On September 2 at 2:45 AM, Serie A will see a matchup of the third round as Juventus hosts visiting Roma.
Juventus secured victories in their first two matches of the season with a 3-0 home win against Como and a 3-0 away victory over Verona, achieving a perfect start both home and away. They are the only team in Serie A to maintain a 100% winning record after the opening fixtures and hope to continue their winning streak to top the league table.
In recent seasons, Juventus has become a fallen aristocrat, failing to win the Serie A title since their six consecutive championships ended in the 2019-20 season. Last season, they finished third behind AC Milan and Inter Milan. During the recently concluded summer transfer window, Juventus was one of the most active teams, spending €54.7 million on Kepa Meñas, €51.5 million on Luis, and €20.6 million on Thuram. Additionally, they brought in players such as Ciprian Tătărușanu, González, Conceição, Di Gregorio, and Kalulu. The team spent a total of €160 million on transfers while also selling players like Süle, Weissman, Eeling, Kean, K. Kehinde, and Rabiot, demonstrating their determination to rebuild.
The rebuilding efforts have shown results, with Juventus displaying unstoppable form at the start of this season, scoring six goals in two games without conceding any. However, Milik, Weah, and Thuram remain sidelined due to injuries, which has affected the team to some extent.
Roma has had a poor start to the season, drawing 0-0 away to Cagliari and then losing 1-2 at home to Empoli. De Rossi’s team failed to carry forward their strong finish from last season and now sit 17th in the league table, desperately needing a victory to regain momentum.
Last season, Roma struggled in the first half of the campaign, leading to Mourinho’s departure. Under De Rossi’s interim management, the team rejuvenated and performed impressively. This summer, they upgraded their squad by spending €33 million on Girona’s attacking star Dovbyk, €25.6 million on Süle, €23 million on Lafae, and bringing in Angeliño, Dar, and Ryan, making them one of the most active teams during the transfer window.
However, the departures of Aouar, Belotti, and Spinazzola have significantly impacted the team, forcing them to undergo a new period of adjustment, which is one of the main reasons for their poor start to the new season. In terms of injuries, Lafae will miss this match due to a muscle injury.
In the past ten meetings between the two sides, Juventus has a slight edge with five wins, three draws, and two losses. However, their recent performances have been evenly matched. Roma is still in the process of gelling their new lineup, while Juventus is in high spirits aiming for their third consecutive victory.
>>Click here for more predictions and analysis>>>