Juventus picked up a much-needed three points on Wednesday against Napoli, winning 2-1 to help keep Andrea Pirlo in good standing with management. More importantly, the victory gives Juve a key advantage in maintaining a Champions League place, which is not a guarantee due to the team’s profound struggles this season.
The Bianconeri will face Genoa at home this Sunday afternoon on Serie A’s Matchday 30. And a win will be important here, too. Genoa are in the bottom half of the league table, and Juve have put three past them twice this season. However, their most recent encounter was a close call, as Juve needed a late goal in extra time to knock Genoa out of the Coppa Italia.
Let’s take a look at five key players on both sides to watch this Sunday for Juventus vs. Genoa, using Sky Sport Italia’s predicted lineups to guide us.
Juventus CB Danilo
Danilo started at right back against Napoli and played very well, but he appears to be ready to start at center back on Matchday 30. The experienced Brazilian defender has been one of Juve’s best players this season, and the Bianconeri will entrust him to help keep the striker partnership of Mattia Destro and Gianluca Scamacaa quiet this Sunday.
Genoa ST Gianluca Scamacca
Gianluca Scamacca is on Juve’s radar as a possible backup striker in the summer 2021 transfer window, as the team tried, but failed, to sign him this winter.
Genoa have not lost in their last three matches, and Scamacca has played a big role in their success. He assisted in their recent 1-1 draw with Fiorentina and bagged a brace in a 2-1 win over Parma. In total, Scamacca has just four goals and two assists this season, but the 22-year-old is starting to heat up. And he’d love to convince Juventus that he’s worth signing by having a big game against them head-to-head.
Juventus CM/RM Weston McKennie
Sky Sport Italia has Weston McKennie listed as a right midfielder in the formation, but I’d prefer to see him start in the middle for either Rodrigo Bentancur or Adrien Rabiot. McKennie deserves to start at his preferred position, as he’s earned a permanent move to Turin from Gelsenkirchen after playing well for the Bianconeri this season. Funnily enough, McKennie has exactly as many goals and assists as striker Scamacca in Serie A, as he is Juve’s most productive midfielder.
Genoa RM Davide Zappacosta
Former Chelsea man Davide Zappacosta has played well for Genoa in the 2020-2021 season, standing out as one of their top players. The experienced wide man has just two goals and two assists, but the basic counting stats shroud his solid two-way play. Zappacosta, per WhoScored.com, averages 1.4 tackles per game and 1.2 dribbles completed per game. He could be an annoyance to Alex Sandro and the left side of Juve’s formation.
Juventus ST Alvaro Morata
It’s unclear if Paulo Dybala will start on Matchday 30 after his brilliant goal off the bench in his return from injury against Napoli. So we can tentatively expect Alvaro Morata to start again for the Bianconeri, and this former Chelsea man is in need of a goal contribution of his own.
Morata has been out of form lately in front of goal, and he’s also messed up counterattacks for Juventus with some poor execution with his passing. In the first half of the season, Morata was one of Serie A’s top forwards, and he is still Juve’s leader in assists in the league. But in order to secure a spot for the 2021-2022 season, Morata needs to step up in the final matches of the current campaign. A good display for Juventus vs. Genoa would help a lot.