Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Hellas Verona

We’ve reached the final game of February, everybody. It may seem like that was the case a couple of weeks ago with the volume of fixtures Juventus has this season, but it’s true — this game, a trip to Verona, is the final game in the shortest month of the calendar year.

Just like earlier in the week, Juventus will have the chance to right their wrongs from earlier in the season when Andrea Pirlo could count the number of games he’s managed on one hand when they face Hellas Verona tonight at the Bentegodi. It is those kinds of performances, ones from earlier in the season where Juventus dropped points against teams they had no business doing so, that are why Pirlo’s squad finds themselves in the situation they’re currently in. Rather than being close to the top of the table, they’re now chasing both Milan clubs.

Less than ideal, right?

Juve can’t afford to drop points much at all the rest of this season. They do that and see either league leaders Inter Milan or even second-place AC Milan win in the same weekend and the talk of Juve’s Scudetto reign officially being over will be kicked into overdrive just like it was a couple of weeks ago when they lost to Napoli. That’s the situation. That’s just where we find this team at these days.

So now, with the situation they find themselves in, every game is a must-win game. There’s really no other option if Pirlo’s squad wants to enter the stretch drive of the season with a chance to make it 10 straight titles. That means games like these, against mid-table opposition, can’t end with points being dropped. That happened to Juve the first time they played Hellas Verona this season and look at where we’re at now.

There’s only one thing to do now, and that’s get three points. You know, the thing Juventus couldn’t do the first time they played Hellas Verona this season.

MATCH INFO

When: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Where: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona, 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 (3-4-1-2/4-4-2): Szczesny; Demiral, de Ligt, Alex Sandro; Chiesa, Bentancur, Rabiot, Bernardeschi; Ramsey; Kulusevski, Ronaldo

Juventus bench: Buffon, Pinsoglio, Di Pardo, Dragusin, Frabotta, Capellini, McKennie, Fagioli, Peeters, Rafia, Marques, Ake

Hellas Verona starting XI (3-4-2-1): Silvestri; Magnani, Gunter, Lovato; Faraoni, Sturaro, Ilic, Dimarco; Barak, Zaccagni; Lasagna

HOW TO WATCH

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

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