Juventus: 5 key players to watch against Roma on Matchday 2

Juventus will face Roma at the Stadio Olimpico this Sunday. Here are five players on the Bianconeri to watch closely.

The opening match against Sampdoria couldn’t have gone any better for Juventus, as Andrea Pirlo’s team dominated in his debut as the senior team’s manager. Juve put three past Sampdoria and were rarely threatened by the visitors, with young players Dejan Kulusevski and Weston McKennie immediately making an impact.

On Sunday, they will face a tougher opponent in Roma on the road. Here are five key players to watch on the Bianconeri.

Juventus FW Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is almost always the danger man to watch, and he took 10 shots against Sampdoria, per WhoScored.com. The Portuguese superstar hit the bar and missed another close chance, but he came away with a goal in the end.

This season, Ronaldo could be even more deadly in front of goal than last, and he’ll get more chances to score with a much better midfield and a much, much better manager guiding the way tactically for the Bianconeri.

Look for Ronaldo to find space hard to come by against Roma, but also look for the superstar player to find the back of the net again – maybe even twice.

Juventus CB Danilo

Danilo was quietly excellent against Sampdoria, doing a wonderful job of carrying the ball and beating the press with a calm game at the back. It’s easy to get too critical of Danilo, but he’s a good defender who can help offensively if he’s not asked to be dynamic or to do things that he can’t do as an athlete. He’s just a good footballer, and his tactical intelligence in Pirlo’s back three will be a key to victory against Roma.

Juventus CM Adrien Rabiot

Since breaking out late last season with a string of good performances, Adrien Rabiot has suddenly become undroppable for Juventus. The French center midfielder is playing the football of his life right now, showing more slick skills and attacking intent than he did at PSG.

Rabiot will face a tough midfield against Roma, so he must be at his best in terms of keeping possession and picking out the right progressive passes. Judging by the understated display against Sampdoria, he should be up to the task at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juventus GK Wojciech Szczesny

Even in games in which he is rarely tested, Wojciech Szczesny manages to remind people why he is the best goalkeeper in Serie A. Szczesny will have to be on alert against Roma, because they could produce some nervy moments for Juventus at home. It will be up to Szczesny to stay focused and make some tight saves against the run of play.

Juventus FW Dejan Kulusevski

Likely Cristiano Ronaldo’s forward partner in the Juventus lineup, Dejan Kulusevski is coming off a wonderful game against Sampdoria in which he scored the first goal of the match. Kulusevski was one of Serie A’s best players last season with 18 total goal contributions on loan at Parma, and he is on a mission to match that total with a more competitive club in Juventus.

The Sweden international will be a huge threat to Roma’s defense, sneaking in between the lines and cutting inside on his trusty left foot. Kulusevski could match Ronaldo’s effectiveness for a second straight game.