Federico Chiesa returns to Juventus‘s starting line-up, with Weston McKennie and Manuel Locatelli in midfield.
The Bianconeri host Zenit in a Champions League group stage game at the Allianz Stadium tonight.
It kicks off at 20.00 UK time.
A draw is enough for Massimiliano Allegri’s side to qualify for the Round of 16 with two games to spare.
Juventus have lost the last two Serie A games against Sassuolo and Hellas Verona but won three games from three in the Champions League, including against title holders Chelsea.
Chiesa missed Saturday’s game at the Stadio Bentegodi, but is expected to return to action tonight, starting as a left winger in a 4-4-2 formation.
Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata will once again start up front as Moise Kean is still on the sidelines with a muscle injury.
Aaron Ramsey is also on the treatment table with muscle fatigue.
Juventus vs. Zenit: probable line-ups
Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Chiesa, Bentancur, Locatelli, McKennie; Dybala, Morata
Zenit: Kritsyuk; Chistyakov, Lovren, Rakitskiy; Sutormin, Barrios, Wendel, Karavaev; Mostovoy, Claudinho, Azmoun.
Why does Allegri persist with this useless 4-4-2? It’s simply not working and nullifies our biggest attacking threat in Chiesa. Surely at home against Zenit, Allegri can show more endeavour and go for a 4-3-3.
I agree, this lopsided 4-4-2 has been a disaster. But this could be a 4-3-3 in reality if it lines up as Benta-Loca-Weston ; Chiesa – Morata – Dybala. Let’s see how Allegri enforces it though….
again ramsey with injury.. no surprise for anyone..
he really needs to go somewhere
As much as I love him, the main reason Allegri plays 4-4-2 is because of Dybala. He has the license to drift anywhere on the pitch but because Juve these days defend more than attack, he is alongside Morata and cannot play in a strict position, such as on the left or on the right. In an ideal world we would play a 4-2-3-1 with a base of Locatelli and a defensive minded midfielder, not Arthur/Bentancur/Rabiot/McKennie as they are all too positionally lazy defensively, Chiesa on the right, Dybala as an attacking midfielder and I don’t know who on the left and Morata as a centre forward.
Or maybe an alternative is a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 with Danilo-Bonucci-De Ligt, Cuadrado and Alex Sandro on the wings, Locatelli and a def midfielder, with Dybala and Chiesa behind Morata.
Shows you how bad this Juve team has been built when there is no real idea, too much dead weight and not enough players to play the manager’s preferred way. Good riddance Paratici.
But can rube win without reciving penalties is the question?
No Bernardeschi – no victory again😂
I keep hearing that McKennie will be sold but he does try hard and does score goals. I would always keep him as an injury back up player. Rabiot, Arthur, Bentancur– well they dont even score goals, and if they cant pass and they cant defend I dont see what good they are.
sigh….How does Sandro keep starting?