Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Crotone

For the first time we have a Juventus game to watch. We know this because Juventus, the away team, is actually going to show up. There is going to be no controversy, no bickering and relying on Serie A’s higher-ups to make a decision. It will be a game day just like any other one even though these are times that aren’t like anything normal.

But a game is a game.

And we should be happy about that.

Juventus has made the trip over to Crotone for tonight’s return to action after a three-week layoff from club competition. While Andrea Pirlo’s side is without some of its biggest names due to either injury or COVID-19 isolation, Juve’s first-year manager is still expected to field a rather strong team as they begin a three-week stretch that is pretty damn important for a handful of reasons. There may be no Cristiano Ronaldo due to his positive coronavirus diagnosis, but there will be Dejan Kulusevski and, if the Italian press’ predictions are right, a debut for recent signee Federico Chiesa tonight at the Stadio Ezio Scida.

We want Juventus to win, obviously.

But we also want them to show more of the side that beat Sampdoria with plenty of room to spare rather than the one that had to scratch and claw while down a man to snatch a point from Roma the last time they actually played a game.

Plenty has happened since the last time Juventus actually played a game. Ninety-nine percent of it didn’t even happen on the field. Whether it’s the controversy that came with the Napoli fixture that never happened and has since turned into a 3-0 forfeit win for Juventus or the club’s struggle to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst staff and players — most notably on the Under-23 squad — over the past week.

But, even with everything going on, there is still a game to play. And then there is a Champions League game to play a few days from now. It’s going to get busy again — and it starts tonight against Crotone. Good times are hopefully ahead.

MATCH INFO

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020

Where: Stadio Ezio Scida, Crotone, Italy

Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe; 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time; 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (3-4-3/3-4-2-1): Buffon; Danilo, Bonucci, Demiral; Portanova, Bentancur, Arthur, Frabotta; Chiesa, Morata, Kulusevski

Juventus bench: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Chiellini, Cuadrado, Rabiot, Bernardeschi, Peeters, Dybala, Vrioni, Rafia

Crotone starting XI (3-4-3): Cordaz; Magallan, Marrone, Luperto; Molina, Messias, Cigarini, Vulic, Reca; Pedro Pereira, Simy

HOW TO WATCH

Television: RAI Italia North America (United States); RAI Italia North America, TLN (Canada); Premier Sports 1, Premier Sports 2 (United Kingdom)

Online/mobile: ESPN+ (United States); DAZN (Canada); Premier Player HD (United Kingdom); DAZN, DAZN1 (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.