Juventus vs. Genoa | Serie A | Pre Match
Juventus vs. Genoa
Fallen giants Juventus start the post-Thiago Motta era on Saturday evening, when they welcome Genoa to Turin in what promises to be a pivotal moment for the beleaguered Bianconeri. The decision to part ways with Motta came after a torrid run of form that saw Juventus, a club steeped in history and tradition, suffer back-to-back humiliations in Serie A, prompting the board to act decisively in a bid to salvage their season. The first blow came in the form of an unprecedented 4-0 home defeat to Atalanta BC at the Allianz Stadium, a result that sent shockwaves through the Juventus faithful and marked a low point in the club’s recent history. If that wasn’t enough to rattle the hierarchy, the subsequent 3-0 capitulation against Fiorentina at the Stadio Franchi just before the international break plunged Juventus deeper into crisis, exposing frailties that had been simmering beneath the surface for weeks. These twin disasters were not standalone incidents but rather the culmination of a downward spiral that included embarrassing exits from both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia at the hands of PSV Eindhoven and Empoli, respectively. For a club of Juventus’ stature, such results were deemed intolerable, and with their prospects of securing a top-four finish—and thus Champions League qualification—fading fast, the board opted to relieve Thiago Motta of his duties. The move was not without its complexities, as speculation of unrest within the dressing room had been rife, with reports suggesting a disconnect between the manager and his players had contributed to the team’s alarming dip in form.
Remarkably, Motta’s sacking came despite a record that, on paper, appeared respectable—he had lost just three of 29 Serie A matches during his tenure, with only one defeat prior to this month. However, the fatal flaw in his reign was the staggering tally of 13 league draws, a statistic that effectively dashed any hopes of mounting a serious challenge for the Scudetto and left Juventus languishing in fifth place. Enter Igor Tudor, a familiar face to the Juventus faithful, who has been entrusted with the daunting task of reviving the club’s fortunes as interim head coach. Tudor, a two-time Scudetto winner as a player with Juventus in the early 2000s, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously managed Hellas Verona and Lazio in Serie A with varying degrees of success. His appointment also carries a sense of nostalgia, as he served as an assistant at the Allianz Stadium during Andrea Pirlo’s ill-fated stint in charge, giving him an intimate understanding of the club’s inner workings. Tudor’s contract runs until the end of the current season, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months, a clear indication that the board sees him as a potential long-term solution if he can steady the ship. He inherits a squad that has recorded the fewest league wins at this stage of a campaign since 2011, a damning indictment of the struggles that have plagued Juventus under Motta’s stewardship.
The challenge facing Tudor is immense, but the fixture against Genoa offers a glimmer of hope, given Juventus’ historical dominance over their upcoming opponents. The Bianconeri have not lost a Serie A home game to Genoa in 34 years, a run that stretches back to 1991 and includes 15 wins and five draws—an enviable record that Tudor will be desperate to maintain. Genoa, for their part, have endured more top-flight defeats against Juventus than any other club, with a staggering total of 68 losses, eight more than their next-worst record. The reverse fixture in September at the Stadio Ferraris saw Juventus cruise to a 3-0 victory, a result that underscored the gulf in class between the two sides at the time. However, Genoa have undergone a transformation since then, thanks to the arrival of former Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira as head coach. Taking the reins a few weeks after that September drubbing, Vieira has steered Genoa away from the relegation mire and into the relative safety of mid-table, with a 2-1 victory over Lecce—courtesy of two goals from Juventus loanee Fabio Miretti—serving as their final act before the international break. Now sitting comfortably in 12th place, Genoa have no immediate fears of a relegation scrap, nor do they harbor realistic ambitions of qualifying for Europe, leaving them in a curious limbo as they head to Turin.
Despite their improved form under Vieira, Genoa’s away record remains a significant Achilles’ heel, one that Juventus will look to exploit. The Rossoblu have yet to secure a victory outside of Liguria in 2025, with their last away win coming on December 28 at Empoli’s Stadio Carlo Castellani—a drought that stretches back over three months. Vieira’s quiet revolution has seen Genoa lose just one of their last six matches, a run that speaks to the stability he has brought to the team, but their inability to translate that form on the road could prove costly against a Juventus side desperate to kickstart their revival. For Tudor, the match represents an opportunity to lay down a marker, and he has already made bold decisions to stamp his authority on the squad. Confirming Manuel Locatelli as his captain, Tudor has signaled his intent to build around the midfielder’s leadership, while his positive comments about Dusan Vlahovic suggest the Serbian striker could be in line for a return to prominence after falling out of favor under Motta. Tactically, Tudor faces a choice between a 3-5-2 formation, which would pair Vlahovic with Randal Kolo Muani, or a 3-4-2-1 setup that might see the latter sacrificed after a barren run of eight appearances without a goal following an initial burst of five in his first three games for the club.
Juventus’ preparations are hampered by a lengthy injury list, with key defenders Bremer and Juan Cabal sidelined long-term, alongside striker Arkadiusz Milik, while Andrea Cambiaso and Douglas Luiz remain doubtful after prolonged fitness concerns. Genoa, meanwhile, will be without Mattia Bani, Junior Messias, Honest Ahanor, Mario Balotelli, and Maxwel Cornet due to injuries, and left-back Aaron Martin’s suspension further complicates matters, forcing Vieira to turn to either Johan Vasquez or Alan Matturro—both natural center-backs—to deputize on the flank. The subplot of Fabio Miretti’s return to Turin adds an extra layer of intrigue; the Juventus loanee has thrived at Genoa, scoring three goals and providing three assists in 23 league appearances, outstripping his totals from 58 games with his parent club. For Juventus, though, the focus will be squarely on ending their slide and restoring a sense of pride, with Tudor’s debut offering a chance to turn the page on a turbulent chapter in the club’s storied history.
