Juventus return to the Allianz Stadium for another demanding Serie A afternoon, with Atalanta arriving for the fifth round after Milan left Turin with a 1-1 draw two weeks earlier. It is a meeting between two sides looking for a result that gives their early season a clearer direction before the international break.
Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus eased some of the tension around Continassa with a 5-0 Europa League opening victory over NEC. That result came after the league draw against Milan and, more damagingly, the 3-2 defeat away to Sassuolo in Reggio Emilia. The European performance also brought encouraging signs from Weston McKennie, whose return has restored an important element of balance, while Kolo Muani and Woltemade both found the net.
The Turin side still have a long absence list to manage. Locatelli, Thuram, Yildiz, Boga, Cabal and Ekhator remain unavailable, while Cambiaso is not expected to be fit in time. Spalletti is set to continue with the 3-4-2-1 system as Juventus seek a league position more fitting of their ambitions.
Atalanta arrive with their own uneven start behind them. Maurizio Sarri’s team have taken six points from four fixtures, winning narrowly at home against Sassuolo, 2-1, and Bologna, 1-0, but losing 2-1 away to Roma and then by the same scoreline against Cagliari at the New Balance Arena. The margins have been tight, but the table has not yet reflected the expectations around the Bergamo club.
For Sarri, the week without a midweek match has offered valuable preparation time for a return to a club he once managed. Cristiano Giuntoli, now Atalanta’s sporting director, also returns to Turin in a different role. Gaetano is available again after suspension, while the principal selection decision concerns the centre-forward spot: Scamacca is expected to start ahead of Krstovic. Hien and Sulemana remain out and are due back only after the break.
Luca Zufferli of the Udine section will referee a contest carrying weight beyond its place on the calendar. Juventus want their European response to become the beginning of a steadier league run; Atalanta need to turn close matches into points and avoid entering the pause with another setback. The match will be available through DAZN and Sky, with coverage also streamed on Now.
