Juventus 2024/25 season preview: Predicted line-up, key fixtures and players to watch
A revolution has taken place at Juventus for the 2024/2025 season, with Thiago Motta replacing Massimiliano Allegri as coach following the club’s decision to sack the latter in the wake of his furious outburst at the end of last season’s Coppa Italia final against Atalanta, which marked Allegri's last trophy with the Bianconeri.
Football director Cristiano Giuntoli, whose relationship with the previous coach had soured, worked with new coach Motta to get rid of names and bring in others, although more arrivals were expected in Turin.
The arrival of the former Bologna boss should bring a breath of fresh air to a club whose style under Allegri was widely thought to be outdated, and the coach had been heavily criticised in recent years. It's worth remembering that their last Serie A title came back in 2020, then having won nine on the bounce.
Juventus 2024 summer transfers
Juventus have been one of the busiest teams on the transfer market, making their intentions to revamp the squad very clear since the start.
Deemed a priority to bolster Motta's midfield, Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz was signed from Aston Villa in a deal worth around €50 million that saw youngsters Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea move in the opposite direction.
More promising talents, such as Matias Soule and Dean Huijsen left the Allianz Stadium, as their lucrative sales were key to helping Juventus gather the financial means to sign Khephren Thuram for €20 million and goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio from Monza on a loan deal worth €4,5 million which also include an obligation to buy.
However, the Bianconeri's summer window is expected to be far from over, as they're still working on some of their main targets, with Atalanta's Teun Koopmeiners and Fiorentina's Nico Gonzalez being on the top of that list. AC Milan's Pierre Kalulu could be another reinforcement, adding a further defensive option for Motta.
After weeks of uncertainty regarding his potential destination, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny agreed to terminate his contract with Juventus after seven seasons.
The Pole was aware that he was out of Motta's plans, just like Federico Chiesa who, however, is still at the club – Juventus will try to offload the winger in the closing weeks of the transfer market, having set a price tag of €15-20 million.
How will Juventus line up in the new season?
With an impressive number of signings coming in, Motta will probably need time to assess which players fit his tactical demands best, as he's renowned for requiring flexibility and a fine ability to read spaces from his footballers.
However, the new coach will have his share of certainties, as Gleison Bremer and Federico Gatti will be undisputed regular starters at the heart of his back-four, with Danilo also likely to be a first-choice as a right-back, although Kalulu's potential arrival could shuffle things a bit.
Motta's choices in defence are probably the easiest to predict, as the rest of the names of his formation, which could switch between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1, will depend on which signings will be sealed by the end of the transfer window.
Both Douglas Luiz and Thuram are expected to play with regularity, while starlet Kenan Yıldız could also carve out a relevant role throughout the season.
This is what Juventus’ predicted first-choice line-up for 2024/25 looks like as of today: Di Gregorio; Danilo, Bremer, Gatti, Cambiaso; Douglas Luiz, Thuram, Fagioli; Weah, Vlahovic, Yildiz.
Juventus' key fixtures in 2024/25
Juventus will play the opening match of their Serie A season on Monday, August 19, when they'll host newcomers Como.
Matchday 3 will see Daniele De Rossi's AS Roma travel to the Allianz Stadium on 1 September, presenting Thiago Motta with the first tricky obstacle of his spell. However, that occasion will serve as preparation for a much-anticipated home clash against Antonio Conte's Napoli scheduled for Matchday 5, on September 21/22.
The Derby d'Italia away at Inter in the last weekend of October will be followed by another trip to the Stadio San Siro to take on AC Milan about a month later, with the fixture expected to be scheduled on November 30 or December 1.
January 2025 could prove a particularly challenging month for a Bianconeri side that will play their first game of the new year at Atalanta, before facing return legs against Milan and Napoli in two consecutive matchdays. Fast-forward another three weeks and the Old Lady will also host Simone Inzaghi's side in mid-February.
Such a streak of stern tests will mean the Bianconeri won't play any of the sides expected to be involved in the title race in their final streak of games, with a relatively soft match at newly-promoted Venezia wrapping up their domestic season.
Juventus players to watch this season
Andrea Cambiaso already knows Motta's style very well, having played under him at Bologna in the 2022/23 season.
Back then, the coach proved able to enhance the left full-back's game by making the most of his versatility and ability to play with both feet and this could also be the case at Juventus, as the Italian will be probably left free to switch positions with his teammates on the same flank and cut inside when he finds the space.
Thuram's adaptation to Serie A will be key to providing balance to the whole team. However, most eyes will be on Douglas Luiz, a box-to-box midfielder that Motta desperately wanted to bring the ball from end to end and provide an offensive threat, with his nine Premier League goals and five assists last season serving as a testament to his potential.
After struggling a lot under Allegri, whose style forced him to often play with his back to the goal, Dusan Vlahovic could be finally given the chance to sharpen his scoring instinct inside the penalty box. If Motta's principles are the same as shown at Bologna, the Serbia forward is likely to benefit from the volume of play generated by the team and should improve his 16-goal tally from the last Serie A season.