Juventus vs Lazio: Koopmeiners Poised for Key Role

Juventus is gearing up for an important match against Lazio at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. The game is set to kick off at 20:45 CET. Coach Luciano Spalletti faces challenges with player injuries, as two key players, Lloyd Kelly and Francisco Conceicao, have been training separately due to minor physical issues. Their availability for the match will depend on late fitness tests.

Impact of Injuries on Juventus

Spalletti’s squad is feeling the impact of these injury concerns. Most reports suggest neither Kelly nor Conceicao is likely to start. This opens the door for Teun Koopmeiners to step into the starting lineup.

Koopmeiners in the Defense

Teun Koopmeiners is expected to replace Kelly in defense, continuing his role from earlier this season. He will likely join:

• Pierre Kalulu
• Gleison Bremer
• Andrea Cambiaso

Spalletti may opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation; however, a shift to a 3-4-2-1 formation is also possible to further integrate Koopmeiners into the game plan.

Potential Lineup Changes

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Federico Gatti holds a 40% chance of stepping in for Bremer, who did not perform well against Atalanta. In midfield, Juventus will likely see:

• Manuel Locatelli
• Khephren Thuram

Fabio Miretti is expected to play as an attacking midfielder, while Weston McKennie may take over for the injured Conceicao on the right wing. Youngster Kenan Yildiz, who recently signed a contract extension, will aim to make an impact, overcoming a prior muscle issue.

Juventus vs. Lazio Probable Lineups

Here are the probable lineups for both teams:

As Juventus prepares for this vital clash, all eyes will be on Koopmeiners to see how he performs in his pivotal role.