We’re less than a week away before the 2023/24 Serie A campaign gets underway and below is our Juventus season preview. Ahead of the new season, we are previewing all of the top clubs in Italy. We have already previewed both Napoli and Inter.
In our Juventus season preview we will take a look at: a 2022/23 season recap, pre-season form, transfers, opening fixtures, predicted lineup, one to watch and their season target. Check out our Juventus season preview below!
Juventus Season Preview
2022/23 Season Recap
In a tumultuous season for Juventus, they would eventually finish down in seventh. After being deducted points and then seeing them reinstated, the Bianconeri looked on track for a top-four finish. Nevertheless, they would eventually lose a total of ten points due to the capital gains case. They have also been banned from all UEFA competitions for the 2023/24 season, meaning that they will not be competing in the Europa Conference League.
It was a disappointing season in Europe for the Old Lady last term as they were knocked out at the group stage of the Champions League, which included a poor defeat away to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa. They were in with a chance of winning the Europa League but were defeated in the semi-finals by perennial competition winners Sevilla. It was disappointment in the Coppa Italia as well as Juve were knocked out by Inter in the semi-final.
Pre-season Form:
Milan (N) D 2-2 (Won 4-3 on pens) (Goals: Danilo, Daniele Rugani)
Real Madrid (N) W 3-1 (Goals: Moise Kean, Timothy Weah, Dusan Vlahovic)
Atalanta (N) D 0-0
Transfers In:
Manuel Locatelli (centre-midfield) Sassuolo; Moise Kean (centre-forward) Everton; Timothy Weah (right winger) Lille; Arkadiusz Milik (centre-forward) Marseille; Facundo Gonzalez (centre-back) Valencia; Weston McKennie (centre-midfield) Leeds United (end of loan); Nicoló Rovella (centre-midfield) Monza (end of loan); Luca Pellegrini (left-back) Lazio (end of loan)
Transfers Out:
Dejan Kulusevski (right winger) Tottenham Hotspur; Radu Dragusin (centre-back) Genoa; Arthur Melo (centre-midfield) Fiorentina (loan); Filippo Ranocchia (centre-midfield) Empoli (loan); Angel Di Maria (right winger) Benfica; Juan Cuadrado (right midfielder) Inter; Koni De Winter (centre-back) Genoa (loan); Marley Ake (left winger) Udinese (loan); Stefano Gori (goalkeeper) Monza (loan); Mohamed Ihattaren (attacking midfielder) Released; Leandro Paredes (centre-midfield) Paris Saint-Germain (end of loan)
Summary of Transfers
The Bianconeri have completed the full transfers for Manuel Locatelli, Moise Kean and Arkadiusz Milik over the summer after their initial loan spells with the club. Dejan Kulusevski is officially joining Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal in a move going the other way.
The main addition for Juventus has been in the signing of Timothy Weah from Lille. That will make up for the departure of Angel Di Maria who has joined Benfica on a free. Juve have lost Juan Cuadrado, though, who had been at the club for six years. His experience will be missed out on the right as he now joins rivals Inter. Weah has been featuring on the right-hand side during pre-season so he could replace the Colombian.
Weston McKennie is set to compete for a role in the middle of midfield after his loan return from Leeds United but speculation continues to link him with a move away from Turin. Nicoló Rovella and Luca Pellegrini have also returned to the club from their respective loans but they are expected to complete deals to Lazio in the near future.
Opening Five 2023/24 Serie A Fixtures
Udinese (A)
Bologna (H)
Empoli (A)
Lazio (H)
Sassuolo (A)
A number of away fixtures to start the new Serie A season may pose a few issues for Juventus but they should feel fortunate about facing just one of last season’s top six. That’s in the form of Lazio who they will also play at home. Some tough away games in Udinese, Empoli and Sassuolo will not be easy for the Bianconeri. Juve lost away to both Empoli and Sassuolo last season.
Predicted Line-up:
(3-5-2) Wojciech Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Alex Sandro; Timothy Weah, Weston McKennie, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Filip Kostic; Federico Chiesa, Dusan Vlahovic
Wojciech Szczesny will continue to be the number one choice in goal. A back three of Danilo, Bremer and Alex Sandro looks set for the time being but the likes of Federico Gatti and Daniele Rugani will look to provide depth. Leonardo Bonucci has not featured during pre-season and is set for a move away from the club.
Weah has slotted straight into the right flank, whilst Andrea Cambiaso has been used as a depth choice at wing-back over the summer. A midfield three of McKennie, Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot appears to be the strongest available for the moment but 20-year-old Fabio Miretti will look to build on his 27 Serie A appearances from last term.
Nicoló Fagioli is also an option but he has been absent for pre-season due to injury. Paul Pogba is still at the club but he continues to deal with a plague of injury issues. He made just six Serie A appearances last term. Filip Kostic is the first choice out on the left.
Going forward, we could see Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic start. However, the likes of Milik and Kean will provide depth options and will likely see a lot of game time. Youngsters Samuel Illing Junior and Matias Soule will also hope for more minutes this season.
One to Watch
Timothy Weah
The USA international has been the main arrival this summer and he will look to spark some life into what was a desolate side last season. Despite failing to hit the back of the net in Ligue 1 last term, Weah will be hoping to get back to his form shown in 2021/22. He managed to provide seven goal contributions for Lille in the league that year.
Season Target
The main aim for Juventus for the new season is to get back into Europe. They will likely relish the fact they are not playing in the Conference League and can instead focus all of their efforts on performing well in the league. As a result, anything outside of a top-four finish will be considered a failure. Pressure is already on Max Allegri and he needs to get off to a good start before it is piled on even further.