Tudor not afraid of being sacked, enjoys 'difficulties' of the Juventus job

Igor Tudor does not fear losing his job as Juventus head coach and is confident that they can turn things around against Lazio in Serie A.

Juventus' last win in all competitions was back in September, when they beat Inter 4-3, and since then.

They are now without a win in seven games in all competitions, having lost their last two.

A disappointing 2-0 defeat to Como last time out in Serie A was followed by a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, with the pressure mounting on Tudor.

Juventus are seventh in the league after their underwhelming start, though are only five points behind leaders AC Milan, and Tudor is relishing the challenge.

"Honestly, I don't have this fear [of being sacked], not at all. I enjoy it, even in difficulties. I'm aware of what's around me. It's all clear to me," he said.

"When you see things clearly, you have a strength that you wouldn't have had in other moments. I think about how to motivate players, make them rest, and find solutions. That's what I think about.

"As for the future, I am not concerned, aside from the next game.

"I don't think about myself. I try to find the best solutions. The feeling after Madrid is positive, despite the defeat. The team is there, and also the desire to do and give what we have, trying to win games. [On Sunday], we face a high-level team, so we must be ready."

Lazio, meanwhile, are down in 12th, though they are unbeaten in their last three matches (W1 D2) since losing the Derby della Capitale to Roma.

Maurizio Sarri is looking to avoid leading a side through three consecutive stalemates for the first time in Serie A since March 2015.

"I expect a difficult game, as we are facing a team that three days ago played on level terms with Real Madrid and only suffered a narrow defeat," said Sarri, who spent just over a year in charge of Juve.

"We must be aware that when there are moments of difficulty, we have to overcome them together."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lazio – Mattia Zaccagni

In the last two seasons (since 2024-25), Lazio have won each of 10 matches in which Mattia Zaccagni has scored in Serie A.

Indeed, they are unbeaten in each of the last 21 league games when Zaccagni has netted (W18 D3). Their last defeat with him as a scorer was back in October 2022 (v Salernitana).

Juventus – Dusan Vlahovic

Dusan Vlahovic has scored seven goals against Lazio since arriving in Italy in all competitions (including two braces in Serie A, in May 2021 and September 2023). Only against Cagliari (nine) has he scored more goals.

Of his seven goals against the Biancocelesti, only one has come at the Olimpico.

MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN

Juventus have drawn the most games in the last two seasons in the top five European leagues (from 2024-25): 19 out of 45 (42%).

On the other hand, only Everton (11) have drawn more home games than Lazio (10, equal with Brighton, Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano) in the same period.

The teams drew 1-1 when they met on May 10 and could draw two consecutive Serie A matches for the first time since April 2006.

Lazio are unbeaten in five of their last six home league games against Juventus (W3 D2), including their last three (W2 D1), after losing nine of their previous 10 Serie A matches at the Olimpico against the Bianconeri (D1).

However, Lazio have won just two of their last 15 home league games (D9 L4), after having won 10 of their previous 12 in Serie A (D2).

Juventus are expected to pile more misery on Lazio at home, despite their recent struggles, but they have failed to score in their last two league matches – they have not done so in three in a row since September 2024 (three consecutive 0-0 draws).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Lazio – 31.5%

Draw – 28%

Juventus – 40.5%