Genoa Vs Juventus

Juventus, renowned for their defensive prowess, will seek to maintain their unbeaten start to the season as they face Genoa at Stadio Luigi Ferraris this Saturday.

The Bianconeri stand out as the only team across Europe’s top five leagues that has not conceded a single goal in league play this season. In contrast, Genoa experienced setbacks last week in Serie A and subsequently lost a Coppa Italia derby.

Match Preview

Juventus head coach Thiago Motta, on September 21, 2024.
© Imago

After a nail-biting 0-0 draw against Napoli, managed by their former coach Antonio Conte, Juventus has seen a pattern of three consecutive league matches ending in stalemates. While this has slightly overshadowed what has been an impressive start to the season, it highlights areas that require attention.

Juventus began the Thiago Motta era in grand style with two emphatic 3-0 victories. However, since those opening wins, they have struggled to find their rhythm in Serie A, although they did secure a 3-1 victory against PSV Eindhoven in their initial Champions League encounter.

Should they manage to keep clean sheets in all of their first six Serie A matches, it would mark a historic first for the club, with the possibility of drawing four consecutive matches without goals being a unique feat in their long-standing top-flight history.

Currently two points behind their city rivals, Torino, who have surprisingly taken the lead in the Italian league after five rounds, Juventus is eager not only to maintain their solid defensive record but also to rediscover their scoring touch. This is particularly crucial for striker Dusan Vlahovic, who has been struggling; he managed just six touches of the ball before being substituted in the previous match.

Statistically, Juventus finds themselves in the lower half of the Serie A table regarding total shots and shots on target, ranked 17th in touches within the opposition area.

This match marks Motta’s return to his former club, where he served both as a player and a manager. He will be aiming to improve their performance, especially given that last season saw both encounters between the clubs end in draws, with only two goals scored in total.

In their last nine league meetings at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, the teams have each claimed four victories, alongside a single draw. Notably, Genoa currently holds an unbeaten record against Juventus in their last three matchups, breaking a prior streak of five consecutive defeats.

However, Alberto Gilardino’s squad will greet Juventus in Liguria following a series of setbacks that have likely impacted their morale.

Last Saturday, Genoa suffered a 2-0 defeat against newly-promoted Venezia, leaving them in 17th place in the Serie A standings with a mere five points from five matches. This disheartening result was compounded by a midweek loss against their fiercest rivals.

Despite taking an early lead through Andrea Pinamonti in the Coppa Italia, Genoa faced a tough exit against Sampdoria. They conceded a late equalizer, leading to a penalty shootout that sealed their fate in the cup.

Having already faced defeat against Sampdoria in this season's sole Derby della Lanterna, Genoa is keen to avoid further disappointment as they prepare to host Juventus at Marassi this weekend.