Simone Pepe could make his first Juventus start since 2012 in tonight’s Coppa Italia clash with Verona.
The winger has struggled with injury, and has played just 38 minutes for the Bianconeri in the past three seasons, with his sole appearance this campaign being a three minute cameo in the win over Cesena in September.
However, Calciomercato reports that the former Udinese man could start for Max Allegri’s men when Verona visit Juventus Stadium in the Coppa Italia tonight.
Simone Pepe could make his first Juventus start since 2012 in tonight’s Coppa Italia clash with Verona.
The winger has struggled with injury, and has played just 38 minutes for the Bianconeri in the past three seasons, with his sole appearance this campaign being a three minute cameo in the win over Cesena in September.
However, Calciomercato reports that the former Udinese man could start for Max Allegri’s men when Verona visit Juventus Stadium in the Coppa Italia tonight.
The website believes that Allegri will experiment with a 4-3-3 system against the Butei, with Pepe and Sebastian Giovinco lining up alongside Alvaro Morata.
However, Tuttosport believes that the Coach will stick with his 4-3-1-2 formation, with Kingsley Coman partnering Alvaro Morata.
Gigi Buffon will be rested, with Marco Storari taking up his mantle as is habitually the case in the Cup.
Youth product Federico Mattiello could also be given his first start for the club, but Tuttosport indicates he is more likely to replace Stephan Lichtsteiner as a second half substitute.
Unusually for a Coppa Italia game, the match is a sellout, with 40,000 people set to be in attendance, in stark contrast with the 8,000 who took in Milan’s tie with Sassuolo.
Probable Juventus XI to play Verona: Storari; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Padoin; Vidal, Marchisio, Pereyra; Pepe, Morata, Giovinco