FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Parma - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - October 30, 2024 Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic reacts during the match REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo
(Reuters) - Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic will miss his side's trip to face AC Milan in Serie A this weekend, and manager Thiago Motta said on Friday that he is also a doubt for their upcoming Champions League game at Aston Villa.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at the San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know, he definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable while Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absence.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow-defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far, a very tight title-race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Toby Davis)
