Juventus vs. Como Preview: Dusan Vlahovic will be key to victory

The game sees the dawn of a new era for the Bianconeri as manager Thiago Motta takes charge of his first competitive game with the Turin side. Summer was a period of transition as Motta tried to bring back confidence and instill consistency in a side which struggled to adapt to old manager Max Allegri’s pragmatic playing style.

Motta has rang the changes, most notably agreeing a deal to terminate mainstay keeper Wojciech Szczesny’s contract after seven years at the club in favour of Monza goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Motta’s signings so far include Douglas Luiz, Juan Cabal, and Khéphren Thuram, with Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners expected to sign any day.

In the other direction, Moise Kean, Dean Huijsen and Matias Soule have departed the club, with reports of at least a full XI of players that Motta is still looking to offload from his bloated squad.

Their opponents Como are riding the crest of a wave, having earned promotion to Serie A for the first time since 2002/03. Former Arsenal and Chelsea ace Cesc Fabregas will lead the team this season, replacing manager Osian Roberts, who was promoted to head of development.

Fabregas, a minority stakeholder in the club, sees potential in the side and, backed by the wealthiest owners in Italian football, they have made a splash in the transfer market. Former Man United defender Raphael Varane and experienced goalkeeper Pepe Reina have joined the side as Fabregas hopes to consolidate Como’s place in the top flight.

Match Details

• Date: Monday, 19 August, 2024
• Location: Turin, Italy
• Venue: Allianz Stadium
• Kick-off time: 19:45 BST, 18:45 UTC
• Tickets:  Available through Juventus club website or via trusted resellers online.

Recent Form

Thiago Motta is yet to register a proper win in the Juventus dugout, with his only success in four friendly matches being over Juve’s own reserve team. Defeats to Nürnberg and Atletico Madrid and a draw against Stade Brestois have saw Motta’s side only score two goals since his appointment.  Such a heavy transition is sure to have teething problems, and with several players frozen out, it will naturally take the side time to gel.

On a brighter note, Juventus can take comfort in their home form having turned the Allianz Stadium into a fortress last season. The Old Lady suffered just one loss all season at their home ground in Serie A 23/24, a 1-0 loss to Udinese, whilst picking up 11 wins and 10 clean sheets from their 19 home games.

Como’s pre-season friendlies saw them defeat Cagliari and Las Palmas, before losing to Saudi titans Al-Hilal.  A goalless draw with Wolfsburg followed before their final pre-season match saw them lose 4-3 on penalties to Serie B side Sampdoria after a 1-1 draw in ninety minutes.

Head-to-Head

This is the first competitive meeting between Juventus and Como since the 2002/03 Serie A season, where Juventus beat Como 3-1 and drew 1-1. All-time, Juventus are 13-12-4 against Como, with Como having last got an away win over Juventus in 1951.

Injury News

For Juventus, the only injury concern at the moment is youth starlet Fabio Miretti, who recently signed a contract extension with the club through to 2028, he is currently injured and most probably out of the squad bar a late recovery.

Any Como fans’ hopes of seeing former Manchester United centre-back Varane holding the fort against Juventus look cruelly dashed, after the Frenchman hobbled off with a knee knock in Sunday night's Coppa Italia clash away to Sampdoria. Varane’s participation on Monday is a dependant on a late fitness test, with him being the only injury concern for Fabregas’ side.

Players To Watch

Juventus - Dusan Vlahovic

After a lacklustre Euro 2024 with Serbia, Vlahovic will be eager to recapture last season’s form with Juventus once more, having bagged 16 goals and 4 assists in 26 Serie A starts. Thiago Motta was very outspoken on Vlahovic to La Gazzetta Della Sport, claiming that he and Kenan Yildiz were the only indispensable forwards at the club.

He later stated to the same paper that “Dusan’s work cannot be measured just by looking at the goals. In football, there are lots of things you have to do, and he knows how to do them very well. He is an important player, but as I said from the start, a great talent always needs his team.” It’s clear that Vlahovic will be integral to Motta’s new attacking style, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in this opener.

Como - Andrea Belotti

Eyebrows were raised when Como announced the signing of Andrea Belotti, in a deal estimated at around €4.35 million. The striker has scored 112 goals in Italy’s top flight, but struggled for consistency recently, with only six in the last two seasons. Belotti began last season at Roma before securing a loan spell at Fiorentina, where he started in the UEFA Europa Conference League Final.

Belotti’s signing was seen as a signal of intent by Como, and partnering the legendary Patrick Cutrone up front against a Juve defence who conceded seven goals in preseason could see the Old Lady having a battle on their hands on Monday night.

Expected Lineups

Juventus predicted starting lineup

Di Gregorio; Danilo, Gatti, Bremer, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram, Luiz; Weah, Vlahovic, Yildiz

Como predicted starting lineup

Audero; Kovacik, Goldaniga, Dossena, Moreno; Engelhardt, Mazzitelli; Strefezza, Da Cunha; Cutrone, Belotti.

Prediction

With both coaches favouring a possession-based style, Fabregas will hope to show their passing prowess in what will a baptism of fire for the newly promoted side. Fabregas took Serie B by storm with a relatively inexperienced side, but the step up from second to top flight can be a cruel mistress.

Key to Juventus is their strong midfield, particularly Douglas Luiz, who has excelled in pre-season despite the scorelines. As long as his energetic midfield are firing on all cylinders, Motta’s experience and stacked side should prevail, especially at home, but underestimate the likes of Belotti and Cutrone at your peril.

Old Juve predicts a 3-1 Juventus win.