Juventus will hope for a win in their Serie A opener against Parma at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
Juventus begin their latest bid to reclaim the Serie A crown on Sunday evening as they welcome Parma to the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Once dominant with nine consecutive league titles, the Bianconeri have endured years of decline and inconsistency, but a fourth-place finish last season at least secured a return to the Champions League. Parma, meanwhile, avoided relegation last term and will aim to establish themselves more firmly in the Italian top flight.
Juventus’s 2023/24 campaign was another turbulent one, marred by inconsistency, off-field uncertainty, and yet another managerial change. Thiago Motta was dismissed before completing his first season, and former Juve defender Igor Tudor was appointed on an interim basis in March.
Tudor steadied the ship impressively, guiding the club back into the top four despite a campaign in which Juve were plagued by stalemates, they drew 20 matches across all competitions, equalling an unwanted club record. Hopes of a major managerial appointment fell flat as Juventus failed to secure Antonio Conte or Gian Piero Gasperini, leading the hierarchy to extend Tudor’s stay.
The Croat also guided the club into the newly expanded Club World Cup after a respectable summer showing that ended with elimination to Real Madrid in the last 16. Their preparations for Serie A included a 2-1 win over Atalanta, offering cautious optimism that Tudor’s pragmatic approach can deliver results.
In the transfer market, activity has been restrained as Juventus continue to wrestle with the consequences of past financial missteps. The marquee signing of Jonathan David from Lille, however, provides fresh firepower to a frontline that too often misfired last season. His arrival will be central to the club’s hopes of returning to the summit of Italian football.
Parma head into the new campaign buoyed by survival last term, having finished the season strongly with a crucial 3-2 win over Atalanta to secure their place in Serie A. They even managed to upset Juventus with a 1-0 victory at Stadio Tardini in April, following up a 2-2 draw in Turin earlier in the season.
Those results highlighted their ability to punch above their weight, particularly under former coach Cristian Chivu, who has since departed to take charge of Inter Milan. The Gialloblu have turned to Carlos Cuesta, who at just 30 years and 26 days will become the third-youngest coach to debut in Serie A.
A former Arsenal assistant and once part of Juventus’s youth coaching setup, Cuesta is regarded as a rising managerial talent, but Sunday’s game marks his sternest test yet. He has already overseen a positive start, guiding Parma to a 2-0 victory over Pescara in the Coppa Italia, setting up a round-two clash with Spezia.
Remarkably, Parma lost just one of their eight games against top-half teams after Chivu took charge mid-season last year, a record that Cuesta will hope to replicate or even improve upon. His tactical adaptability and reputation for detailed preparation could help Parma frustrate superior opponents, but the challenge of holding off a motivated Juventus side in Turin will be significant. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Juventus enter their Serie A opener with some notable absentees but also important reinforcements. Young midfielder Nicolo Savona, defender Juan Cabal, and playmaker Fabio Miretti are all sidelined due to injury, limiting Igor Tudor’s options in central areas. However, Brazilian centre-back Bremer has recovered in time to feature, providing a significant boost to the Bianconeri’s defensive structure. There are no suspension concerns heading into the clash.
In attack, Dusan Vlahovic’s uncertain contract situation combined with inconsistent finishing has seen him slip down the pecking order, paving the way for new signing Jonathan David to spearhead the front line. The Canadian striker arrives from Lille with a prolific record, having scored at least 15 league goals in each of the past four Ligue 1 campaigns. He will be supported by rising star Kenan Yıldız and fellow summer arrival Francisco Conceicao, who impressed on loan last season before joining permanently from Porto.
On the right flank, Joao Mario, another recruit from Porto, could be handed his first league start, offering energy and width. In midfield, Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram are expected to provide balance between defensive solidity and progressive play, while Andrea Cambiaso should occupy the left wing-back role. At the back, Bremer will be flanked by Pierre Kalulu and Lloyd Kelly, forming a three-man defensive line in front of new goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Juventus are therefore expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Michele Di Gregorio will start in goal, shielded by Pierre Kalulu, Bremer, and Lloyd Kelly as the central defensive trio. Joao Mario and Andrea Cambiaso will operate as wing-backs, with Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli anchoring the midfield. Further forward, Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yıldız will provide creativity and attacking support just behind Jonathan David, who will lead the line as the lone striker.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; Mario, Thuram, Locatelli, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; David
Juventus vs Parma: Preview and Prediction.
Parma
Parma head into their trip to Turin with a number of notable absentees across the squad. The club recently sold highly rated teenage defender Giovanni Leoni to Liverpool, while in attack they are without Ange-Yoan Bonny, who followed former coach Cristian Chivu to Inter Milan earlier this summer.
Their plans were further disrupted when new striker Matija Frigan suffered a serious ACL injury, ruling him out long-term. His absence leaves Mateo Pellegrino as the main option to lead the line, with the young forward having already impressed by scoring twice in Parma’s Coppa Italia victory over Pescara.
The Gialloblu’s wide options are also depleted, with Swedish winger Jacob Ondrejka sidelined indefinitely due to a broken leg. At the back, head coach Carlos Cuesta must do without Botond Balogh, who is serving a suspension. Despite these setbacks, Parma still retain a core group of players who helped them secure survival last season, and Cuesta will look to organise them effectively for his Serie A debut.
Parma are expected to set up in a 3-4-2-1 system. Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki will start between the posts, protected by a three-man defence of Enrico Delprato, Alessandro Circati, and Lautaro Valenti.
The midfield will be anchored by Adrian Bernabe and Mandela Keita, with Mathias Lovik operating on the right flank and Emanuele Valeri on the left as wing-backs. Further forward, Pontus Almqvist and Christian Ordonez will provide creativity and attacking support behind Mateo Pellegrino, who will lead the line as the central striker.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Suzuki; Delprato, Circati, Valenti; Lovik, Bernabe, Keita, Valeri; Almqvist, Ordonez; Pellegrino
Juventus vs Parma: Preview and Prediction.
Key Stats
Juventus will feature in a Serie A season for the 93rd time in their histor. Only Inter Milan (94) have played more. The Bianconeri also hold the record for the most opening-day wins in Serie A, with 61 victories on Matchday 1.
Parma will compete in successive Serie A campaigns for the first time since 2019/20 and 2020/21. On that earlier occasion, they also faced Juventus on Matchday 1, losing 1-0 to the Bianconeri in August 2019.
Juventus and Parma have met four times previously on Serie A opening days, with Juventus winning all four encounters. Across those fixtures, the Bianconeri scored nine goals while conceding just two.
Juventus will start a Serie A campaign under a foreign coach for the first time since 1973/74, when Czech manager Cestmir Vycpalek was in charge. On that occasion, Juve opened with a 2-1 victory over Foggia.
Parma’s new coach Carlos Cuesta will make history as the club’s first foreign manager to lead them on an opening day of a Serie A season. At just 30 years and 26 days old, he will also become the third-youngest manager to debut in Italy’s top flight.
Player to Watch
Jonathan David
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Juventus’s marquee signing of the summer, Jonathan David, is expected to carry much of the club’s attacking burden this season. The Canadian striker arrives from Lille with a proven track record, having scored at least 15 goals in each of his last four Ligue 1 campaigns. His pace, sharp movement, and ability to finish with both feet make him an all-rounded threat inside the penalty area.
David’s inclusion in the Juventus front line is particularly significant given Dusan Vlahovic’s uncertain future and fluctuating form. Igor Tudor has placed his trust in the former Lille forward to spearhead the Bianconeri’s attack, supported by young talents like Kenan Yıldız and Francisco Conceicao. His ability to combine with creative midfielders and exploit defensive gaps will be vital if Juve are to return to their former dominance.
On his Serie A debut, David will be eager to make an immediate impact in front of the Allianz Stadium crowd. A strong performance against Parma could set the tone for his season and underline why Juventus see him as the man to lead their revival.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Parma
Juventus are far from the all-conquering force they once were, but with Igor Tudor bringing a sense of stability and Jonathan David set to inject new energy into their attack, they remain a formidable side at home.
Parma have already proven capable of troubling Juve and will arrive with belief under their ambitious new coach, yet the gulf in quality and experience should ultimately show. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Igor Tudor and his charges