Juventus got their 2020-2021 Champions League campaign off to a winning start on the road against Dynamo Kyiv.
Without Cristiano Ronaldo in the lineup, Juventus went with Federico Chiesa, Alvaro Morata, and Dejan Kulusevski in the lineup before giving Paulo Dybala his season debut as a substitute for Kulusevski.
It all worked out well for the Old Lady, as they came away with a solid 2-0 win against a very game Dynamo Kyiv side. Here are the player ratings.
GK Wojciech Szczesny
Nothing special from the best goalkeeper in Serie A. He made a couple of good saves and only had a minor spill that Aaron Ramsey cleaned up.
Rating: 6.0 out of 10
LB/CB Danilo
Started on the left side of the defense this time after Giorgio Chiellini’s early injury, which looked like a hamstring pull. Danilo has been excellent as a center back in a back three, as he can just focus on defending, which is what he’s best at.
Rating: 7.0 out of 10
CB Leonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci made his customary mistakes with some ill-advised passes in his own half and one play where it looked like he could be whistled for another penalty. The veteran center back did play well, though, recording two tackles and three interceptions, per WhoScored.com. As usual, he is the quarterback of the defense, as he led the way with 89 pass attempts.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
CB Merih Demiral
To nobody’s surprise, Merih Demiral was Juve’s best defender when he entered the pitch. The Turkish international never looked troubled, mopped up messes, and made good decisions on the ball. He completed nearly 92 percent of his passes with a team-high five interceptions alongside Adrien Rabiot.
Rating: 8.0 out of 10
RB/RWB Juan Cuadrado
The more attacking of the two wide defenders, Juan Cuadrado was essentially a wing back to Paulo Dybala or Dejan Kulusevski as a right winger. Cuadrado is an easy player to under-appreciate, but he was instrumental in this game. The Colombian always puts in a shift defensively, and he added an assist for Alvaro Morata’s second.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
CM Rodrigo Bentancur
Rodrigo Bentancur’s starting job is honestly at risk, since he really doesn’t offer Juventus much in terms of progressive play. He also picked up a yellow card before being subbed off.
Rating: 6.0 out of 10
CM Adrien Rabiot
Excellent. Adrien Rabiot has really stepped up his performances over the past couple of months, impressing with both Juventus and the French national team. Rabiot made five interceptions and completed about 91 percent of his passes. This wasn’t his best game offensively, but he was steely when he needed to be, yielding more opportunities for Aaron Ramsey.
Rating: 7.0 out of 10
AM Aaron Ramsey
One of the most lively players on the pitch for the Old Lady, Aaron Ramsey bounced back to something resembling his form in the Serie A opener against Sampdoria. The Welsh star led the team with three key passes and added three dribbles completed, making a lot of clever plays in the final third. He’s becoming an X-Factor for this Juventus attack.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
LW Federico Chiesa
Acquired from Fiorentina, Federico Chiesa is already fitting Juventus perfectly. His red card against Crotone was the lone blemish on what was otherwise an encouraging display, and he really shouldn’t have been booked. Chiesa’s energy, work rate, and crossing are all assets for the Old Lady, and he will only get better and better this season.
Rating: 7.0 out of 10
RW Dejan Kulusevski
Dejan Kulusevski had a quieter evening before being taken off for the returning Paulo Dybala. The Swedish international had a couple of shots on target and worked hard, but he didn’t make a big impact on the game.
Rating: 6.0 out of 10
ST Alvaro Morata
The Man of the Match for Juventus, Alvaro Morata is fitting in perfectly in his return to Turin. Morata could be riding two straight braces if it weren’t for VAR denying him a second against Crotone. He is indeed the poacher Juve needed to replace Gonzalo Higuain for the 2020-2021 season. If he keeps it up, he’ll be in Turin for longer.
Rating: 8.0 out of 10