Juventus could be without key defender Federico Gatti for their crucial Serie A encounter against Atalanta on Sunday. The Italian center-back is dealing with muscle fatigue, raising concerns over his availability for the highly anticipated match.
The Bianconeri are currently enjoying a five-game winning streak in the league, which has helped them narrow the gap to leaders Inter Milan to just six points.
Despite sitting fourth in the standings, Thiago Motta’s side remains in the title race, making this fixture against Atalanta a pivotal moment in their campaign.
A victory against La Dea would propel Juventus into third place and maintain pressure on Inter and Napoli. However, a setback could significantly dent their Scudetto ambitions.
Reports from JuventusNews24, indicate that Gatti was forced to train separately on Thursday due to muscle discomfort, casting doubt over his participation.
The defender has been a constant presence in Juventus’ backline this season, especially with other defensive options such as Gleison Bremer, Pierre Kalulu, and Renato Veiga facing injury setbacks at different points.
Given Gatti’s extensive playing time without much rest, his potential absence is not entirely unexpected. His workload has been immense, and the physical strain now seems to be taking its toll.
On a positive note for Juventus, Kalulu returned to action earlier this week, featuring as a substitute in the victory over Hellas Verona. His comeback comes at a crucial time, as he is now a likely candidate to step into the starting lineup alongside Lloyd Kelly at the heart of the defense.
Veiga is also on the path to recovery but might not be fit enough to start. Motta will have to make a decision based on the final training sessions leading up to Sunday’s match.
With a crucial showdown ahead, Juventus must ensure their defensive stability remains intact if they hope to continue their push for the Serie A title.
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