In the biggest showdown of Serie A Matchday 7, Juventus will host Lazio at the Allianz Stadium in Turin for a battle between the inconsistent giants and the overachievers.
Unfortunately for Luciano Spalletti, he will be without a plethora of injured players, including key stars like Kenan Yildiz, Manuel Locatelli, and Khephren Thuram. Even Gennaro Gattuso will be missing a few important players, as Nicolo Rovella, Adam Marusic, and Matteo Cancellieri couldn’t recover in time for this contest.
Nevertheless, the two sets of players who will take the pitch on Sunday should have enough quality to put on a real spectacle.
So it’s time to envision five key battles that will ensue between the Juventus and Lazio players, at least based on the expected lineups.
Gleison Bremer vs Tijjani Noslin
Tijjani Noslin is not exactly a traditional centre-forward, and he’s unlikely to ever become a goal-machine, but he’s been interpreting the striker role expertly. He followed up on his goals against AC Milan and Venezia with a Man of the Match performance at Monza’s expense, providing two assists and causing a red card.
The Dutchman is excellent at drawing defenders out of position when dropping deep and bringing teammates into the play. However, it will be interesting to see whether he’ll be able to find success against Gleison Bremer, whom many consider the best defender in Serie A, at least when fully fit.
Weston McKennie vs Nuno Tavares
Like Noslin, Nuno Tavares is enjoying a revival under Gattuso, re-establishing himself as one of the most terrorising full-backs in the country. But this time, he’ll be up against the league’s most versatile player, who will likely be deployed on the right flank.
Weston McKennie has the stamina to match the Portuguese international, while Pierre Kalulu could also provide the American some support on the flank. But if the Lazio star manages to escape his opponent’s grip, it will be a major boost for the Aquile’s chances to come away with a result.
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Pape Matar Sarr vs Kenneth Taylor
This will be a thrilling contest pitting two energetic all-action midfielders against one another, and whoever prevails in this one will give their team a major edge in the middle of the park. Kenneth Taylor is arguably the more technical of the two. He has also built a good understanding with his teammates, having joined Lazio in January.
On the other hand, Pape Sarr is still adjusting to his new surroundings following his August transfer from Tottenham Hotspur, but an injury crisis forced Spalletti to accelerate his introduction. Nevertheless, the Senegalese might have the advantage from a physical standpoint.
Nico Gonzalez vs Reda Belahyane
Last season, Nico Gonzalez was sent packing to Atletico Madrid, while Reda Belahyane was left to rot on Maurizio Sarri’s bench. Who would have thought these two would be playing integral roles for their respective clubs by the start of the 2026/27 season?
The Argentine has been given an almost free role, so you’ll find him lurking around the pockets. And since the Moroccan midfielder will be entrusted with closing down the spaces between the lines, these two are destined to cross paths.
Randal Kolo Muani vs Josip Sutalo
Josip Sutalo is expected to replace Danilho Doekhi at the heart of the backline, so he’ll be entrusted with marking Randal Kolo Muani alongside Oliver Provstgaard. The Frenchman is an unconventional centre-back who combines pace, trickery, and finishing, so he represents a stern test for the Croatian international, who needs a convincing display to consolidate his starting berth.