Resting while their main rivals were on European duty in midweek, Juventus aim to rejuvenate their Scudetto challenge on Sunday, when faltering Frosinone visit Turin.
Juve have picked up just two points from their last four Serie A matches, while the visitors lost a third straight game last week and are leaking goals left, right and centre.
Match preview
© Reuters
Trying to get back on track after two defeats and a draw, Juventus visited lowly Hellas Verona last weekend, when they had to respond twice after going behind at Stadio Bentegodi.
In-form Dusan Vlahovic scored from the spot, before Adrien Rabiot celebrated his 199th game for the club by levelling matters again shortly after the break - but there was to be more frustration for fans of the Bianconeri, who witnessed a disappointing 2-2 draw.
Only a subsequent slip-up by AC Milan saw Juve keep their grip on second place, and Inter Milan have moved further clear at the Serie A summit, so an overdue title challenge has slipped a little further from reach.
After putting together a series of five straight league wins - in addition to beating Frosinone in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals - Max Allegri's men have since failed to win any of their last four, including defeats to Inter and Udinese.
With Napoli and Atalanta BC next up - and a league-and-cup double-header with Lazio soon to follow - Juventus cannot continue in such a vein if they are to salvage something from a previously promising season.
Regardless of recent form, they will still expect to prevail in Sunday's lunchtime kickoff, having won their last four league meetings with Frosinone by an aggregate score of 9-1.
© Reuters
Not only is their record against Juve particularly bad, but Frosinone have also lost all nine previous games played against teams in Serie A's top two, scoring just once and conceding 25 times in the process.
On this occasion, Eusebio Di Francesco's squad - which features several promising players borrowed from bigger clubs, such as Juventus-owned trio Matias Soule, Enzo Barrenechea and Kaio Jorge - will arrive at the Allianz Stadium aiming to end that trend and put a halt to their slide down the standings.
Last term's Serie B champions may have accrued 23 points since promotion, just two less than throughout their entire previous top-flight campaign in 2018-19, but most were posted before autumn turned to winter.
Since the beginning of December, Frosinone have lost the joint-most matches (nine, level with Salernitana) and leaked the most goals (31) - undoubtedly relegation form.
Still without an away win in the league this season, following a 5-1 thumping at Fiorentina earlier this month, the Canarini have conceded 11 times in their last three matches; therefore, this week's trip to Turin may be feared rather than savoured.
Team News
© Reuters
While Brazilian defender Bremer returns from a one-match ban, his compatriot Danilo is now out of action for Juventus due to an ankle injury, so either Daniele Rugani or Alex Sandro should feature in the hosts' back three.
Moise Kean, Mattia De Sciglio and Mattia Perin are still sidelined - all three may not be back until next month - but Max Allegri can name an otherwise unchanged XI if he so wishes.
Partnering either Federico Chiesa or Kenan Yildiz up front, Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic is Serie A's top marksman in 2024 - his seven strikes are already just three fewer than he managed throughout all of 2023.
Meanwhile, Frosinone's leading scorer has also completed the most dribbles in Italy's top flight this season: Matias Soule played his first 15 league matches for Juventus but is now seeking to impress against his parent club.
After suffering a series of defensive injuries, Eusebio Di Francesco should have Nadir Zortea at his disposal on Sunday, while Simone Romagnoli is back after suspension.
Luca Garritano can now feature, too, but Anthony Oyono, Riccardo Marchizza, Mateus Lusuardi and Kevin Bonifazi are still on the treatment table.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Rugani; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Chiesa, Vlahovic
Frosinone possible starting lineup:
Turati; Zortea, Romagnoli, Okoli, Valeri; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea, Brescianini; Soule, Cheddira, Harroui
We say: Juventus 3-1 Frosinone
After an unexpected delay, Max Allegri could finally become the first coach in Serie A history to top 1000 points. Currently on 999, his Juventus side have stumbled in recent weeks, but the off-colour Canarini could prove perfect opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
