Juventus' Coppa Italia Campaign Kicks Off Against Cagliari
A lot has happened at Juventus between May 15 and the present day. The roster that faced Atalanta in last season’s Coppa Italia final in Rome has been drastically turned over, and of course, the man who is now managing said squad is different from the one who lifted the trophy following an eventful night in the Italian capital. All of that is to say that the Coppa Italia is very much back — and a little earlier than it has been in previous years. Thanks in large part to the Champions League’s new league phase having more games compared to the previous group stage, Juventus will now jump into the Coppa Italia fray a month earlier than we have become accustomed to. With it comes Juve facing a team that they have already faced this season — although that result is very much not one to really boast about despite the lack of success that Cagliari have had in the first half of the 2024-25 campaign.
Although, there is a catch to all of this: Cagliari just so happens to be one of the 10 teams that Juventus have drawn against already this season. So, as much as these round of 16 ties have a history of being matchups that overwhelmingly favor Juventus, we have evidence to the contrary that Thiago Motta’s squad have already struggled to put Cagliari away this season. So that basically means one of the extremely obvious themes of Tuesday night’s matchup in Turin is this: Will Juventus be able to actually beat a team that they have already drawn against once this season?
It’s the first time that we find Juve in this kind of spot this season with the Coppa Italia arriving a little earlier than is customary on the schedule. And with Juventus having so many draws, it’s something that we’ll probably be saying once the midway point of the Serie A season comes and goes and the second half of the calendar begins. It’s pretty hard to peg where Motta’s squad is at after their most recent results. Over the past week, we’ve seen Juventus battle back for a draw against Motta’s former side Bologna, they’ve gotten a big win in the Champions League over Manchester City — albeit a City squad that are in the midst of the worst-ever stretch of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career — and then rallying late for a draw against last-place Venezia. It’s a total mixed bag and feels like a microcosm of how things are going for Motta and Juventus this season. But they will need to see that change if they want to prevent their run in the Coppa Italia ending right as it’s getting underway. (Plus, it just feels weird having this line of thinking against a side like Cagliari that is currently sitting in the Serie A relegation zone and has won just once since Oct. 25.)
Juventus' Injury Crisis and Tactical Adjustments
If Juventus are to get past Cagliari, they will face Empoli in the quarterfinals after the Tuscan side upset Fiorentina on penalties two weeks ago in Florence. With a few players back from injury but likely unable to play anything close to a full 90 minutes, this is the balancing act that Juventus’ manager must try and play. There are players that desperately need a rest, but with the current injury list being what it is and those who are just back from injury not having many minutes in their legs, it’s a weird middle ground to be in. Juve manager Thiago Motta did not hold a pre-match press conference on Monday, so we’re not totally sure where his mind is at in terms of squad rotation. We know how much he would love to rotate his squad on a regular basis — just look at what he did at Bologna last year and in the early parts of this season before the injury crunch arrived as evidence to that — but that just hasn’t been possible over the last month because so many players are out.
On top of the three long-term absentees, Motta is expected to be without Andrea Cambiaso, Jonas Rouhi and Douglas Luiz, according to a report from Romeo Agresti on Monday. That means there’s no depth in defense and no one less body in the midfield. (Although, as Agresti said, Douglas Luiz’s absence seems more planned than something that has come up following the Venezia draw.) So, unfortunately, the starting lineup is probably going to look a lot like it has over the last couple of weeks. That is just the byproduct of so many injuries and so many fixtures in such a short amount of time. Not just the fact that it was a draw. But also the simple fact of not putting one of the worst teams in Serie A away when you have the chance and then see them come back and tie things up. It’s the same kind of situation that we’re seeing from this team more and more against the provincial sides in Serie A. And we have the latest example from just a couple of days ago against Venezia when Juventus couldn’t get a second goal, then saw the visitors take a 2-1 lead only for Dusan Vlahovic to score the game-tying penalty kick right before the final whistle.
McKennie's Versatility: A Key Factor
At this point, it feels like Juve have drawn against teams in every way you possibly can. That’s just what happens when you have 10 draws through your first 16 league games. So now, as Juve face a side they are expected to beat and advance to the Coppa Italia quarterfinals, the fact that they’ve already drawn once against Cagliari is very much fresh in the mind of a lot of people. That’s especially true considering all the draws that have happened over the course of the last two months, too. For yet another game, Juventus are expected to have just four defenders available — Federico Gatti, Pierre Kalulu, Danilo and Nicolo Savona. While we didn’t get any sort of squad update from Motta on Monday, we can pretty much guess that those who were out against Venezia will be out against Cagliari, with Cambiaso and Rouhi being the two short-term absentees. This will be the same quartet that started against Manchester City. It’s the same quartet that started against Venezia. So, put that all together and this group will likely be asked to play another 90 minutes — and a grand total of over 270 when it’s all said and done — in less than a week. It’s fair to say that Juventus’ defense had much more to do against City as compared to Venezia. But it’s also true that Juve’s defense allowed one of the lowest-scoring teams in Serie A to get back into the game and take the lead shortly thereafter. So now, on a very quick turnaround of just 72 hours after the draw with Venezia, we are about to find out just how much fatigue is in those legs.
In a perfect world, Motta would be able to recover and somebody like Kalulu or Gatti (or — gasp! — even both) could get the night off. But because Juventus’ injury situation is what it is and both of the season-ending knee injuries are to Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal, Juve’s sudden lack of depth at the back is resulting in some players logging bigger amounts of minutes than their manager would certainly like. Weston McKennie continues to demonstrate why he is one of the most valuable and reliable players at Juventus. The American midfielder has consistently stepped up for the team, and this evening’s Coppa Italia match against Cagliari could see him deployed in yet another role. Juventus, despite their stature as one of Italy’s top clubs, have struggled to perform at their best this season. Their form in Serie A has been inconsistent, marked by an excessive number of draws, including matches against opponents they were widely expected to defeat. This pattern of underwhelming results has understandably created frustration among fans. However, the Coppa Italia presents a clean slate. The game against Cagliari offers Juventus a chance to move past their recent disappointments and take a step toward silverware. While Cagliari is not as formidable an opponent as some of Juventus’ Serie A rivals, the team’s recent inconsistency means fans will not feel entirely confident about an easy win this evening.
Cagliari's Challenge and Potential for Upset
Further complicating matters is Juventus’ ongoing injury crisis. The squad is currently without any natural left-backs, leaving Thiago Motta with limited options for his defensive lineup. According to a report from Tuttomercatoweb, Motta is likely to turn to McKennie to fill the void. The Juventus manager has shown great trust in McKennie’s adaptability, believing the American can thrive in various positions when needed. Although primarily a midfielder, McKennie has repeatedly demonstrated his versatility since joining the club. Over the course of his Juventus career, he has played in several roles across the pitch, often exceeding expectations and delivering solid performances. Whether tasked with contributing in central midfield, as a wide player, or in more defensive duties, McKennie’s work rate, tactical intelligence, and resilience have made him indispensable. If McKennie does indeed feature as a makeshift left-back tonight, it will be yet another testament to his ability to rise to any challenge. His versatility allows Motta to address pressing tactical issues without compromising the team’s overall structure. Juventus fans can take comfort in knowing that McKennie’s professionalism and adaptability make him well-suited for this temporary role. While Juventus faces challenges, the team remains determined to secure victory against Cagliari. With players like McKennie willing to step outside their comfort zones for the greater good of the team, Juventus has every reason to believe they can overcome adversity and advance in the Coppa Italia.
Cagliari's Recent Form and Tactical Approach
Cagliari were only narrowly beaten 1-0 by both Fiorentina and Atalanta in recent weeks, but have dropped into the bottom three. They eliminated Carrarese and Cremonese in the Coppa Italia to reach this stage, and can be buoyed by their 1-1 draw at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in October. Zito Luvumbo is out with a sprained ankle, while Adam Obert also did not make the trip. There is a rare start for veteran Gianluca Lapadula, supported by Gianluca Gaetano and Razvan Marin. Juventus: Di Gregorio; Savona, Locatelli, Kalulu, McKennie; Koopmeiners, Thuram; Conceicao, Yildiz, Mbangula; Vlahovic Cagliari: Scuffet; Zappa, Palomino, Wieteska; Zortea, Marin, Prati, Deiola, Augello; Gaetano; Lapadula Juventus’ Coppa Italia run begins against one of the many clubs in which they have a draw against in Serie A. Taking a break from their dismal Serie A campaign, Juventus begin their defence of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday evening, when they welcome Cagliari to Turin. While a faltering Juve side enter the cup at this stage due to European commitments, their Sardinian counterparts have already negotiated two rounds to reach the last 16. Continuing an extraordinary trend for stalemates throughout 2024, Juventus have drawn all of their last four league matches following Saturday's slip-up against rock-bottom Venezia. Having previously shared points with AC Milan, Lecce and Bologna, the Bianconeri were held to a 2-2 draw by Serie A's last-placed side at the weekend, when only a late leveller from Dusan Vlahovic spared their blushes. Booed off by a significant section of fans at the final whistle, Juve have posted their worst start on home soil since 1988, winning just three of nine top-flight fixtures at the Allianz Stadium this season. Although they are still unbeaten in domestic competition after 16 rounds, Thiago Motta's men have won only six times, leaving them nine points adrift of league leaders Atalanta BC. Things are proceeding more smoothly in the Champions League, though, as Juventus beat Manchester City 2-0 last week, securing a win that took them up to 14th in the league-phase table - they trail the top eight by just two points with two games to play. With perhaps their best chance of collecting some silverware surely resting on the cup, Juve now return to Coppa Italia action for the first time since edging out Atalanta in last season's final. La Dea then went on to win the Europa League a few days later and have since surged to the top of this term's Serie A standings with a superb run of 10 straight wins - the most recent coming at Cagliari's expense.
A Crucial Match for Juventus’ Morale
Juventus faces Cagliari in the Coppa Italia this evening, and the Bianconeri are determined to underline their seriousness in the competition by securing a victory. This match marks their first appearance in this season’s tournament, and it presents a valuable opportunity for Juventus to start strong and set the tone for their Coppa Italia campaign. Despite their stature as one of Italy’s top clubs, Juventus have endured an inconsistent season, which has left fans frustrated and uncertain. Cagliari will enter this fixture with some optimism, especially after watching Juventus struggle against Venezia over the weekend. That match, which ended in a disappointing draw, highlighted Juve’s unpredictable form and failure to capitalise on opportunities. The inconsistency becomes even more striking when considering Juve’s recent triumph over Manchester City. The win showcased the team’s potential to compete at a high level, yet their inability to sustain such performances has left doubts about their chances in Serie A. Winning the league now seems like a distant possibility, which makes the Coppa Italia even more significant for the Bianconeri. Former Juventus star Moreno Torricelli has weighed in on the importance of this match, emphasising that beating Cagliari is critical for the club’s morale and to regain momentum. Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, he remarked: “In Turin, everyone expects Juventus to win and advance to the next round. Every competition is important, because winning it would enrich the trophy cabinet and calm, at least temporarily, the discontent of the fans. I am convinced that Vlahovic and his teammates will approach the match with great attention.” Torricelli’s words reflect the expectations surrounding Juventus. Winning tonight’s match is not just about advancing in the competition but also about restoring confidence in the team. A victory would inject much-needed positivity into the club and reassure fans of the team’s commitment to achieving success. On the other hand, failing to progress after just one game would be disastrous. An early exit would not only deepen the sense of discontent among supporters but also raise further questions about the team’s direction under its current leadership. With so much at stake, Juventus must deliver a focused and determined performance against Cagliari, demonstrating their intent to compete for silverware this season. This article first appeared on Juvefc.com and was syndicated with permission.
