Genoa vs Juventus Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
Juventus head to Serie A strugglers Genoa this weekend hoping to return to Turin with all three points.
After a resounding 3-0 victory over a hapless Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek, Cristiano Ronaldo and the Bianconeri will see this as a softer challenge.
However, Andrea Pirlo's side have been underperforming in the league of late and need to be wary. Leonardo Bonucci spared Juventus' blushes last weekend against city rivals Torino, coming up with a late header to seal a 2-1 win. Genoa (like Torino) are in the relegation zone, but if they turn up as Torino did, they could cause the Old Lady some issues.
Genoa come into the game off the back of a dramatic1-1 away draw to Fiorentina last weekend, which saw them score in the 89th minute only to concede an equaliser in the eighth minute of injury time.
Where to Watch on TV
When Is Kick Off? Sunday 13 December
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:00 (GMT)
Where Is It Played? Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris
TV Channel? Premier Sports 1 (UK), fuboTV (US)
Referee? Marco Di Bello
Team News
Juventus' injury concerns all lie at the back; third-choice goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio picked up an unnecessary suspension after he was red carded for over-celebrating Bonucci's winner last weekend. 42-year-old Gianluigi Buffon's heroics midweek against Barcelona won't be repeated after he picked up a calf injury, leading the way for Wojciech Szczesny to reclaim the no.1 spot.
Centre-backs Giorgio Chiellini and Merih Demiral are still sidelined for some time. The good news is that Alvaro Morata is available for selection after seeing his two-game ban for disrespecting a match official overturned.
Like Juventus, Genoa have goalkeeper concerns, with experience duo Mattia Perin and Federico Marchetti both doubts. This leaves Alberto Paleari set to take the gloves for only his second ever Serie A start. On top of this they have a host of players still missing including Davide Biraschi, Cristian Zapata, Davide Zappacosta, Domenico Criscito, and Francesco Cassata.
Predicted Lineups
Genoa: Paleari; Bani, Goldaniga, Masiello; Ghiglione, Sturaro, Badelj, Lerager, Pellegrini; Scamacca, Shomurodov
Juventus: Szczesny; De Ligt, Bonucci, Danilo; Cuadrado, Bentancur, Rabiot, Chiesa; Kulusevski; Morata, Ronaldo
Recent Form
Sitting fifth in Serie A, Pirlo’s side are yet to really get going this season. Although still unbeaten, Juventus just haven't looked themselves. Winning five and drawing the other five leagues games leaves them and AC Milan as the only team yet to lose in Serie A. Along with that, they have conceded a league-low eight goals.
The issue lies up top. Paulo Dybala has been a shadow of himself from last season and is still to get his first league goal of the season. Alvaro Morata's three goals in seven games have helped, but of course, it has been Ronaldo's contribution of eight goals in just six appearances that have kept the Old Lady anywhere near the race for the Scudetto.
Genoa haven't won at home since the opening game of the season, suffering four home defeats in a row since then. Juventus haven't won away since their 4-1 win against lowly Spezia on 4 November, although they have won five of their last six games.
Traditionally, Juventus beat Genoa, with them winning both meetings with the Grifone last season. Genoa, however, may fancy their chances after nearly nabbing a win last weekend and watching Juventus only narrowly edge past Torino.
Genoa
Fiorentina 1-1 Genoa (7/12)
Genoa 1-2 Parma (30/11)
Sampdoria 1-3 Genoa (26/11)
Udinese 1-0 Genoa (22/11)
Genoa 1-3 Roma (8/11)
Juventus
Barcelona 0-3 Juventus (8/12)
Juventus 2-1 Torino (5/12)
Juventus 3-0 Dynamo Kyiv (2/12)
Benevento 1-1 Juventus (28/11)
Juventus 2-1 Ferencvaros (24/11)
Prediction
After brushing aside Barcelona, Juventus have to be feeling confident ahead of their trip to Genoa. With Ronaldo bagging a brace at Camp Nou and the added bonus of having Morata back sooner than expected, this should be a win for the Old Lady of Turin.
Genoa will draw inspiration from Torino's efforts last weekend, but anything other than a Juventus win here will see Pirlo under unnecessary pressure.
Prediction: Genoa 0-2 Juventus