Juventus vs AC Milan: Early-Season Showdown in Turin
The first real heavyweight clash of the Serie A season lands in Turin on Sunday night. Juventus against AC Milan at Allianz Stadium. Two games played each, no defeats, no doubts about the stakes.
Roma and Inter have already sprinted out to nine points from three matches. Como lurks just behind on seven. Juventus and Milan sit on six, level in the table but already under pressure. Win, and they stay on the leaders’ shoulders. Lose, and a gap opens up before September has even settled.
Kickoff is set for 8:45 p.m. local time in Turin, 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 2:45 p.m. Eastern and 11:45 a.m. Pacific in the United States.
Where to Watch
In the United States, there’s no confirmed linear TV listing, but the game will stream on Paramount+, with Telemundo and Fubo also carrying the match.
In the United Kingdom, TNT Sports 1 has the broadcast, with DAZN and HBO Max providing streaming options.
In Italy, the fixture runs exclusively on DAZN 1 (Sky channel 214) and the DAZN app, bypassing Sky and NOW entirely.
Form and Lineups: Defense vs Fluency
Juventus arrive with the kind of start that pleases any coach: two wins, two clean sheets. A 1-0 grind at Frosinone, followed by a more comfortable 2-0 victory over Parma in Turin. No frills, no concessions, just points.
Milan have taken a different route to the same total. Under new coach Ruben Amorim, they’ve opened with a 2-1 win at Torino and a 2-0 home win over Venezia. Four goals scored, two conceded, and signs of a side already leaning into a more expansive identity.
Both teams sit on six points. On goal difference, Milan are fourth, Juventus fifth. The table says they’re equals. The performances hint at two very different ways of getting there.
Juventus Lineup
- Guglielmo Vicario in goal
- Pierre Kalulu at right-back, Gleison Bremer and Jhon Lucumí as the central pairing, with Mehmet Zeki Çelik on the left
- Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz anchoring midfield
- Francisco Conceição wide right, Nicolás González operating between the lines, Jérémie Boga from the left
- Randal Kolo Muani as the lone striker
Milan Lineup
- Mike Maignan in goal
- Mario Gila on the right of the back three, Koni De Winter central, Strahinja Pavlović on the left
- Samuel Chukwueze as the right wing-back, Davide Bartesaghi on the left
- Luka Modrić and Yunus Musah in central midfield
- Adrien Rabiot and Alexis Saelemaekers supporting
- Gonçalo Ramos up front
One side leans on structure and solidity. The other leans on rhythm and combinations. Sunday will show which blueprint is further along.
Juventus Stretched, Milan Steady
Luciano Spalletti’s squad has taken a hit at the worst possible time. Seven players are out injured, according to recent reports, including Kenan Yildiz and Weston McKennie. Khephren Thuram and Andrea Cambiaso are also sidelined, stripping Juventus of depth and flexibility in key areas.
That kind of attrition forces a choice: tighten up even more, or trust the replacements to play at the same tempo. So far, the answer has been clear. Juventus have built their start on a hard, uncompromising defensive base. Two games, zero goals conceded. It’s old-school, but it works.
Milan’s problems are lighter, but still significant. Matteo Gabbia’s absence forces Koni De Winter into the back three alongside Mario Gila and Pavlović. The back line shifts, yet the spine in front of it looks imposing.
Luka Modrić and Adrien Rabiot both return to midfield roles, giving Amorim a core packed with experience and control. With Musah’s energy and Saelemaekers’ industry, Milan carry a balanced look between the lines, exactly the kind of platform you want away to Juventus.
Neither club reached the Champions League last season. That reality hangs over this game. This isn’t just about bragging rights between two giants; it’s an early marker of whose rebuild is ahead of schedule.
Pulisic on the Periphery
For American fans, the obvious question is simple: will Christian Pulisic play?
The answer, at least from the start, is no. The U.S. international has recovered from the leg injury that kept him out during the United States’ World Cup exit to Belgium in July, but he has not yet forced his way back into Amorim’s preferred XI.
He spent the entire win over Venezia on the bench. Two Serie A matches, two outings as an unused substitute.
Amorim addressed the situation after that Venezia victory. He praised Pulisic’s talent and stressed the need to manage workloads and prioritize wins, making it clear that, for now, competition and sharpness dictate selection. Pulisic remains an important figure, but not an automatic starter.
A late cameo in Turin is possible. That’s all it is for now: possible. Amorim has shown no rush to accelerate Pulisic’s return before he regains full rhythm.
Early Statement, or Early Warning?
On one side, a Juventus team stripped by injuries yet still unbreached. On the other, a Milan side already showing attacking ideas under a new coach, but still ironing out its defensive reshuffle.
The table says this is just matchday three. The mood around both clubs says it’s more than that. With Roma and Inter already out front and Como punching above its weight, there’s little margin for early missteps.
By Sunday night in Turin, we’ll know more: is this the launchpad for a title push, or the first sign of how far these two giants still have to climb?
