Juventus return to Serie A duty on Sunday with the confidence of a 5-0 Europa League win over NEC, but the league programme presents a different test at the Allianz Stadium. Luciano Spalletti’s side host Atalanta in the fifth round, with the visitors arriving after two successive domestic defeats.
The decision
Juventus and Atalanta meet in Turin on Sunday 20 September, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00. Daniele Doveri of the Udine section has been appointed referee.
The match will be available live in Italy on DAZN and also on Sky Sport. Streaming options include DAZN, Sky Go and Now TV for subscribers.
Spalletti is expected to set Juventus up in a 3-4-2-1, with Vicario behind a back three of Kalulu, Bremer and Lucumì. Celik, Douglas Luiz, Sarr and McKennie are the likely midfield line, while Conceição and Nico Gonzalez should support Kolo Muani.
Juventus have a long unavailable list: Ekhator, Yildiz, K. Thuram, Cabal, Locatelli, Boga, Cambiaso and Grabara are all absent. Pinsoglio, Radu, Gatti, Kelly, Rugani, Koopmeiners, Owusu, Oboavwoduo, Alajbegovic, Zhegrova and Woltemade are among the options available to the coach.
Maurizio Sarri’s Atalanta are expected to use a 4-3-3. Carnesecchi should start in goal, with Bellanova, Kristensen, Scalvini and Kolasinac across the defence. Kessie, Gaetano and Ederson are set to form the midfield, behind De Ketelaere, Scamacca and Rowe.
Kossounou, Hien and K. Sulemana are unavailable for Atalanta. Sarri can call on Pompei, Sportiello, Obric, Mirra, Bernasconi, Zappacosta, Pasalic, Samardzic, Zalewski, Raspadori, Krstovic and Elmas from the bench.
Sunday’s picture
For Juventus, the task is to carry their European momentum into a league campaign that still needs a defining result. The emphatic victory against NEC brought a convincing midweek response; Atalanta’s visit offers Spalletti the chance to turn that performance into a steadier rhythm in Serie A.
Atalanta, meanwhile, travel to Turin needing to interrupt a difficult domestic sequence. Two league losses have made this fixture more than a routine early-season away day, and Sarri’s side will look for the result that restores balance to their opening weeks.
