Juventus: 5 key players to watch against Lazio

CB Matthijs de Ligt

Matthijs de Ligt isn’t 100 percent right now with a shoulder injury that may require surgery, and Juventus can’t afford to lose their best center back for a long period of time. Plus, the Champions League second leg against Lyon is coming up.

De Ligt should be able to play on Monday, and he’ll be needed at his best against Ciro Immobile, who still leads Cristiano Ronaldo as Serie A’s top scorer. Immobile’s form this season has been formidable, but de Ligt’s reading of the game and athleticism could help him lock down the Italian striker.

CM Rodrigo Bentancur

Despite an injury scare at Sassuolo, Rodrigo Bentancur should be good to go in this game between first and second in Serie A. Bentancur is one of the best defensive midfielders in Serie A, capable of providing endless running for Juventus. Up against Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto, Bentancur will need to have a world-class performance.

Maurizio Sarri will need to get more out of Bentancur offensively, too. He’s more than pulled his weight on the defensive end, but the consistency in supporting the attack, particularly the right winger, has been lacking. Bentancur is definitely a man on the rise, but he isn’t a star player for the Old Lady just yet.