Serie A 2022/23 Season Preview and Predictions: Juventus

Ahead of the start of the Serie A 2022/23 season, we preview Juventus after yet another disappointing campaign last term and go through their pre-season form, transfers in and out, predicted line-up, one to watch and their season target. So, let’s take a look at Juventus’ 2022/23 season preview and predictions.

A Look Back at the 2021/22 Season 

Massimiliano Allegri made his return to Turin last season following his departure in 2019. Allegri had led Juve to five consecutive Serie A titles in five years from 2014 to 2019 but he was unable to deliver success from the off last term as his side finished in fourth. Andrea Pirlo was only able to guide the Bianconeri to a fourth place finish the season prior and Allegri was unable to improve upon this last season. In fact, Juve recorded their highest number of defeats (eight) since the 2010/11 season when they lost ten matches under Luigi Delneri and finished in seventh position.

Dusan Vlahovic made his move in January earlier this year to join Allegri from Fiorentina. The Serbian was unable to recapture the same form as he did with the Viola, scoring seven goals in 15 Serie A matches for Juve. Albeit not a disappointing record, it was not as impressive as it was in the first half of the season where he scored 17 goals in 21 league appearances for Fiorentina. The Bianconeri will be hoping he can kick on this season and help lead Juve to a Scudetto.

Pre-season form: 

Atletico Madrid (N) L 4-0

Real Madrid (N) L 2-0

Barcelona (N) D 2-2 (Goals; Kean x2)

Guadalajara (N) W 2-0 (Goals; Da Graca, Compagnon)

Transfers In: 

Paul Pogba (mid) Manchester United; Angel Di Maria (att mid) PSG; Gleison Bremer (centre-back) Torino; Andrea Cambiaso (left-back) Genoa; Federico Chiesa (winger) Fiorentina; Federico Gatti (center-back) Frosinone; Nicoló Rovella (mid) Genoa – end of loan; Marko Pjaca (winger) Torino – end of loan; Nicolò Fagioli (mid) Cremonese – end of loan; Hamzi Rafia (att mid) Cremonese – end of loan; Felix Correira (winger) Parma – end of loan; Kenan Yildiz (att mid) Bayern Munich; Ivano Srdoc HNK Rijeka (forward).

Transfers Out: 

Matthijs De Ligt (centre-back) Bayern Munich; Paulo Dybala (forward) Roma – free transfer; Giorgio Chiellini (centre-back) Los Angeles FC – free transfer; Alvaro Morata (forward) Atletico Madrid – end of loan; Federico Bernardeschi (winger) Toronto FC – free transfer; Aaron Ramsey (mid) Nice – free transfer; Merih Demiral (center-back) Atalanta; Rolando Mandragora (mid) Fiorentina; Andrea Cambiaso (left-back) Bologna – on loan; Grigoris Kastanos (mid) Salernitana; Filippo Ranocchia (mid) Mona – on loan; Douglas Costa (winger) LA Galaxy – free transfer; Giacomo Vrioni (forward) New England Revolution; Luca Zanimacchia (winger) Cremonese – on loan; Gianluca Frabotta (left-back) Lecce – on loan; Radu Dragusin (center-back) Genoa – on loan; Franco Israel (gk) Sporting CP; Koni De Winter (center-back) Empoli – on loan.

Summary of Transfers

Juventus have undergone a host of changes this summer including the departure of club legend and icon Giorgio Chiellini after 17 seasons in Turin. His leadership and presence will be missed. Matthijs De Ligt has also left the club to join Bayern Munich after he was originally touted to become the successor to Chiellini but his three years in Turin have failed to live up to expectations as he joins a side ready to compete for European glory.

Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer has joined the Old Lady from Torino, with Juve acting swiftly to replace De Ligt, despite Bremer being destined to sign for Inter. The Bianconeri’s financial advantage was key and they were able to topple the Nerazzurri’s offer. Juve are perhaps still a little limited at the back and so do not be too surprised if they make additional signings as the summer progresses.

Paulo Dybala has also left the club after his contract expired this summer and has joined Serie A rivals Roma. The Juve faithful were saddened by the Argentine’s departure and were hoping he was going to remain in Turin. However, his departure will make way for the arrival of fellow Argentine Angel Di Maria who has joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. The signing of Di Maria adds experience, quality and a winning mentality – qualities Allegri is searching for as he aims for a return to the top.

Paul Pogba finalized his headline return to Juventus last month but the Frenchman will miss the start of the season due to a knee injury. However, he will forgo surgery in order to play for the Bianconeri this season. He will be searching for a return to form after a disappointing time last season at Manchester United and he will hope to become one of the top global stars once more. Nicoló Fagioli has returned to the club after a successful loan spell at Cremonese last term that helped guide them to promotion to Serie A. The midfielder could be in line to start against Sassuolo next week after convincing Allegri in pre-season, as well as due to the injury issues in midfield for Juve.

First Five 2022/23 Serie A Fixtures:

Sassuolo (H)

Sampdoria (A)

Roma (H)

Spezia (H)

Fiorentina (A)

Predicted line-up: 

(4-3-3) Wojciech Szczesny; Danilo, Gleison Bremer, Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Manuel Locatelli, Denis Zakaria, Nicoló Fagioli; Juan Cuadrado, Dusan Vlahovic, Angel Di Maria

A host of injury issues plague Juve’s squad ahead of the season with the likes of Paul Pogba, Weston McKennie, Mattia De Sciglio and Federico Chiesa all expected to miss the first match of the season. Moise Kean and Adrien Rabiot are also suspended for the Sassuolo fixture which adds to the selection issues. Rabiot had missed the majority of Juve’s pre-season tour but managed to feature against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a 4-0 defeat. Manuel Locatelli, Denis Zakaria and Nicoló Fagioli all started against Atletico and are the favorites to start the opener in midfield. Pogba will be a starter in the middle of the park once he returns from injury.

Bremer, who won Serie A defender of the season last term, is in line to slot straight into the starting eleven to partner Leonardo Bonucci at the back. Nicoló Rovella made his return from a loan spell at Genoa and the midfielder could push for game time, especially at the early stage of the season. He has largely featured off the bench during pre-season and so will likely fight for a depth role.

Looking to the wings, youngster Marley Ake had also been featuring in pre-season, however, he has suffered an injury set-back that could keep him out for up to two months. Fellow youngster Matias Soule could also get game time due to the injury crisis or Allegri may opt to push Juan Cuadrado forward and play Danilo at right-back instead.

Angel Di Maria is expected to slot in on the wing and has featured heavily throughout pre-season. He will be hoping to strike up a quick relationship with Dusan Vlahovic. Moise Kean will likely start up top alongside Di Maria and Vlahovic once his suspension finishes as he looks to build on just five goals in 32 Serie appearances last term. However, Chiesa also adds superb depth and quality and will likely be favoured over Kean alongside Di Maria and Vlahovic up top once he returns to full fitness.

One to Watch:

Manuel Locatelli

Manuel Locatelli had a fine start to his Juventus career after arriving from Sassuolo on loan in 2021 and will be looking to improve further this term. The midfielder provided three goals and three assists in Serie A last year and he will be hoping to build rapport with the likes of Pogba once the Frenchman returns from injury.

Season Target: 

It has not been the most positive pre-season for Juventus as a whole and this could mean a slow start once again here, coupled with the tirade of injuries. Once players return to the squad, Juve will be expected to kick on. The hope is a title challenge but top four is the minimum.