Como vs Juventus

Juventus will seek to secure back-to-back victories in Serie A for the first time since November when they travel to face struggling Como on Friday evening. The Bianconeri arrive at Stadio Sinigaglia on the back of a hard-fought win over Empoli, while their hosts come into the fixture following consecutive defeats.

Last week, Juventus endured a disastrous start against Empoli, conceding an early goal to former player Mattia De Sciglio. A penalty awarded against Michele Di Gregorio could have compounded their misery, but a VAR review overturned the decision due to a prior handball. This reprieve spurred the Bianconeri into action, and a brace from Randal Kolo Muani, along with two late goals after Empoli had been reduced to 10 men, secured an important victory.

With that result, Juventus positioned themselves within striking distance of the top four, and a win against Como would propel them above Lazio, strengthening their push for Champions League qualification. Despite their pedigree, Juve have struggled with consistency this season, drawing an excessive number of matches that have hindered their progress. Thiago Motta’s side has managed just nine wins from 23 league outings, leaving their Champions League aspirations uncertain.

Their upcoming fixture against Como presents an opportunity to extend their dominant historical record against the Lariani. Juventus have gone 22 games unbeaten against Como in Serie A and have not suffered defeat to them in any competition since January 1952. Additionally, Como have failed to win any of their last 10 home encounters with Juventus, further reinforcing the visitors’ status as heavy favorites.

Como’s struggles have been evident since their return to Serie A, with their campaign beginning with a 3-0 defeat to Juventus in Turin. However, since those early struggles, they have shown signs of adaptation, gradually stabilizing their performances. Around the turn of the year, a slight upturn in form allowed them to climb out of the relegation zone, though they remain perilously close to the drop, holding only a two-point advantage over the bottom three.

Under the guidance of head coach Cesc Fabregas, Como have been active in the winter transfer market, making several squad adjustments in hopes of securing their Serie A status. Despite these reinforcements, their performances have yet to yield positive results. February concluded with a defeat to Atalanta BC, followed by another loss to Bologna, leaving them winless in their last eight away fixtures.

Although Como’s away form has been poor, their home record offers some encouragement. Since their promotion from Serie B, they have suffered only four defeats at Stadio Sinigaglia, making them a more formidable opponent on home soil. If they can capitalize on this advantage, they will aim to hand Juventus just their second league defeat of the season.

For Juventus, the focus remains firmly on securing maximum points. Anything less than a win would be a major setback in their bid for a top-four finish. With the attacking prowess of Kolo Muani and Kenan Yildiz adding firepower to their squad, the Bianconeri will look to build on their recent victory and assert their dominance against a Como side still fighting for survival.

As the match approaches, Juventus must ensure they do not underestimate their hosts. While history and form favor the visitors, Como’s desperation to avoid relegation could make them a difficult opponent. Nonetheless, Juventus have the quality and experience needed to navigate such challenges, and a professional performance should see them emerge victorious once again.