juventus vs genoa LIVE Football Score 11 April 2021
Despite a morale-boosting win in midweek, third-placed Juventus cannot reasonably defend the Scudetto, but must continue the hard-fought battle for a Champions League place against Genoa on Sunday.
Though the hosts have accepted that they will relinquish their crown after a nine-year spell of Serie A dominance, they remain just three points clear of Napoli in fifth and will seek maximum points against a Rossoblu side still to secure safety.
Prediction
- Juventus underwhelmed against Napoli in midweek but got the three points. Juventus are 12 points off first place and need a dramatic collapse from Inter to claw back the deficit.
- Genoa held Fiorentina to a 1-1 draw last weekend but will probably be disappointed not to have got more as the Viola played 40 minutes with a man less.
On Wednesday, Juventus defeated old foes Napoli 2-1 in their much-delayed clash at the Allianz Stadium, to climb into third place ahead of the weekend’s action – just one point behind Milan in second.
Top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo fired the Bianconeri ahead against the Neapolitan side, before Paulo Dybala marked his return from injury and subsequent off-field controversy with a superb curled finish.
Though the win may have relieved some of the mounting pressure on head coach Andrea Pirlo – after having previously picked up only a solitary point from games against struggling Benevento and subordinate city rivals Torino – outgoing champions Juve remain 12 points behind leaders Inter with nine games to go, and their prospects of claiming a 10th successive title have vanished into the distance.
Following the game – before which speculation circulated that he would be sacked if his team suffered a loss that would threaten their chances of a top-four finish – Pirlo made the rare admission that he has made several errors in his debut season in the dugout.
Having promised to learn from his mistakes, the former midfield maestro must now lead his men into an eminently winnable fixture against mid-table Genoa, who appear set for a relatively comfortable climax to a once-troubled campaign.
Ahead of the game, Juventus have won their last three league encounters with the Ligurian outfit and, in home games against them, have lost just twice in 53 past meetings at the top level.
However, as well as their indiscipline – they have had more men sent off than any other side – among the established top seven in the Serie A standings, Juve have gained the fewest points against teams currently in the bottom half of the table.
Undoubtedly, that ongoing weakness against the also-rans has proved the difference between potentially fighting for the title and now scrapping it out for a top-four place.
Reigning champions Juventus will be aiming to keep up the pace with second-placed AC Milan when they lock horns with Genoa at home in Matchweek 30 of 2020/21 Serie A on Sunday afternoon. The defence of their league title is pretty much over for Juventus as they sit twelve points behind leaders Inter Milan. But, with the likes of Atalanta and Napoli breathing down their necks, the Bianconeri cannot afford any more slip-ups. And having bounced back to winning ways against Napoli earlier in the week after two games without a victory, they will be hoping to build on it this Sunday.
