Juventus will be hoping to turn their season around as they face Monza this Sunday night, December 22, 2024, at the U-Power Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45 PM GMT, and the match is live on TNT Sports 1. Despite being unbeaten this season, Juventus has drawn ten of their sixteen Serie A matches, leading to frustration among fans and pressure on coach Thiago Motta as they sit just outside the Champions League spots with 28 points.
The Old Lady will be battling it out against Monza, who find themselves at the bottom of the table, currently struggling with just ten points from 16 matches and facing potential relegation fears. Monza has managed only one win this season—a strong 3-0 victory against Verona—but following coach Alessandro Nesta's appointment, they have failed to find their rhythm, losing six of their last eight league matches.
On the injury front, Juventus is dealing with several key absences, including Danilo, who is sidelined due to an ankle sprain, and Timothy Weah, nursing a thigh strain. Others unable to contribute include Douglas Luiz, Arkadiusz Milik, and Gleison Bremer. Nevertheless, there is some good news for the Bianconeri as Nico Gonzalez appears to have returned from injury, though he will be deployed more centrally as the team's trequartista.
Monza's situation is also dire, with star player Daniel Maldini serving a suspension, leaving the squad even thinner. Injuries to prominent players like Milan Djuric and Mattia Valoti have compounded their problems on the pitch. To add to the woes, the team has struggled to score, evidenced by their inability to find the net during their recent 2-1 loss to Lecce where they failed to register any attempts on target.
Despite being strong defensively, Juventus has struggled for goals, leading many fans to question their attacking unit's efficiency. Dusan Vlahovic, the team's leading striker, has found the net seven times this season and scored recently against Cagliari. His performance will be pivotal against Monza, who have not kept any clean sheets at home this term, which is likely to present multiple opportunities for the Serbian forward.
Given the statistics, oddsmakers have set Juventus as clear favorites to win the match against the struggling hosts. Betting enthusiasts might take note of the odds, which suggest Juventus might claim the points, but they must remain guarded about the myriad of draws Juve has accumulated.
Juventus enjoys historical dominance against lesser-ranked teams, and with their strong defensive statistics—many quick counters expected against Monza's shaky back line—they're anticipated to control the match tempo. The club boasts six clean sheets away this season, underlining their solidity when pressing teams high up the pitch.
Betting forecasts also hint at low-scoring affairs considering Monza's attacking woes, making predictions of under 2.5 goals appealing. Monza has managed to score only 14 league goals all season, reflecting their struggles, whereas Juve, though capable, has also had their fair share of low-score outings.
Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances due to injuries and underperformance, Juventus has shown glimpses of their potential with wins against teams like Manchester City and Cagliari recently. This will likely serve as motivation as they face Monza, who are facing increasingly desperate times. If Juve cannot secure all three points against Monza, mounting pressure could lead to questions about Motta's future.
The match presents Monza with their last opportunity to avoid ending the year on the bottom of the table, emphasizing the need for both teams to secure points for very different reasons—Juventus for steadying their season and Monza to begin climbing out of the relegation zone.
