Juventus Predicted XI against Milan: Gonzalo Higuain up top

Juventus can’t take anything for granted against Milan at the San Siro.

A few weeks ago, Juventus advanced to the final of the Coppa Italia, but they were far from convincing in their second leg over Milan. Despite playing at the Allianz Stadium against 10 men for most of the match, Juve failed to score, drawing 0-0.

They will need to be more impressive on Tuesday at the San Siro, especially with Paulo Dybala and Matthijs de Ligt suspended. Here’s a look at how Juve could line up.

GK Wojciech Szczesny

Wojciech Szczesny will be back in the starting lineup for this tough matchup with Milan after Gianluigi Buffon broke the record for most Serie A appearances in the 4-1 derby win over Torino. Expect to see Szczesny finally tested.

LB Danilo

With Alex Sandro and Mattia De Sciglio injured, Danilo has been holding down the fort at left back and playing quite well. He shouldn’t run into trouble against Milan with Samu Castillejo injured.

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CB Leonardo Bonucci

Mr. Consistent, Leonardo Bonucci will start against Milan and has been playing well since Serie A’s return, even if he’s overshadowed by Matthijs de Ligt. Bonucci will need to be perfect against Milan.

CB Daniele Rugani

Daniele Rugani has recovered and is ready to start with de Ligt suspended, and it’s great that Juve has so much depth at center back since Merih Demiral and Giorgio Chiellini are injured. Quietly, Rugani has been enjoying a strong 2019-2020 when he does play.

RB Juan Cuadrado

Juan Cuadrado scored a vintage goal in the win over Torino to make it 2-1, and he’s been in excellent form over the past few games. He will be one of the keys to victory for the Bianconeri on Tuesday.

CM Adrien Rabiot

It’s a toss-up between the veteran Blaise Matuidi and first-year Juve midfielder Adrien Rabiot. But since Rabiot needs to prove himself and is coming off his best performance with the team, he should get the nod at the San Siro.

CM Miralem Pjanic

Miralem Pjanic has done a nice job of creating chances for others over the past several games, and he will need to continue his upswing in form against Milan. Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie are tough customers in midfield for the Rossoneri, so Pjanic must stand out.

CM Rodrigo Bentancur

One of the quiet standouts of the derby win over Torino, Rodrigo Bentancur never stopped running and defending for the Bianconeri on Saturday. Bentancur could be a Man of the Match candidate against Milan, especially if he can give the forwards an attacking outlet in addition to his defensive work.

LW Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has been on fiery form since Serie A’s restart, fully shaking off any rust he showed in the two Coppa Italia matches. He even scored his first free kick against Torino, curling the ball perfectly into the top left corner of the goal. CR7 must take on additional responsibilities on Tuesday night with Paulo Dybala suspended.

ST Gonzalo Higuain

While Gonzalo Higuain has come off the bench a couple of times in the past few weeks and scored once, this is his first start for Juventus since the restart. Higuain will need to both be a goal-scoring threat and a positive link-up force in the attack, working well with the midfielder and setting up chances for the goal-hungry Ronaldo.

RW Federico Bernardeschi

Juve seem to have found the winning formula with Douglas Costa as the impact sub and Federico Bernardeschi as the starter on the right, but like the Barcelona-bound Pjanic, Bernardeschi’s days at Juve are numbered amidst links of a swap deal for Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik.