Juventus vs Lecce preview: Vlahovic returns as top-four pressure rises

Dušan Vlahović is set to start his first game since November 29, and Juventus need him back now. They are fourth in Serie A, but their lead over fifth-placed Roma has been cut to one point after back-to-back draws against Milan and Hellas Verona. Lecce are still fighting their own battle, with a four-point cushion above the relegation zone.

Why Vlahovic matters to Juventus now

Football Italia say Vlahovic is set to return to the Juventus starting XI for the first time in over five months. That is the main team-news angle here, because Juventus do not have much room to absorb another slip.

The numbers around Vlahovic are not spectacular, but they are useful. He has made 16 Serie A appearances this season and scored four league goals. Juventus are not bringing back a striker in peak rhythm, they are bringing back a forward who can give their attack a cleaner focal point than they have had in recent weeks.

There is also a broader point about how Juventus have looked across the last nine league matches. Sports Mole note that they have collected 19 points in that spell, while the recent sequence is described differently across sources, with some emphasising the last two draws and the verified five-match run reading DDWWW. Either way, the margin at the top of the race has clearly narrowed.

Lecce still have work to do

Lecce can also point to a useful recent result. They beat Pisa 2-1 to move four points clear of the dotted line with three matches remaining, and that matters because Eusebio Di Francesco's side are still not safe. They are 17th, and the pressure of staying up is still there even after that small step forward.

The head-to-head record gives Juventus another edge. They have lost just once in 12 league visits to Lecce this century, and Lecce have won none of the last 11 top-flight meetings between the sides. That does not guarantee anything on Saturday, but it does tell you why Juventus arrive with the stronger historical case as well as the stronger squad paper.

Wladimiro Falcone will have plenty to deal with if Juventus get Vlahovic into the game early. Kenan Yıldız should also matter in the final third, especially if Juventus want to turn the match into a controlled chase rather than another awkward end-to-end scrap.

The pressure is on both clubs for different reasons. Juventus need the result to keep Roma behind them, and Lecce need to keep turning their recent improvement into points. If Vlahovic starts as expected, the sharper attacking option is probably with Juventus, but they still need to show it on the pitch.