Juventus Faces Must-Win Match Against Hellas Verona Amid Struggles

Turin, Italy – Juventus is set to face Hellas Verona in a critical Serie A match on March 3, 2025, at the Allianz Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:45 p.m. GMT. After a disappointing exit from both the Champions League and Coppa Italia, Coach Thiago Motta has made significant tactical changes, opting to drop striker Dusan Vlahovic and restore Randal Kolo Muani to the starting lineup.

The move comes after fan protests erupted in response to Juventus’ recent failures. Motta expressed his shame over the team’s performance in the recent matches, emphasizing the dire need for a win against Verona, who are currently battling relegation.

Juventus has been plagued with injuries this season. Francisco Conceiçao joins a lengthy absentee list, including Douglas Luiz, Renato Veiga, Nicolò Savona, Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Arek Milik. However, the return of defender Pierre Kalulu to the bench offers a glimmer of hope for the team. Weston McKennie retains his position in the trequartista role, while Kenan Yildiz is expected to support Kolo Muani. ‘We need to step up and show our best game,’ Yildiz said during a press conference ahead of the match.

Despite the upheaval, a win would not only solidify Juventus’ grip on fourth place but also reduce the gap to Serie A leaders Inter to six points. Hellas Verona, recently buoyed by a crucial victory over Fiorentina, sits precariously four points clear of the relegation zone, making their quest for safety paramount.

Verona Coach Paolo Zanetti will be absent due to a touchline ban, leaving assistant manager Alberto Bertolini in charge. The visitors have struggled throughout the season, suffering five losses in their last six encounters against Juventus, without scoring in five of those matches. However, their recent 1-0 win over Fiorentina could provide the impetus they need.

The official starting lineups for both teams are set as follows: Juventus will go with Di Gregorio; Weah, Gatti, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, K. Thuram; Nico Gonzalez, McKennie, Yildiz; and Kolo Muani at the helm. Verona’s lineup features Montipò; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Valentini; Faraoni, Duda, Niasse, Tchatchoua; Livramento, and Suslov with Sarr leading the attack.

As the final weeks of the season approach, every point is crucial for both teams for differing reasons. Juventus must secure Champions League football for next season, while Verona fights to remain in the Serie A.