Yildiz's False Nine Trickery and Cough-Hit Sassuolo: Juve's Big Night Preview

Fancy a thriller at the Allianz? Juventus welcome Sassuolo tonight in Serie A, with the Bianconeri banking on young gun Kenan Yildiz to weave his magic up top. Kick-off's at 20:45 CET (19:45 GMT), and it's got all the makings of a cheeky upset – if the visitors can stop hacking up a lung, that is.

Luciano Spalletti's lads are riding high after thumping Udinese, and reports from the likes of Lorenzo Bettoni at Football Italia suggest he'll stick with that winning XI. Yildiz slots in as the false nine, pulling strings like a puppet master, while Jeremie Boga terrorises down the left. It's clever stuff – no striker, all chaos.

Vlahovic Back, But Bench-Warmer for Now

Here's the juice: Dusan Vlahovic is back in the squad after four months on the naughty step. The Serbian powerhouse hasn't kicked a ball competitively since late November, sidelined by adductor surgery. He's not starting – Spalletti's playing it safe – but a sub cameo could be the spark Juve need in their top-four scrap.

Vlahovic has chipped in with two goals and two assists this term, and with his deal up in summer, the club reckons they'll tie him down. Imagine the roar if he bags one off the bench. Emil Holm's still out, though, leaving gaps at the back.

Probable Juve 4-2-3-1: Perin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; McKennie, Locatelli, Koopmeiners; Conceição, Boga, Yildiz. Solid, innit?

Sassuolo's Whooping Cough Nightmare

Now, Sassuolo – bless 'em – are in a right pickle. A whooping cough outbreak's swept through the camp, with one confirmed case and five more squad members coughing like chain-smokers. No names dropped yet, but it's a respiratory bug that's no joke, forcing the club into quarantine chaos.

They'll field who's fit, announced an hour before ko. Expect Domenico Berardi, Andrea Pinamonti, and Sebastian Walukiewicz to lead the line, with Arijanet Muric in goal after past heroics like that pen save against Locatelli. Others like Cristian Volpato, Luca Moro, and Pedro Felipe should feature too.

Their 4-3-3 might read: Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemovic, Garcia; Thorstvedt, Matic, Koné; Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté. Mid-table malaise after a Torino tonking, but stranger things have happened.

Where to Watch and What to Expect

Tune in on TNT Sports 2 and DAZN in the UK/Ireland, or Paramount+ in the US. Football Italia's liveblog will keep you ticking over.

Juve should boss it at home, but Sassuolo's grit – and that cough – could make it sweaty. Yildiz celebrating like he did against Pisa? Boga wheeling away like vs Udinese? Get in. Spalletti's chasing silverware; don't sleep on this one, lads.

(Word count: 512)