Read a preview and watch a live stream of Chievo vs Juventus…
Where: Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Verona.
When: Saturday August 30, 17:00.
Watch live: Click here to watch on BT Sport online!
Serie A champions Juventus get their campaign underway on Saturday evening, but new Coach Massimiliano Allegri has numerous injury woes to contend with in his first game in charge.
The hosts escaped relegation with some vital wins at the end of last season, but Eugenio Corini’s side are expected to struggle again this year following a disappointing pre-season.
However, they will be the first team given the opportunity to see whether or not there are weaknesses in this new Juve team, with former Coach Antonio Conte having moved on to pastures new.
Allegri undoubtedly has a different coaching style, and it remains to be seen whether or not that ferocious passion his predecessor brought to the team is missed significantly this season as Roma continue to emerge as most people’s favourites for the Scudetto.
The Bianconeri will be hoping to get off to a winning start to boost confidence, but they won’t find it easy given the absence of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Fernando Llorente all expected to miss out.
The club sent the squad on a relatively relaxed tour of Indonesia and Australia while their rivals were involved in fairly competitive tournaments elsewhere around the world, so there may also be early issues for Allegri’s men in terms of tempo and fitness.
Given that they are currently in a transitional period and are missing so many key players, Chievo should see this as an ideal time to face the champions, and hopefully it will result in an entertaining game with both sides going for the three points.
Juve won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season on their way to a record-breaking points total and third consecutive title, however, there are real doubts for the first time since Conte arrived over their ability to sustain that success.
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