Juventus will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2019-20 campaign with a game against Genoa in Serie A on Wednesday.
Maurizio Sarri's men, who are top of the league, take on a struggling Genoa side enjoying a new lease of life under former midfielder Thiago Motta.
Match preview
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If you were to look at the Serie A table, you would think that it was business as usual for the Old Lady, who seem to be on course to claim a remarkable ninth consecutive title this season.
However, following the arrival of Sarri, the shape and feel of this Juventus side has changed, with the former Napoli man encouraging a less direct, more zonally-based playing style in comparison to predecessor Massimiliano Allegri.
This new system has pushed certain players to the fore and others into the background, with Gonzalo Higuain, for example, enjoying an impressive renaissance in Turin, making 11 appearances in all competition this season.
Players like Emre Can and Adrien Rabiot, on the other hand, have been linked with moves away from the club having hardly received a chance since August, highlighting that there remains some work to do before Sarri can claim to have the exact squad that he wants.
Either way, the Serie A champions will be expected to respond to only managing a 1-1 draw at Lecce over the weekend by recording a convincing victory against Genoa in front of their own supporters.
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Juventus may well be in for a shock, however, as they take on a Genoa side whose tactical shape and overall dressing room mood has been reinvigorated by Motta.
The former Paris Saint-Germain and Italy midfielder, appointed last week following a run of seven games without a win, made ripples across the football world before even playing his first game through the 37-year-old's proposed introduction of a 2-7-2 formation.
Such a system, as Motta has noted, incorporates the goalkeeper into a seven-man midfield while full-backs - the only two players instructed to permanently stay wide - end up playing as something like a number nine and 10 when the ball enters the final third.
In practice, Motta's tactical vision translates to what looks like a narrow 3-4-1-2, but it was the Italian's in-game management during a 3-1 win over Brescia in his opening game that really caught the eye, with second half substitutes Kevin Agudelo, Christian Kouame and Goran Pandev all claiming goals in a rapturous 15-minute spell having gone behind to a free kick from Sandro Tonali.
Something special - or at least very interesting - is starting under Motta, who has an excellent football brain. Getting a result on Wednesday would force the whole of European football to sit up and take notice.
Recent Juventus form: WWWWWD
Recent Genoa form: LDLLLW
Team news
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Juventus continue to be without captain Giorgio Chiellini, who suffered a serious knee injury at the start of the season, although long-term absentees Marko Pjaca and Matia Perin have returned to training.
Aaron Ramsey and Douglas Costa are both doubts for the game as they manage respective groin and hamstring injuries sustained earlier this month.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rested against Lecce over the weekend, is expected to make a return to the starting XI on Wednesday.
For Genoa, Motta only has to worry about Domenico Criscito, whose hamstring injury is expected to keep him out until next month.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Sandro; Khedira, Matuidi, Pjanic; Bernardeschi; Ronaldo, Higuain
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Radu; Romero, Radovanovic, Zapata; Ghiglione, Schone, Cassata, Ankersen; Lerager; Pinamonti, Kouame
We say: Juventus 4-1 Genoa
The visitors will no doubt battle bravely in Turin, eagerly feeding the ball up the pitch and packing the midfield, but the galvanising effect of a new manager with exciting ideals will not in itself be enough when it comes to matching up with the sheer quality of this Juventus team.
Leo Nieboer
