Verdict: Draw
Best odds:
Bookmaker: Luckster
After letting two points slip away at the weekend, Juventus travel to Reggio Emilia on Tuesday seeking an immediate response against mid-table Sassuolo.
Both sides endured frustrating starts to 2026, held to 1-1 draws by struggling opponents last time out.
Sassuolo
Recent history suggests this will be no straightforward task for Juventus. Sassuolo have won the last two meetings at the Mapei Stadium, memorably defeating the Bianconeri 1-0 and then 4-2 in the space of six months before their brief drop to Serie B. Domenico Berardi, Andrea Pinamonti, and Armand Lauriente all found the net in those encounters, underlining the Neroverdi’s ability to trouble Italy’s giants.
After bouncing back as Serie B champions, Sassuolo have impressed on their return to the top flight, flirting with European qualification. However, momentum has stalled in recent weeks. Fabio Grosso’s men followed a commendable draw at Bologna with another 1-1 stalemate against Parma.
Kristian Thorstvedt’s header gave Sassuolo the lead, but they soon conceded an equalizer. Josh Doig struck the post in a lively second half, while Aro Muric produced several saves to preserve a point. That result leaves Sassuolo 10th in the table, though their only win since November remains a 3-1 success over a struggling Fiorentina side.
Team News
Woyo Coulibaly is unavailable after his AFCON red card for Mali, while Berardi joins Cristian Volpato, Yeferson Paz, Daniel Boloca, and Filippo Romagna on the injury list.
Tarik Muharemovic anchors the defense, and Pinamonti leads the line, though all four of his league goals have come away from home.
Juventus
Luciano Spalletti’s men entered the Lecce clash chasing a fifth straight win, having ended 2025 with seven victories from eight matches. Optimism was high, with the coach even entertaining talk of a Scudetto challenge.
However, Juve fell behind in first-half stoppage time before Weston McKennie’s first Serie A goal of the season restored parity. Jonathan David missed a golden chance from the spot, Kenan Yildiz hit the post, and Lois Openda blazed over as the hosts failed to complete the turnaround.
While Spalletti has overseen a revival, his title talk looks premature. Juventus remain in the hunt for Champions League qualification, but they cannot afford further slip-ups with rivals closing in.
Team News
Spalletti’s tactical unpredictability makes changes likely. David could lose his place to Openda after his penalty miss, while Dusan Vlahovic remains sidelined.
Injuries to Daniele Rugani and Federico Gatti leave Juve short at the back, though midfielder Teun Koopmeiners offers defensive cover.
Head-to-Head
Juventus boast a dominant historical record against Sassuolo, but recent trips to Reggio Emilia have brought pain, with back-to-back defeats. The Neroverdi’s ability to upset big sides—having beaten Lazio and drawn with Milan—adds intrigue to this clash.
Conclusion
Sassuolo’s resilience and home record suggest they will not roll over, but Juventus’ superior quality and recent improvement make them slight favorites.
Still, the Bianconeri’s flaws mean this could be another tense, low-scoring affair.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds:
Bookmaker: Luckster
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