Wrapping up another tough season in Turin, Serie A giants Juventus can only finish third at best, as they tackle mid-table Monza on Saturday.
Though Juve recently lifted the Coppa Italia and will return to the Champions League next term, their league campaign has tailed off badly, building up to the dismissal of former boss Max Allegri.
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After the dramatic sacking of one of their most successful coaches, following a very public post-cup final meltdown, Juventus asked former defender Paolo Montero to step up from the club's primavera and steady the ship.
Although Allegri had led Juve to success in Rome, beating Atalanta BC 1-0 to claim the Coppa for a 15th time in their history, his hastened exit left the Bianconeri managerless at the end of another turbulent season.
Early in 2024, Juventus were hot on the heels of eventual champions Inter Milan, but since February they have barely been able to buy a win, drawing the last five league games of Allegri's less successful second spell and winning just two from 15.
Against Bologna last time out, Juve met the veteran coach's likely successor Thiago Motta, with the two teams locked together on points in a duel for third place: Montero's side initially slumped to a three-goal deficit at Stadio Dall'Ara, but they bravely fought back and Kenan Yildiz struck a late leveller.
Throughout their Serie A history, the Turin giants have only once before recorded a run of seven consecutive draws - back in 1971 - but matching that streak on Saturday would be enough to overtake Bologna; however, fellow podium contenders Atalanta BC still have two games in hand.
Juventus famously lost their only previous home match against Monza in the top flight, and another slip-up this weekend would end a below-par season in frustrating fashion.
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Monza made quite an impact by doing the double over Juve last term, though they did lose the teams' most recent encounter in December, when both sides scored during stoppage-time in a 2-1 Juve win.
Like their hosts, the Biancorossi have endured a difficult conclusion to the 2023-24 campaign - just their second at Calcio's elite level.
Beaten 1-0 at home by relegation-threatened Frosinone last time out, Raffaele Palladino's men are one of only two teams winless in their last eight Serie A matches, recording three draws and five defeats along the way.
Though they are guaranteed to finish 12th - after 11th-placed Genoa beat Bologna on Friday night - there is no doubt that disappointment will be the overriding emotion, given a first top-half finish had seemed to be on the cards.
A winger with Juventus during his playing days, Palladino has nonetheless forged a competitive squad that will be soon back on the start line for another year in Serie A - and winning again at the Allianz Stadium would certainly put a more positive sheen on their season.
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After Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli finally returned from his betting ban against Bologna, only Adrien Rabiot, Mattia De Sciglio and Andrea Cambiaso are set to miss Saturday's game - the former pair are injured, while the latter must serve a suspension.
Timothy Weah is expected to replace Cambiaso on the right flank, while Filip Kostic and English winger Samuel Iling-Junior contest a place on the left.
Having sparked Juve's late fightback on Monday, Federico Chiesa can now claim a personal record, despite seeing another season scarred by injury; the Italy striker has scored eight goals in Serie A this term and needs just one more to post his best tally yet.
Top scorer Dusan Vlahovic made his 100th appearance for Juventus last time out, but he could make way for Arkadiusz Milik up front if interim coach Paolo Montero decides to mix things up for the season finale.
While the home side boast plenty of attacking talent, Monza have barely averaged more than one goal per game thus far; veteran forward Milan Djuric is set to lead the visitors' front line in Turin.
He will aim to join Vlahovic as one of just seven players in Serie A history to score at least five times for two different clubs during the same season; in addition to his four goals for Monza, Djuric netted five for Hellas Verona before switching teams in January.
Raffaele Palladino will be without Patrick Ciurria, Andrea Carboni and Daniel Maldini, who are all sidelined by injury, but Juventus-linked goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio could return after missing last week's loss to Frosinone.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Perin; Danilo, Rugani, Sandro; Weah, Alcaraz, Fagioli, Iling-Junior; Chiesa, Milik, Yildiz
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Birindelli, Izzo, Mari, Kyriakopoulos; Gagliardini, Pessina; Mota, Colpani, Zerbin; Djuric
We say: Juventus 2-1 Monza
Putting the full stop on an uneven campaign, Juventus can take advantage of Monza's wilting form and finish the season with an overdue win.
Then, a busy summer awaits the Bianconeri's new boss, who will be expected to get a well-paid squad back in contention for the Scudetto.
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Jonathan O'Shea
