Preview: Cremonese vs. Juventus – team news, lineups, prediction, live stream

Having finished with a flourish before Qatar 2022 intervened, Juve’s 3-0 success against fellow top-four contenders Lazio in November was their sixth on the spin in Serie A; hauling them up to third in the standings at the close of the season’s first phase.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men still have a 10-point deficit to make up to runaway leaders Napoli, though reigning champions Milan are a more manageable two points ahead in second place.

Juventus have put together such a fine fun of form without conceding a single goal in the process, and the last time they registered more clean-sheet wins consecutively was back in 2018, during Allegri’s super-successful first reign at the club.

Not only have Juventus won their last three away matches by the same 1-0 scoreline – versus Verona, Lecce and city rivals Torino – their hosts on Wednesday are yet to win anywhere in the league this season and have never before defeated the Old Lady in Italy’s top flight.

The Grigiorossi broke up in November having managed just two goals in their last five league matches – and they have failed to score at Stadio Giovanni Zini in their last three.

Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic is sidelined by a groin problem and could be unavailable for the next fortnight, captain Leonardo Bonucci misses out due to an adductor injury, and Paul Pogba is still some distance from returning to full training.

Despite not featuring in the final warm-up friendly against Standard Liege, though, Federico Chiesa is set to be involved, while Juan Cuadrado has overcome a knee issue.

Moise Kean, who finished with three goals in his last two games before the break – bagging a brace against Lazio after scoring the winner versus Verona – will deputise for Vlahovic up front in a probable 3-5-2, partnered by Arkadiusz Milik.

In Bonucci’s absence, Danilo, Bremer and Alex Sandro could start in an all-Brazilian back three.

Meanwhile, Cremonese – who lost their last competitive match 2-0 to Empoli and were beaten by Udinese in their final friendly of 2022 – will be without veteran centre-back Vlad Chiriches in midweek, so Matteo Bianchetti could join Jack Hendry at the heart of the hosts’ defence.

Alex Ferrari is expected to confirm his move from Sampdoria soon, but will not arrive in time.

Nigerian strikers Cyriel Dessers (two) and David Okereke (three) are expected to feature up front for the Grigiorossi, in spite of their modest goal tallies so far this term.