Spezia vs Juventus prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-02-18 17:00.
Speziaās first goals after three Serie A (SA) games without scoring werenāt enough to secure the job of manager Luca Gotti, who was axed during the week after a late collapse at Empoli (D 2-2) last weekend left Spezia with a league record of W1, D3, L3 since SA resumed. Caretaker boss Fabrizio Lorieri now has the difficult task of taking over a side just two points above the relegation zone at the start of this round.
It therefore seems a most inopportune time for a resurging Juventus to visit the Stadio Alberto Picco. In fact by kickoff, season ticket holders at Speziaās home ground will have waited five entire months to see a SA home victory (D4, L3), with only fellow relegation contenders Sampdoria and Cremonese holding longer winless runs at home going into this round.
Further to Speziaās detriment, they appear to have missed out on Juveās worst form of the campaign. Following a 15-point deduction and their second loss to Monza of the season, the Old Lady seemed to get back on track by securing two SA wins āto nilā (away to Salernitana and at home to Fiorentina) to take their win tally to 13 for the league season – all 13 of which came with a clean sheet!
Thatās an impressive return to form considering their only likely path to next seasonās Champions League is to win the current edition of the Europa League – a journey that took a hit during the week when they drew 1-1 at home to Nantes. It was a result that manager Massimiliano Allegri wanted to move on from, declaring his mind was on Spezia immediately after the post-match press conference.
Players to watch: Not only is Emmanuel Gyasi the last Spezia player to open the scoring in a SA home game this season, but he also scored their first goal in this corresponding fixture last season. Beating him to the punch could be Juventus forward DuÅ”an VlahoviÄ, who has found the net within 30 minutes in two of his last three competitive matches.
Hot stat: Juventusā previous SA away trip – a 3-0 win at Salernitana – was their first and only away half-time lead of this SA season (HT: W1, D7, L2).