29 August 2022
The Allianz Stadium is the venue for third of Juve's four opening matches of the new season when Spezia visit on Wednesday 31 August. The team from Liguria will be making their third trip to Turin to take on the Bianconeri with a third coach at the helm.
In the summer Luca Gotti was hired to replace the departed Thiago Motta, who in turn had taken over from the tactician that had secured the Ligurian club's first ever promotion to Serie A in 2020, Vincenzo Italiano.
Former Udinese number one, Gotti has steered his side to four points from three matches with a win - against Empoli, a draw - at home to Sassuolo, and a defeat - at Inter. The team has accumulated its record number of points in the top flight after three games by successfully implementing Gotti's football philosophy.
Aggressiveness and intensity are two essential components of our game. Luca Gotti, Spezia Coach
PLAYER FOCUS
- M'Bala Nzola has scored twice this season, equalling his total over 19 matches all last campaign. The Angola international scored 11 in his debut Serie A season in 2020/21.
- Simone Bastoni has taken part in two of Spezia's three goals this season, with an assist for Nzola against Empoli and a goal against Sassuolo - he is one of only three defenders with at least five goals and 10 assists in the competition from 2020/21 onwards, together with Theo Hernández and Davide Faraoni.
- Albin Ekdal is suspended for the Matchday 4 fixture after being sent off against Sassuolo at the weekend following two bookings in 15 minutes after coming on as substitute.
TEAM FOCUS
- Four points from the opening three matches is Spezia's best start to the season in Serie A
- Spezia's 97th minute consolation in the 2-1 defeat at Torino last season was the club's first goal in Turin, where they have yet to win following three defeats, including both visits to Juventus, and one draw.
- Spezia were left goalless in their last away league match, away at Inter; the Ligurians have not gone two away games in a row without scoring since December 2021, when the first of the two was against the Nerazzurri (the second against Roma).
