23 August 2018
Juventus will face Lazio on Saturday at 18:00 CEST, at the Allianz Stadium. Two seasons ago we also met the Biancocelesti at the same point in the Serie A calendar, only last time we played away first before welcoming Lazio to Turin in January.
GOING INTO THE GAME
Juventus led the table going into January, seven points clear at the top. However, the team fell to Fiorentina in Florence in the previous game, falling 2-1. It was at that point that the coach, Massimiliano Allegri decided to do something different...
SWITCH IN FORMATION
Massimiliano Allegri opts to field an 11 set-up in an innovative 4-2-3-1 formation. It's the first time that Juventus have lined up like this and they take to the field with this starting XI: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Asamoah; Pjanic, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain.
The formation is known as "5-star", due to the simultaneous presence of the most technical and offensive players in the team.
THE MATCH
Juve go on the front foot from the off and show a great application for the whole 90 minutes. The Bianconeri opening the scoring after just five minutes with a stunning half-volley from Paulo Dybala. La Joya combines well with Mario Mandzukic to fire Juve in front from outside the area, following the Croatian's knock down. In the 16th minute Juan Cuadrado puts a tantalising cross into the area that is followed-up by Gonzalo Higuain to double La Vecchia Signora's lead.
In the second half Juventus continue to dominate but don't add to their lead, with Dybala in particular tormenting the Lazio defence. Juve look very at home in the new formation that would go on to be Allegri's default set-up for the rest of the campaign.
