Juventus manager Thiago Motta returns to the dugout for a pivotal Serie A encounter against Monza, following his touchline suspension. The Bianconeri boss is contemplating several lineup changes to reinvigorate his squad.
Douglas Luiz and Nico Gonzalez, the club’s high-profile summer acquisitions, are poised for potential starts after recovering from injuries. Their return could provide a much-needed boost to Juventus’ midfield and attack.
Motta may opt to shuffle his pack, with players like Manuel Locatelli, Mattia Perin, and Francisco Conceicao vying for starting berths. The manager faces a delicate balancing act in managing his resources.
Despite being Juventus’ leading goalscorer this season with 11 goals in 19 appearances, Dusan Vlahovic might be granted a rest. However, the absence of a direct replacement complicates this decision, as Arkadiusz Milik is sidelined along with other injured players.
The Old Lady continues to grapple with injuries. Juan Cabal and Bremer are long-term absentees due to ACL injuries, while full-backs Andrea Cambiaso and Jonas Rouhi are also unavailable.
In contrast, Cagliari manager Davide Nicola has a nearly full squad at his disposal. The only concern is Zito Luvumbo, who suffered an ankle injury in their previous match. With an eye on an upcoming crucial fixture against Venezia, Nicola is likely to rotate his squad for the Juventus encounter.
**Juventus (4-2-3-1)**: Perin; Savona, Locatelli, Kalulu, Danilo; Thuram, Koopmeiners; Conceiçao, Yildiz, Mbangula; Vlahovic
**Cagliari (4-3-1-2)**: Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Palomino, Augello; Marin, Prati, Deiola; Felici; Gaetano, Lapadula