It’s the thought you have every time Juventus returns to domestic competition following a big, emotional and physically draining Champions League win like we saw a few days back in Leipzig. “Will there be the dreaded Champions League hangover?” It’s something that creeps into everybody’s mind no matter how much you try to avoid it. It’s natural, and there’s nothing you can do about it. We’ve seen it too many times after a big European night — Juve return to Serie A competition and ... yeah, it’s not all that great.
That is what Thiago Motta is going to be trying to avoid when Juventus faces Cagliari in Sunday’s lunchtime kickoff at the Allianz Stadium. The emotional roller coaster that Motta’s squad went through Wednesday is one that we hadn’t seen in a good bit of time, and now the onus is to try and avoid that dreaded Champions League hangover as much as possible and to go into the October international break with as many potential good vibes as possible.
Juve’s comeback win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday night has certainly generated a lot of excitement surrounding the squad. That is even with the damper that comes with likely losing Bremer for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury. And now with the domestic scoring streak over and done with thanks to last weekend’s win over Genoa, Juve now have the chance to go into the break with a whole lot of wind in their sails.
And Motta knows it.
“Enthusiasm must be used to do our job well and better,” he said during his pre-match press conference Saturday. “We want to maintain it but it depends only on us. The more enthusiasm there is, the better.”
No matter who you’re facing after a big Champions League win, ramping things back up is always going to be a big part of how successful you’re going to be in the game after the big game. Considering the fact that they’re facing a Cagliari team that just claimed their first win of the season a few days ago and entered the weekend sitting just outside the relegation zone. Yeah, sure, it’s early in the season, but for a team that just barely escaped relegation only to be right back there after all of six games in the new campaign, it’s not exactly an encouraging sign no matter if Claudio Ranieri is there or not. (He’s obviously not these days and I hope he’s enjoying retirement and lots of good wine.)
But with that comes the expectation that Cagliari, a team that currently sits 16th in the Serie A table, is probably going to do its best to sit back and try and have Juventus break them down with numbers behind the ball. We know that, prior to last weekend’s win over Genoa, an opposing team doing that has given Juventus some issues. We saw it against an Empoli team that is now starting to cool off after their hot start. We saw it against better competition like Napoli and Roma, too. So as much as Juve getting things right in the second half against Genoa was encouraging, it’s about actually being in a position to do what they did coming out of halftime at the Marassi on a more consistent basis.
And maybe even in the first half, too.
We know it was (for the most part) a happy Wednesday in Germany for Juventus. But now to avoid Hangover Sunday and head into the break within touching distance of that maniacal man in Naples who has his time atop the Serie A table, there’s still business to do.
We saw a whole lot of things Wednesday night in Leipzig. Both good and bad. One of the most impressive ones that has flown under the radar a little bit considering everything else that took place? (And it was a lot!) Let’s just say it was the performance from this young man below, who suddenly finds himself righting the ship after a bit of a struggle to start the season and life under Thiago Motta.
Nicolo Fagioli’s performance against RB Leipzig was very much one that is easily his best of the season. It may have in fact be up there with the best of his young career, one that is hopefully getting back on track now that he’s starting to truly shake the rust off after being suspended for so much of last season.
Case in point: Fagioli completed all but one of the 63 passes he attempted against Leipzig. That one pass. he didn’t complete? It was be he purposely kicked out of bounds because an opposing player was down. And let’s not act like they were just simple pass attempts, either — just go look at what he did on the pass to Teun Koopmeiners right before the phantom foul call along the sideline right before all hell broke loose in the second half.
For somebody who just a few short weeks ago looked like he was struggling to settle into Juventus’ starting lineup despite Motta giving him a healthy number of chances, the tide certainly has turned for Fagioli. And much like the team on the whole that has improved performances of late, it’s now about keeping the positive momentum going.
(Now watch Thiago Motta rest Fagioli in favor of Locatelli and all of this being a moot point.)
Juventus vs. Cagliari Preview: What to Watch For
The Bianconeri have not conceded a single Serie A goal this season, but ended their run of three straight 0-0 draws by crushing Genoa 3-0. Above all, midweek they fought back from 2-1 down with 10 men to win 3-2 away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
Bremer sustained a serious injury in that match and is out for six months, while Nico Gonzalez, Arkadiusz Milik and Tim Weah are also on the treatment table. Options are therefore limited for Thiago Motta, who revamps the defence with Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti, while Francisco Conceicao starts after his winner in Leipzig. Notably, Khephren Thuram and youth product Samuel Mbangula get starts rather than Douglas Luiz or Kenan Yildiz.
Cagliari earned their first victory of the campaign by beating Parma 3-2, but have a lot of players still out of action. They include Leonardo Pavoletti, Gianluca Lapadula, Jakub Jankto and Mateusz Wieteska. Curiously, Tommaso Augello seems to be placed in a more advanced role, while Zito Luvumbo is benched.
Cagliari: Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Obert; Makoumbou, Adopo; Zortea, Viola, Augello; Piccoli
Juventus’ Defense: A Test of Resilience
Juventus' defensive strength has been a key factor in their impressive start to the season. However, the absence of Bremer will test the Bianconeri’s defensive resilience. With Bremer out for a significant period, Juventus will need to rely on the depth of their squad to maintain their impressive defensive record. The Bianconeri's ability to adapt and maintain their clean sheet streak against Cagliari will be a crucial aspect to watch in this match.
Cagliari's Offensive Threat: Finding the Breakthrough
While Cagliari have struggled offensively this season, they will be looking to exploit any weaknesses in Juventus' defense. The visitors will need to find a way to break down Juventus' well-organized backline, which has been remarkably resilient in the first few matches. If Cagliari can find a way to score against Juventus, it would be a major upset and a significant sign of their improving form.
Can Vlahovic Continue his Goalscoring Form?
Dusan Vlahovic has been in excellent form for Juventus this season, and he will be a key player to watch in this match. The Serbian striker has a good record against Cagliari, and Juventus will be looking to him to lead the line and deliver a decisive performance. His ability to break through Cagliari's defense and find the back of the net will be crucial in determining the outcome of this match.
A Must-Win for Juventus?
Juventus will be looking to continue their strong start to the season and maintain their place at the top of the table. While Cagliari are struggling, Juventus cannot afford to underestimate their opponents. A win against Cagliari will be crucial for Juventus to maintain their momentum and keep their title aspirations alive.
A Battle of Styles: Juventus vs. Cagliari
Juventus' fluid, attacking style of play will be met with Cagliari's more defensive approach. The Bianconeri’s ability to control possession and create scoring opportunities against a well-organized Cagliari defense will be a crucial factor in determining the outcome. The clash of styles between these two teams promises to be an interesting tactical battle, and one that will be worth watching.
Cagliari’s Coach’s Perspective
Although Cagliari faces a tough challenge against Juventus, coach Davide Nicola remains optimistic. He recognizes the difficulty of the matchup but emphasizes that Cagliari will do their best to implement their game plan and exploit any weaknesses in the Juventus lineup. He said, as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb: “Juve? I would be very happy to come out with a positive result. The opponent is very strong, but we do not give up. We will try to give our all and play our game.”
Looking Ahead: A Clash of Titans?
Juventus' strong start to the season has put them in a prime position to challenge for the Serie A title. However, with the upcoming international break, they will need to maintain their momentum and focus when they return. The clash between Juventus and Cagliari could be a preview of things to come, as both teams will be looking to make a statement in the early stages of the season. This matchup is sure to be an exciting and competitive encounter, and one that fans will not want to miss.
