Juventus vs. Atalanta preview & prediction

Thiago Motta’s troops face a gruelling Serie A battle against Atalanta in Turin on Sunday. Victory would keep the Bianconeri firmly in the Scudetto race
Juventus welcome Atalanta with victory essential for both sides to stay in the Scudetto race
Juventus welcome Atalanta with victory essential for both sides to stay in the Scudetto race | Nicolò Campo/GettyImages

Match Details

  • Date: Sunday, 9 March 2025
  • Location: Turin, Italy
  • Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
  • Kick-off: 19:45 GMT, 19:45 CET, 11:45 PST, 12:45 EST
  • TV/Streaming: UK – TNT Sports, US – Paramount+

Recent Form

Despite exiting both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia in February, a string of five consecutive Serie A wins has dragged Juventus back into the outer reaches of this year's Scudetto battle.

Juve's 2-0 home win over Hellas Verona on Monday saw them pull within six points of leaders Inter Milan. Recent slip-ups for the league leaders and Napoli have brought the top four in tight with 11 games remaining.

Third-placed Atalanta may have kept clean sheets in four consecutive Serie A matches for the first time since 2000, but they have also recently struggled against lowly sides. Last time out they were held to a scoreless draw by Venezia, passing up the chance to draw level at the top with Inter.

Head-to-head

Pierre Kalulu’s goal was not enough to snatch the three points when the two sides last met at the Gewiss Stadium in January. Mateo Retegui’s equaliser ensured the honours were shared in an end-to-end thriller.

Juventus have beaten Atalanta 66 times in Serie A, racking up 46 draws and 13 losses in that time period. Only Inter have defeated La Dea more times in the competition, with 69 wins.

Juventus are unbeaten in 38 of their past 40 Serie A matches against Atalanta with 25 wins and 13 stalemates. Atalanta’s only two wins in that period, both during in the same year, saw them triumph 1-0 in both April and November 2021. 

Team News

Recent standout Federico Gatti has been training separately due to a thigh strain, so may be forced to miss the clash. Fellow center-back Kalulu has returned, so could slot in next to Lloyd Kelly.

Four other players are out - Francisco Conceicoo, Douglas Luiz, Nicolo Savona and Renato Veiga - while Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arkadiusz Milik remain on Juve's long-term injury list.

Atalanta's Stefan Posch is out for five weeks with a tendon injury in his left hamstring after coming down with an injury during Atalanta’s training session on Thursday. Fellow center-back Isak Hien is scheduled for a late fitness test, having been out for a few weeks with an abductor injury. Veteran club captain Rafael Toloimay may have to step in, or Marten de Roon could drop back from central midfield.

Other defenders Odilon Kossounou and Giorgio Scalvini remain on the shelf, as well as striker Gianluca Scamacca, adding to previous injuries to Mraco Carnesecchi, Sead Kolasinac, Ademola Lookman and Daniel Maldini earlier in the season. 

Players to watch

Juventus - Khephren Thuram

Continued his red-hot streak of form by unpicking the stout Hellas Verona defence to grab the opener in Juve’s 2-0 success.

He set a personal record for goal contributions in a single season in Europe's top five leagues with seven in total, three goals, four assists.

Atalanta - Ademola Lookman

The forward is on Juve's radar. His hat-trick in last year’s Europa League final has alerted teams to his availability. Lookman has linked up with Mateo Retegui to rack up an impressive 33 league goals between them.

Atalanta manager Gian Luca Gasperini Gasperini publicly criticised Lookman after he missed a spot-kick in the Champions League, and he could make a summer move.

Expected line-ups

Juventus possible starting XI:
Di Gregorio; Weah, Kalulu, Kelly, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Gonzalez, McKennie, Yildiz; Muani

Atalanta possible starting XI:
Carnesecchi; Hien, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui

Old Juve prediction

Juventus 2 Atalanta 1

It is a huge game for Motta, who has seen his fair share of criticism recently despite only one Serie A all season. A win against Atalanta would take Juve level on points.

Atalanta have scored the most goals from open play in Serie A this season (45), while Juventus have conceded the fewest - a mere 12 - which makes Sunday’s match a mouth-watering tactical clash.

It is put up or shut up for Motta, who knows the margins for success are wafer thin as Juve manager. this is his time to shine and lay down a proper statement victory, announcing the Bianconeri as surprise contenders for the title.