Match Details
Date: Sunday, 23 February 2025
Location: Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
Venue: Unipol Domus Stadium/Sardegna Arena
Kick-off time: 19:45 GMT, 20:45 CET, 11:45 PST, 14:45 EST.
TV/Streaming: UK – TNT Sports, US – CBS/Paramount+
Recent Form
Juventus' Derby D’Italia win made it three consecutive league victories for the first time this season, and their win on the bounce.
Thiago Motta's troops knew that they would be in for a battle against PSV Eindhoven. The Bianconeri were beaten 3-1 in their Champions League play-off second leg clash in the Netherlands, to crash out of European action and leave the head coach under the microscope.
Juve lie fourth in Serie A, only ahead of Lazio because of superior goal difference, and 10 points behind league leaders Napoli. Motta's goal is to finish in the top four at the end of the season to earn a place in next season's Champions League. So collecting maximum points in Sardinia is vital.
Lowly Cagliari are not a pushover, having held hosts Atalanta to a scoreless draw in their last outing. Manager Davide Nicola joined in the summer and chalked up some outstanding results against the highflying teams.
Head-to-head
Cagliari have only managed one victory in their 27 battles with Juventus, and reeled off five draws.
The Sardinia side have twice visited Turin this term. They fought out a 1-1 stalemate in October, and were hammered 4-0 in December's Coppa Italia tussle.
Team news
Defender Renato Veiga joined the ever growing list of injured Juventus players on Wednesday, hobbling off after 12 minutes with a tendon injury.
Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arkadiusz Milik are expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season. Pierre Kalulu (thigh) and Douglas Luiz (muscle fatigue) remain doubts for at least another week.
Cagliari's only absentee is reserve 'keeper Giuseppe Ciocci, who has been nursing a shoulder injury since the start of the year.
Playmaker Gianluca Gaetano (knee) missed the stalemate against Atalanta at the weekend, but should be back in contention after he returned to training in midweek.
Players to watch
Juventus - Francisco Conceicao
Despite not getting on the scoresheet against PSV, the Portuguese winger was a thorn in the side of the Dutch League champions. He was replaced on 77 minutes by Khephren Thuram.
His winner against Inter Milan, beautifully set up by Kolo Muani, highlighted why he is a regular starter. Motta will be expecting the same sort of creativity and resilience from one of his prized assets.
Cagliari - Leonardo Pavoletti
The Rossoblu captain has bagged 50 goals in just over 200 appearances during his eight-year spell, and constantly causes problems for defenders.
This term he is playing the role of super sub, with all 18 Serie A appearances from the bench, but the 36-year-old could make his first start against Juve.
Expected line-ups
Cagliari possible starting XI:
Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Augello; Adopo, Makoumbou; Zortea, Gaetano, Felici; Pavoletti
Juventus possible starting XI:
Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Gatti, Weah, Savona; Conceicao, Locatelli, McKennie; Yildiz, Mbangula; Muani
Old Juve prediction
Juventus are hot favourites to win this contest, but Cagliari have upped their game against the big boys in Serie A with draws against AC Milan (twice), Atalanta, AS Roma and Juventus this term.
With Motta feeling the pressure after Juve's Champions League interest came crashing down, he will be eager to score a hefty win against Cagliari and avoid another toothless display.
There tend to be a flurry of goals and entertainment regularly served up inside the Unipol Domus Stadium/Sardegna Arena.