The anticipation for the Juventus-Milan clash on Sunday at 8:45 PM was heightened by the customary pre-match press conferences from both coaches, Massimiliano Allegri and Igor Tudor. This sixth-round fixture sees Juventus hosting AC Milan, a team led by their former manager, Allegri, whose return was a central topic. Allegri downplayed any personal narrative, stating, “It`s a great match. For us, it`s important to take another step forward against a team that will contend for the Scudetto until the very end. We`ll have to play well. I`ve approached the week normally, focusing on preparing for the game as best as possible. What truly matters is the match itself; repeating the same things becomes pathetic. I spent eight years at Juve, now five at Milan, and I hope to reach eight here too. Tomorrow, three points are at stake against an unbeaten team with great players and an excellent coach. It`s not a rematch.” He also confirmed Tomori`s recovery and spoke positively about Leao`s improving form.
Igor Tudor`s Reply
Juventus coach Igor Tudor responded, “I don`t know what kind of game it will be because I don`t have a crystal ball. We are playing against a top-tier team. Milan has a great coach, great players, and is in good form. We are playing at home, and we need to deliver a strong performance.” Inevitably, a joke about his compatriot Luka Modric surfaced: “I also played in the national team with Modric. He made history for our people; someone like him will never be born again. No one comes close to him; he`s twice as good as anyone else. What he`s doing now is something else entirely: playing at this level at forty, I`ve never seen anything like it. I`m proud of Luka, but let`s hope tomorrow he performs poorly,” Tudor quipped with a laugh, highlighting both admiration and a touch of competitive humor.
Probable Lineups
Juventus
For the match against Milan, Juventus faces doubts over the fitness of Bremer and Thuram. Regardless, Igor Tudor is expected to stick with his 3-4-2-1 system. Di Gregorio will return in goal. The defense is likely to feature Gatti and Kelly, with Kalulu stepping in for the less-than-fully-fit Bremer. In midfield, Joao will operate on the right, Locatelli will be central, flanked by either Koopmeiners or Thuram, while Cambiaso will cover the left. Further forward, Conceicao is set to start alongside Yildiz in the attacking midfield roles. Upfront, the familiar three-way battle between Vlahovic, David, and Openda sees Vlahovic (DV9) as the likely starter.
AC Milan
On the opposing side, Allegri is anticipated to field a similar lineup to the one that previously defeated Antonio Conte`s team, with the sole forced change being the absence of Pervis Estupinan due to suspension. In front of captain Maignan, Koni De Winter is expected to make his first start in defense, replacing Tomori, who, despite recovering, will likely start on the bench alongside Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic. The 2005-born Davide Bartesaghi will step in on the left flank for the Ecuadorian, while Alexis Saelemaekers is a fixture on the right. The midfield trio of Youssouf Fofana, Luka Modric, and another former Juventus player, Adrien Rabiot, is also expected to remain unchanged. Upfront, despite Rafael Leao`s continuous improvement in form, confidence is still placed in Santiago Gimenez, supported by Christian Pulisic. Christopher Nkunku is also ready to make an impact from the bench.
