Max Allegri explains his choices as Juventus face Jose Mourinho’s Roma this evening and insists they do not need to ‘send a message’ to Serie A leaders Inter.
It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium at 19.45 GMT.
As leaders Inter were held to a 1-1 draw by Genoa last night at Marassi, Allegri was asked if Juve must send a message to the Nerazzurri that they will pounce on the slightest slip-up in the Scudetto race.
“More than send a message to Inter, it is important to put in a good performance and get a result in a head-to-head battle. Roma are doing very well and in the last round were able to beat Napoli,” Allegri told DAZN.
Juve have chosen to again start 18-year-old Turkey international Kenan Yildiz, this time as a partner to Dusan Vlahovic, as Federico Chiesa is only on the bench.
“Federico had two good training sessions, he had this pain in the knee tendon last week, so I decided to start Yildiz who did very well against Frosinone. Chiesa can be an important option off the bench.”
Dybala returns after three weeks out to face his former club, so does that give Roma a more creative aspect, or do they remain stubborn?
“Roma remain tough, because it is always complicated to face a Mourinho team. Dybala is a player with a lot of class, ballistic capabilities and goal-scoring technique, so we need to be wary.”