Chiellini: ‘Juventus will try to break almost perfect Roma mechanism’

Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini asks his team to ‘match Roma for duels and aggression, as we’ll try to break this almost perfect mechanism’ created by Gian Piero Gasperini.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Lazio vs. Cremonese on the Liveblog.

This is a head-to-head for fourth place with only four points separating them, although the table will look a little strange because the Week 16 fixtures are staggered due to the Supercoppa Italiana commitments.

“It’s an important match, that is beyond doubt. We need to match them in their duels and aggression, which is what stands them out under Gasperini, but also not play the kind of game that they enjoy,” Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia.

“We’ll try to break this almost perfect mechanism that they have built up over the last few months.”

Luciano Spalletti joked in his press conference yesterday about reports the squad had cut Jonathan David out of team dinners, noting it was because he “put Parmesan cheese on seafood pasta.” So if Juve win tonight, will everyone go out for dinner?

“We’ll see, maybe not with clams on the menu,” smiled Chiellini.

What has Spalletti brought to this Bianconeri side since taking over from Igor Tudor?

“I think his experience brought new solutions, which are convincing the players day after day that if they do what they practice in training, it can work in a match situation. This has been the first week he’s had just to focus on training without a midweek match, so he stressed the players in a good way.

“We needed this after the win in Bologna, which was one of the first times we’ve been really consistent and convincing for the full 90 minutes. We are up against a strong team, so we know how important the details will be, especially on set plays or counter-attacks.

“At the same time, we too have a lot of potential in our attack, so Roma can’t really relax either,” concluded Chiellini.

Gleison Bremer gets his first start since that meniscus tear on September 27, as Teun Koopmeiners is suspended, with Federico Gatti, Juan Cabal and Dusan Vlahovic injured.

Arkadiusz Milik also returns to the bench, something he hadn’t experienced since May 2024.