Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Sassuolo

if there is a game on the schedule for Juventus’ offense to buck the trend of most of its recent games where there aren’t many goals scored, it would be the one where the Italian champions are facing one of the worst defenses in Serie A this season.

And what do you know?

One of those Serie A-worst defenses is next up on the schedule.

Sassuolo arrive in Turin not just sitting 14th in the table and just a few measly points out of the relegation zone as the midway point of the season quickly approaches, but also have one of the worst defensive records in all of Italy’s top flight. And, that’s with a game in hand over some of the other clubs that have already seen their goals allowed number go past 20 this season before the month of November ended.

Seems like a recipe for goals, right?

Let us hope.

Let us hope a lot.

Juventus, for all the winning it has done this season, has done a lot of it by the one-goal variety without much style and substance happening the last six or eight weeks. That might be part of the reason as to why Maurizio Sarri has called this “a very dangerous match” during his pre-match press conference on Saturday afternoon. Or maybe the simple fact that this is the first game after a midweek Champions League game — one that Juve obviously suffered a lot during the 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid — and Sarri’s team has a historical trend of not playing all that well after European fixtures a few day earlier.

But, whatever it may be, this is a game that Juventus should win. And judging by how much Sassuolo has struggled defensively, it could be one where Juve not only racks up a lot of shots, but also one where Juve wins by a couple of goals.

Knowing that Juventus won its last domestic game by a two-goal margin — albeit in comeback fashion against Atalanta — having that happen in back-to-back games would be something we haven’t seen much of this season.

That sure would be nice.

Very, ver nice — especially at lunch time in Italy.

MATCH INFO

When: Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019

Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Official kickoff time: 12:30 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe; 11:30 a.m. in the United Kingdom; 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time; 3:30 a.m. Pacific Time

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Emre Can, Pjanic, Bentancur; Bernardeschi; Higuain, Ronaldo

Juventus bench: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Danilo, Rugani, Demiral, Ramsey, Matuidi, Dybala

Sassuolo starting XI (4-3-3): Turati; Toljan, Marlon, Romagna, Kyriakopoulos; Magnanelli, Traore, Locatelli; Djuricic, Caputo, Boga

HOW TO WATCH

Television: TLN (Canada); Premium Sports 3 (United Kingdom)

Online/mobile: ESPN+ (United States); DAZN (Canada); Premier Player HD (United Kingdom); DAZN (Italy)

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live and all the stupid things we say on Twitter. If you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.