Juventus will be looking for their sixth Serie A victory in a row when they continue their 2019-20 campaign away to relegation-threatened Genoa on Tuesday night.
The Old Lady are currently top of the table, four points clear of second-placed Lazio, while Genoa occupy 17th position, just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Match preview
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Genoa have not played outside of Serie A since the 2006-07 campaign, but they only just survived relegation last season - finishing in 17th position - and are in another battle to stay in the league this term.
The Red and Blues have only won six of their 28 league matches during the 2019-20 campaign, picking up 26 points to occupy 17th, just one point clear of 18th-placed Lecce on the same number of games.
Davide Nicola's side suffered a 4-1 home defeat to Parma on their return to action on June 23 before drawing 2-2 at Brescia on Saturday as they put what could be an important point on the board.
Genoa's recent form is actually quite strong, having lost just two of their last eight in the league, picking up wins over Cagliari, Bologna and AC Milan in the process.
A clash with the reigning champions and current leaders is not quite what the supporters would have wanted on Tuesday evening, though, during an incredibly important stage of the season.
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Juve lost to Napoli in the Coppa Italia final on June 17, but they have picked up two wins from their two Serie A matches since resuming their campaign earlier this month.
Indeed, a 2-0 victory over Bologna on June 22 was followed by a 4-0 success over Lecce, meaning that Maurizio Sarri's side have been able to consolidate their spot at the top of the division.
Juve have now won their last five in Italy's top flight and sit four points clear of second-placed Lazio, who will take on Torino immediately before this particular match takes place.
Lazio could therefore be within a point of the leaders by the time that this game kicks off, and it is certainly not unimaginable that Sarri's team could drop points on Tuesday night.
Genoa actually ran out 2-0 winners in the corresponding game during the 2018-19 campaign, with Stefano Sturaro and Goran Pandev both scoring in the final 20 minutes.
Genoa Serie A form: WWLWLD
Juventus Serie A form: LWWWWW
Juventus form (all competitions): LWDLWW
Team News
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Genoa will again be without the services of holding midfielder Ivan Radovanovic due to a knee injury, while full-back Domenico Criscito will also miss out due to a tendon issue.
There is expected to be changes from the side that drew with Brescia, with Pandev and Lasse Schone both candidates to be rotated into the XI against the champions.
Iago Falque is likely to keep his spot in the final third, but Antonio Sanabria might come into his manager's thinking for a starting role if he manages to overcome some muscle fatigue.
As for Juve, Mattia De Sciglio, Alex Sandro, Sami Khedira, Giorgio Chiellini and Merih Demiral are all still on the sidelines through injury, but the Old Lady do not have any fresh concerns.
Blaise Matuidi looks set to continue at left-back due to his team's problems in that area of the field, but there could be a change in midfield with Aaron Ramsey potentially replacing Adrien Rabiot.
Miralem Pjanic is believed to have undergone a medical with Barcelona at the weekend ahead of a proposed swap deal with Arthur, but the experienced midfielder should keep his spot in the XI.
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Perin; Zapata, Romero, Soumaoro; Biraschi, Sturaro, Falque, Schone, Barreca; Pandev, Destro
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Bonucci, Matuidi; Bentancur, Pjanic, Ramsey; Bernardeschi, Ronaldo, Dybala
We say: Genoa 0-2 Juventus
Genoa are certainly capable of pulling off a big result against the champions, but we are finding it difficult to back against an away win on Tuesday night. Juve were excellent going forward against Lecce and should have too much for the hosts in this particular contest.
