Serie A Preview: Como vs Juventus – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia sets the stage for Como’s first home game against Juventus in Serie A since February 2003. The first top-flight meeting between the sides in over two decades in August didn’t end well for Cesc Fabregas’ team.

Goals from Samuel Mbangula, Tim Weah, and Andrea Cambiaso propelled Juventus to a clear-cut 3-0 win in Turin. Perhaps the impending home return could help Como turn their fortunes around. Not playing on the road is undoubtedly a boost for the hosts.

Indeed, a 2-0 defeat at Bologna last weekend marked Como’s seventh away league loss this season, with only Hellas Verona suffering more. Moreover, it was the first time since late December that Fabregas’ charges had failed to find the back of the net in Serie A.

By contrast, Juventus pulled off a scintillating comeback to dismantle bottom-half Empoli 4-1 at home last weekend. Winter addition Randal Kolo Muani bagged a brace on his home debut for the Bianconeri to initiate the turnaround before Dusan Vlahovic and Francisco Conceicao sealed the Azzurri’s fate.

However, there’s no time for celebration as Juventus commence this round two points adrift of fourth-placed Fiorentina after blowing hot and cold across their last four league outings (W2, D1, L1). With a Champions League playoff tie against PSV Eindhoven waiting around the corner, Thiago Motta would probably appreciate a positive result in Lombardy.

Match Preview

Como

Como’s quest to stave off an immediate relegation to Serie A has taken a series of hits since the calendar year flipped to 2025. Febragas’ side started brightly, holding top-four hopefuls Lazio to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, they have since lost three of their four league matches, except for a 4-1 demolition of Udinese on this ground a fortnight ago. As a result, they head into proceedings boasting a slender two-point lead on 18th-placed Parma.

With the atmosphere rising as the season approaches the crunch phase, Como must not succumb to pressure, especially at home, where they’ve fared impressively. They’ve emerged victorious from three of their last five league games at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia (L2).

Multi-goal margin victories against top-half Roma and Udinese inspire further confidence as Como seek their first league triumph in this fixture since 1951/52. That’s one of their three wins from 28 encounters against Juventus (D11, L14), highlighting the size of the task awaiting them.

Juventus

Another win after the abovementioned rout of Empoli would temporarily lift Juventus into Serie A’s top four. More importantly, it would be the ultimate confidence booster ahead of their Champions League showdown against PSV, whom they already defeated 3-1 this season.

Winning in succession has eluded Juventus, though. Their last set of back-to-back league victories dates back to early November. That lack of consistency has been an issue for Motta’s team, even though they have only lost once in Serie A this season.

But that defeat came on their last league road trip as they squandered a halftime lead in a dismal 2-1 loss at Napoli. Without a win in four consecutive away matches (D3, L1), Juventus take this trip to defy their notorious reputation as ‘stalemate specialists.’

Seven draws from their last nine away matches in all competitions have cemented that status (W1, L1), causing plenty of frustration among the Bianconeri faithful. Moreover, Juventus’ defense has capitulated in five Serie A away games in a row for the first time since May 2022.

Team News

Severely hit by injuries, Como can’t count on Alberto Moreno, Sergi Roberto, Alessandro Gabrielloni, Marc-Oliver Kempf, and Ignace Van der Brempt. Winter signings Dele Alli and Mergim Vojvoda are also unavailable, while Alieu Fadera must serve a one-game suspension.

On the other hand, Juventus will enter this clash without long-term absentees Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Arkadiusz Milik. Milan loanee Pierre Kalulu has recently joined this list, meaning new boy Lloyd Kelly could be in for his Serie A debut after arriving from Newcastle United.

Como vs Juventus Potential Starting Line-ups

Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Engelhardt, Goldaniga, Dossena, Valle; Perrone, Caqueret; Strefezza, Paz, Diao; Cutrone.

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Veiga, McKennie; Locatelli, Thuram; Gonzalez, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Kolo Muani.

Como vs Juventus Prediction

Juventus must rediscover their defensive resilience to increase their chances of taking three points after scoring one goal or fewer on eight of their last nine competitive travels. Patience could be the key, given that only Parma (15) have conceded more second-half goals in Serie A this season than Como’s 14.

Needless to say, we back the visitors for the win.