball even under pressure. But you have to be smart and know when opponents figure you out.” ............ The Bianconeri’s next Serie A match is at home against Hellas Verona on March 3. The Old Lady will meet Empoli in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Wednesday when Motta will be forced to do without five defenders. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-suggestion-thiago-motta-one-thing/

Juventus selection crisis in defence, but new signing set to debut Juventus coach Thiago Motta will be without five defenders in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals against Empoli, but January signing Alberto Costa is expected to make his debut with the Bianconeri. ............ Coach Thiago Motta will be forced to do without long-term injured Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal, as well as Pierre Kalulu, Renato Veiga and Nicolò Savona, who are all working to return to action in the coming weeks. ............ Andrea Cambiaso suffered a minor injury against Cagliari on Sunday but is not expected to start against Empoli, while Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly will be the only centre-backs Motta can rely on for tomorrow’s match. Several sources claim Alberto Costa will likely make his Juventus debut tomorrow, either starting as a right-back or coming off the bench during the game. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-selection-crisis-defence-costa-debut/

Vlahovic rejected a 12m euros per season offer from Europe to stay at Juventus Dusan Vlahovic’s future remains a major talking point at Juventus as the Serbian striker approaches the final stages of his contract. With less than two years remaining on his current deal, there is still no certainty regarding what will happen next, leaving fans and pundits speculating about his future at the club. ............ Juventus have confidence in his ability to remain a key player, but the possibility of him not signing a new deal has left the club in a difficult position. The Bianconeri are reportedly open to his departure should an acceptable offer arrive, and there were already approaches made in the last transfer window. It was not just clubs from Saudi Arabia that made an effort to sign Vlahovic. The report claims that Fenerbahce also expressed interest in securing his signature and were willing to meet the €12 million per season wage that Juventus are keen to avoid paying. However, despite the opportunity to move, Vlahovic turned down the proposal, opting to remain in Turin for the time being. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/vlahovic-rejected-a-12m-euros-per-season-offer-from-europe-to-stay-at-juventus/

Ho letto che Thiago Motta dovrebbe investigare i componenti dello staff medico della Juventus. É in un articolo di tale Piero Calabró su Tuttomercatoweb. Proprio pochi giorni fa avevo raccontato qualcosa sul dottor Duccio Ferrari Bravo (Sport scientist). Scoperchieranno il vaso di Pandora alla Juve?

Vlahovic equals Cristiano Ronaldo & Lautaro Martinez record against Cagliari On Sunday night, Juventus secured a hard-fought victory over Cagliari with Dusan Vlahovic emerging as the ultimate hero. The Serbian made his return to the starting lineup after six matches on the bench. Thiago Motta decided to give him the nod at the expense of Randal Kolo Muani who was granted some rest. The Serbian obliged by scoring the goal that separated the two sides. He latched onto a heavy touch from his old nemesis Yerry Mina and rounded Elia Caprile before placing the ball in the empty net. ............ Since his arrival in Turin back in January 2022, Vlahovic is only the fifth Serie A player to reach 50 50-goal contributions for a single club. He now has 42 strikes to his name and eight assists. He has thus joined an elusive club that includes Lautaro Martinez with Inter Milan (78), Rafael Leao with AC Milan (61), Ademola Lookman with Atalanta (59) and Victor Osimhen with Napoli (54). Moreover, no striker has scored more goals against Cagliari since the 2019/20 campaign. He has now found the back of the net against the Sardinian club on eight occasions, thus equaling the tally of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lautaro Martinez. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/vlahovic-equals-cristiano-ronaldo-lautaro-martinez-record-against-cagliari/

The latest updates on Cambiaso & Douglas Luiz: Optimism and despair Juventus have reportedly received encouraging updates regarding the condition of Andrea Cambiaso, but Douglas Luiz may have suffered another serious injury. Both players returned took part in Sunday night’s Serie A contest against Cagliari which ended with a slim win for the Old Lady courtesy of Dusan Vlahovic’s solitary strike. However, the duo were forced to leave the pitch in the second half while carrying knocks. Cambiaso was in the starting lineup for the first time in weeks having been hampered by an ankle problem. But while his ankle didn’t bother him this time, it was a groin issue that ended his night relatively early, with Jonas Rouhi coming in as a replacement. As for Luiz, he made his return from a slight muscular problem that saw him miss the last couple of fixtures. He came in for Teun Koopmeiners in the second half, only to vacate his place for Samuel Mbangula in the final minutes of the fixture. ............ Earlier today, Juventus released an official statement revealing that Nicolo Savona (who remained in Turin after picking up an injury in training) suffered a muscle overstretch and is now expected to miss a couple of weeks of action. ............ Cambiaso’s condition doesn’t even require medical check-ups. He is expected to return to the fold in the next few days, so he could theoretically feature in the Coppa Italia quarter-final contest against Empoli. But on the contrary, the Brazilian midfielder has seemingly suffered yet another injury. He has already missed several months of action this term. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/the-latest-updates-on-cambiaso-douglas-luiz-optimism-and-despair/

“I know so much is expected from me” – Vlahovic aware of his situation, explains basketball celebration Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic made his much-anticipated return to the starting lineup against Cagliari, marking his outing with a winning goal. ............ Although it wasn’t the most dynamic display, his early goal was worth three important points, as it was the solitary strike of the contest held at the Sardegna Arena. After the match, Vlahovic insisted that the most important thing was to earn the win rather than him scoring a goal. “The three points are important, I scored a goal, but it’s important to have won,” said the former Fiorentina in his post-match interview. “I’m living with great calmness, I’m a professional, I make myself available to the team: I know that so much is expected of me. I stay composed. If we want to grow as a team and reach certain goals, we can’t stay under pressure for the whole second half. “Everyone suffers here against a team that plays well at home, but we have to take the extra step. Manage the game better or put it to bed earlier. I am very happy and I am thinking about the next match.” ............ “I’ve done this celebration before. Basketball was a dedication to the physiotherapists, we have one thing in common, they asked me to celebrate in this fashion.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/i-know-so-much-is-expected-from-me-vlahovic-aware-of-his-situation-explains-basketball-celebration/

Juventus 1 - Cagliari 0: Initial reaction and random observations As Juventus walked off the field at halftime Sunday night, I will fully admit I had the thought that you probably had, too. It involved seeing how many chances Juve created, how many they actually scored and the fact that this team has not exactly shown defending a lead to be their strong suit. “I sure hope this doesn’t come back to bite them,” tumbled across my tired brain a couple of times as the 15-minute halftime break rolled on. That dominant first half certainly wasn’t replicated after the break. But thankfully, those thoughts of adding to Juventus’ massive amount of dropped points from a winning position didn’t actually come to fruition. The feeling of impending doom as a result of Juventus’ second-half performance and inability to add onto their lead before the break was never fully fulfilled. Instead, Juventus made Dusan Vlahovic’s goal all of 12 minutes stand the rest of the way to claim a huge 1-0 win over Cagliari, one of the many lower-table clubs they dropped points against in the first half of the season. With all of the other madness going on in Serie A this weekend, it meant hat Thiago Motta’s squad jumped over Lazio and now have a two-point advantage in fourth place. But that’s not all: Juve’s win, somehow considering the astonishing 13 draws so far this season, moved them within eight points of the new Serie A leaders, Inter, who leapfrogged Napoli this weekend. To go overboard on potential Scudetto talks certainly feels very premature. But the fact that Juventus got the chance to get an advantage on Lazio — and, let’s not forget, Fiorentina and AC Milan who both lost this weekend — is what is the most important thing here. ............ RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS Methinks Dusan Vlahovic likes scoring goals against Cagliari. I say that because his first-half strike was the ninth goal in 12 games against Cagliari. That finish from Vlahovic was not easy considering the angle it was at and the way his weight was shifting. Just had enough speed on the ball to get it across the goal line. Thank goodness. ............ Juventus finished with 70 percent possession in the first half. So close to being very nice. Juventus finished with an xG total of 1.77 in the first half. We’ve seen plenty of games this season in which they don’t even hit that total over the course of an entire 90 minutes. Manuel Locatelli touched the ball 81 times and completed 72 passes IN THE FIRST HALF. That’s wild. ............ Solid game from Lloyd Kelly. If only that happened in the Champions League! Let the terzino-ing of Timothy Weah continue to be positive because we all know Juve desperately need it these days. It’s the 62nd minute and Douglas Luiz is subbed on. It’s the 82nd minuted and Douglas Luiz is subbed off. Yep, it appears Douglas Luiz is hurt again, folks. It’s a transfer that just hasn’t worked out and at this point you have to seriously considering that it will be one and done in Turin for Douglas Luiz (and Alisha Lehmann with how little she’s played for Juventus Women). If Andrea Cambiaso is going to miss any sort of time after coming off injured that means the only natural fullbacks Motta will have at his disposal over the next couple of weeks are a recent Next Gen grad (Jonas Rouhi) and a January signing who has yet to make his Juventus debut (Alberto Costa). Good times. ............ Yildiz, the young man who actually did lead Juve in tackles, admitted after the game that he should have scored a couple of goals against Cagliari. And you know what? He ain’t wrong. Imagine the scope of this one if Yildiz had scored either of those big chances he had, let alone both of them. The second half would have felt completely different. By the way, Yildiz has not scored a goal since Juve’s draw with Torino on Jan. 11. That’s something that I think a lot of us would like to see change soon. ............ We got to see Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani play off each other for the first extended amount of minutes. There were some good moments of it even with all of the tough moments that came with Juve’s second-half performance. But it will be interesting to see just how often Motta goes with it now that he’s actually tested it out. ............ Honestly, just glad Juventus won and didn’t give up any goals in the process. A win and a clean sheet is always nice to see. Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/2/24/24371289/juventus-cagliari-2025-serie-a-matchday-26-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

Thiago Motta: ‘Juventus suffered after missed chances, Yildiz enormous potential’ Thiago Motta is glad Juventus managed to beat Cagliari despite ‘wasting so many chances and inevitably suffering’ after the break, but outlines the ‘enormous potential’ of Kenan Yildiz. ............ Dusan Vlahovic celebrating his first Serie A start of 2025 by pouncing on the Yerry Mina error to score from the tightest of angles. After wasting chances to kill off the game, including with Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao, Juve suffered after the break and held on for the 1-0 win. “Kenan Yildiz has enormous potential, physicality, technique, he’s a hard worker, puts the effort in to help defensively, he can create important situations taking men on, he certainly needs to improve his finishing as we saw again this evening,” Thiago Motta said. ............ “We had so many chances in the first half, we went into the break knowing that it would be a problem not finishing it off and inevitably we then suffered. ............” continued Thiago Motta. “Maybe we lacked sharpness, because we only played extra time three days ago. When you have a first half like that, you need to score more than one goal. The positive at least is that we were able to keep the clean sheet.” Turkey international coach Vincenzo Montella was in the DAZN studio, so the first topic of discussion was inevitably Kenan Yildiz. “We often talk about Yildiz and both agree he needs to attack the space more,” added Thiago Motta. “It is something he needs to improve, because he has enormous potential and also the physical strength to repeatedly make those runs back and forth. He can hit the ball hard too with a great shot that is tough for goalkeepers to predict. We need to keep pushing him, because he is of a high level and can certainly improve more.” ............ “We have to take it one game at a time, especially now that we are getting into the crunch period of the season, it is a very balanced league and we’ve seen the top teams struggle this weekend too. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thiago-motta-juventus-suffered-missed-chances/

Player ratings: Cagliari 0-1 Juventus – Vlahovic punishes Mina ............ Cagliari 0-1 Juventus – player ratings Cagliari: Caprile 6.5; Zappa 5.5, Mina 4.5, Luperto 6, Augello 6; Makoumbou 5.5 (86′ Pavoletti N/A), Adopo 5.5 (70′ Viola 6); Zortea 6 (70′ Marin 6), Deiola 5.5 (57′ Coman 6), Felici 5.5 (46′ Luvumbo 6); Piccoli 5.5. Coach: Nicola 6. ............ Juventus: Di Gregorio 6; Weah 6.5, Gatti 6.5, Kelly 6.5, Cambiaso 6 (73′ Rouhi 6); Locatelli 6 (73′ Thuram 6), Koopmeiners 6.5 (62′ Douglas Luiz 6 (82′ Mbangula)); Conceiçao 5.5 (62′ Kolo Muani 6), McKennie 6, Yildiz 6.5; Vlahovic 7. Coach: Motta 6. Best Juventus player: Vlahovic 7 – Started his first Serie A game in 2025 and scored after just 12 minutes. The Serbian had a couple of chances to kill off the game as well. That’s where he must improve. Lowest Juventus rating: Conceiçao 5.5 – The Portuguese made just 42 touches and never created a numerical advantage down the right flank. Just one (failed) dribble attempt. Juventus coach: Motta 6 – A positive first half from the Bianconeri, but they should have scored more than once. Bit of suffering after the break, but they managed to keep Cagliari players far from Di Gregorio’s goal. A crucial win in the race for the top four. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/player-ratings-cagliari-juventus-vlahovic-mina/

Vlahovic strikes as Juventus secure hard-fought 1-0 win over Cagliari Juventus earned an important 1-0 win against Cagliari this evening, thanks to a Dusan Vlahovic goal. Juventus began the game like a team that needed a win after being dumped out of the Champions League. Juve wanted to get back to winning, and they dominated the opening exchanges, which resulted in them scoring the opener after 12 minutes. Dusan Vlahovic was back in the starting lineup, and he bagged the opener for the hosts, who had struggled in recent games before now. After scoring, the Bianconeri continued to dominate the fixture. ............ However, after the break, the home side began to ask more questions of the Juve defence than they did during the first period. Juventus had some chances to break, but they could not find that second goal as they prioritised a solid defensive structure to protect their lead. ............ When Juve had a good chance to extend their lead, DV9 was pushed and misplaced his shot, but a penalty was not given. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/vlahovic-strikes-as-juventus-secure-hard-fought-1-0-win-over-cagliari/

Three key duels in Cagliari vs Juventus: Vlahovic seeking vengeance against his bully On Sunday, Juventus will be looking to put their Champions League disappointment behind them and focus on earning a result in Cagliari. ............ This contest will also feature several interesting matches within the match, so let’s take a closer look at three interesting duels expected to take ensue this evening. Antoine Makoumbou vs Weston McKennie With Weston McKennie expected to start in the middle of the park in front of Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli, we can envision a physical contest to ensue, especially between the American and Antonio Makoumbou who will be shielding the backline. ............ Gabriele Zappa vs Samuel Mbangula This will be an interesting one between two exciting wide players. Gabriele Zappa is beginning to fulfil the promise he showed earlier in his career, emerging as a complete full-back. On the other hand, Samuel Mbangula could earn the nod at the expense of Nico Gonzalez and Kenan Yildiz. ............ Yerry Mina vs Dusan Vlahovic This will certainly be the most intriguing one, at least if Thiago Motta opts to start with Dusan Vlahovic. Many of you would remember how Yerry Mina resorted to all sorts of Dark Arts to put the Serbian off his game, including pushing, shoving and even mocking the striker after missing a sitter. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/three-key-duels-in-cagliari-vs-juventus-vlahovic-seeking-vengeance-against-his-bully-opinion/