Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Brescia

There is a 38-point difference between Juventus and Brescia in the Serie A standings. One club is battling for a ninth consecutive Scudetto, the other is in the battle to not get relegated and sent back to Serie B come the end of the current season. They’re two very different situations with two very different club objectives before, during and after the season every year.

But when Juve and Brescia step onto the field this afternoon, it’s not exactly like one is entering in some kind of wonderful form while the other is struggling to do much of anything right.

In two of Juventus’ last three Serie A matches, Maurizio Sarri’s squad has looked a total mess. That has been quite a common theme, but until the last couple of weeks it hasn’t totally resulted in a whole lot of dropped points. That’s all changed now, and the Scudetto race is as wide open as its been all season long. So as Brescia comes to town and most of the Serie A landscape looks toward the game that will be the final game of the day, the current Italian champions are going to try — again — to get back on the right foot following the crap performances against Napoli, Hellas Verona and most recently AC Milan over the past three weeks.

Even on this kind of form, one that is nothing close to impressive or even kinda-sorta good, Juventus will enter this game as massive favorites. Regardless of the three-team Scudetto race that is developing in Serie A this season, this is a must-win game for Sarri’s squad. Anything other than a win against a Brescia side that is sitting in 19th place and those calling for a major shakeup as winter comes to a close will only grow louder and louder.

Maybe facing a relegation battler is the chance to get right.

If anything, we do know by now that Juventus need to get right in a major way.

So, with this game being in Turin and the sun shining at Allianz Stadium, a get right game against one of Serie A’s worst teams does sound like a nice little Sunday to take place. Maybe that will happen. It sure would be nice if that happens. But, as we know, this Juventus team sometimes has other ideas as compared to what our hopes are for them.

MATCH INFO

When: Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020

Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Official kickoff time: 3 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe; 2 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 9 a.m. Eastern Time; 6 a.m. Pacific Time

STARTING LINEUP

Juventus starting XI (4-3-3): Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Ramsey, Bentancur, Rabiot; Dybala, Higuain, Cuadrado

Juventus bench: Buffon, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Chiellini, de Ligt, Wesley, Pjanic, Matuidi, Olivieri

Brescia starting XI (4-4-2): Alfonso; Sabelli, Mateju, Chancellor, Martella; Bisoli, Dessena, Bjarnason; Zmrhal; Aye, Balotelli

HOW TO WATCH

Television: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, RAI Italia North America (United States); RAI Italia North America, TLN (Canada); Premier Sports 1 (United Kingdom); Sky Calcio 2, Sky Sport Serie A, Sky Supercalcio HD (Italy)

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