Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Atalanta

For the past nine months, this day has basically been predicted to happen. This is the day that Juventus, the team that has reigned supreme over Serie A for the majority of the last decade, lifted another Scudetto in front of the hometown crowd in Turin. Even before a goal was scored, a minute came off the clock or one “DAI DAI DAI” was coming out of Max Allegri’s mouth, there were few people who thought Juventus wouldn’t be in this position come their final home game of the 2018-19 season.

Today is celebration day.

Today is the day where an eighth straight Scudetto, one that everybody and their mother predicted would be Juve’s all the way back in July, August and September, arrives in Turin.

Today is the day where, for the first time as Juventus captain, Giorgio Chiellini is the one leading the celebration. (Which hopefully means he’s good enough to actually celebrate since he’s out injured.)

And, on top of everything else, today is the day where Allegri manages his final game as Juventus’ head coach following Friday’s big announcement and Andrea Barzagli appears in bianconero for the last time before heading off into the sunset and enjoying retirement.

Trophy day, traditionally, is pretty damn fun.

Trophy day, in the past, has resulted in wins for Juventus.

But when it comes to Trophy day, Juve has rarely faced the kind of opposition they will be lining up against an Atalanta team that has quite a lot riding on their final six points that are out for the taking this season.

Knowing that Roma has already dropped points with their scoreless draw against Sassuolo on Saturday, Atalanta can truly take control of Serie A’s fourth and final Champions League spot with a positive result tonight in Turin. Of course, coming off a disappointing loss in the Coppa Italia final against Lazio wasn’t the way Gian Piero Gasperini envisioned this week starting out,

Atalanta will obviously be motivated.

And I’m guessing a little pissed off, too.

What kind of mindset Juventus take into the game, that might be just as much of a mystery as its been over the last couple of weeks knowing that the last couple of days have probably been rather interesting around the training grounds.

So, we say goodbye to Max and La Roccia, the man who wears No. 15 on the back of his jersey.

Yet, at the same time, we get to welcome another trophy into the collection.

Oh, what fun there could be. Unless Atalanta and all of their fun comes in and ruins the party.

MATCH INFO

When: Sunday, April 19, 2019

Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, italy

Official kickoff time: 8:30 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe; 7:30 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time; 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-3-3): Szczesny; Cancelo, Barzagli, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Emre Can, Pjanic, Matuidi; Cuadrado, Dybala, Ronaldo

Juventus bench: Pinsoglio, Del Favero, De Sciglio, Caceres, Chiellini, Rugani, Spinazzola, Bentancur, Nicolussi Caviglia, Bernardeschi, Kean, Mandzukic

Atalanta starting XI (3-4-3): Gollini; Hateboer, Djimsiti, Masiello; Gosens, De Roon, Freuler, Castagne; Gomez; Ilicic, Duvan Zapata

Atalanta bench: TBA

HOW TO WATCH

Television: TLN (Canada); Sky Calcio 3, Sky Supercalcio HD, Sky Sport Serie A (Italy)

Online/mobile: ESPN+ (United States); DAZN (Canada); SKY Go Italia (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.