30 August 2022
The arrival of Spezia at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday August 30 is the first midweek appointment of the new season.
With the return of the Champions League around the corner, tomorrow's encounter is the first of three fixture-filled weeks in succession, but the only one on the domestic front, which is already shaping up to be an intense, close-fought contest.
With every team having dropped points in the opening three Serie A matchdays, not only do six teams share top spot, but only three points separate first place from 13th - and the only way for Juventus to take an important step in the right direction is to put three more points on the board with a second win of the campaign.
If the past is anything to go by, the team from Liguria are the most welcome opponents as the Bianconeri aim to return to winning ways. In Serie A Juventus have yet to concede a point to the club enjoying their third season in the top flight after their historic promotion in 2020. In fact, Spezia could become the fifth opponent Juve manage to win all the first five Serie A matches against, after Chievo, Pescara, Sampierdarenese and Siena.
Watch below for a reminder of how last season's match at the Allianz Stadium unfolded.
Inside Allianz Stadium | Juventus - Spezia
After the his fastest goal in Serie A, and the fastest ever from a direct free-kick in the competition, against Roma, Dušan Vlahović took his tally to three for the campaign. And the eager goal grabber wants to keep the momentum going.
Of the teams he has faced more than three times in Serie A, Spezia are those which the Juventus striker has the best minutes/goal ratio against, netting on average once every 84 minutes.
Also looking for a slice of the goal action is new arrival Arkadiusz Milik. After his immediate involvement against the Giallorossi on Saturday only hours after his transfer had received the green light, the Poland international finally had time for an official presentation at the Bianconeri.
Juventus were not the only club to strengthen their squad from the vast reserves of talent that has emerged from Poland in recent years. So did Spezia, with the signing of Bartłomiej Drągowski. Ever-present so far, the experienced goalkeeper has already been influential in his team's positive start to the campaign.
For more details on Spezia click here to read the Opposition Focus on the side from Liguria.
Massimiliano Allegri confirmed in the pre-match press conference that although Ángel Di María has been called up the chances of seeing the Argentine play from kick off are slim. It is an option that the coach is weighing up, however, with regards to Arek Milik.
What if any changes will be made to the starting XI will be revealed tomorrow for the 20:45 kick-off, but what counts is victory.
We've let four points fall by the wayside, now we need to think about getting them back, starting off against Spezia. Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus Coach
