Juventus vs. Verona: Paulo Dybala and 5 key players to watch

Juventus will face Hellas Verona on Sunday night at the Allianz Stadium. Paulo Dybala could be poised for his first start.

Winless in Serie A since Matchday 1 against Sampdoria, Juventus are looking to recover from their disappointing 1-1 draw with Crotone last weekend by defeating Hellas Verona at home this Sunday. They got into the win column in their Champions League opener, as Alvaro Morata scored a brace in a comfortable 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv.

Superstar forward Paulo Dybala returned off the bench against Kyiv, so he’ll look to play the full 90 minutes for the first time this season against Verona.

Here are five players on the Bianconeri to watch.

CM Adrien Rabiot

Adrien Rabiot has the potential to be a star player for Juventus for the next couple of years, as he was the team’s most in-form midfielder this summer. Rabiot’s performances have not taken a downturn in 2020-2021 either, as he remains highly effective for both club and country.

But consistency is hard to come by in Serie A for a midfielder. Rabiot must prove himself week in and week out, and he will be tested this weekend by Verona’s midfield. The French standout has yet to register a key pass this season, so chance creation will be something for him to work on.

CB Merih Demiral

Giorgio Chiellini is nursing a muscular injury after leaving the game early against Dynamo Kyiv. Merih Demiral replaced him and was outstanding, so he will most likely get the start with the captain still recovering.

Demiral is one of the most underrated center backs in European football, and there are many Juventini who would prefer to see Andrea Pirlo give the young man a chance to start over Leonardo Bonucci.

It probably won’t happen, but Demiral could boost his stock in the manager’s eyes even more by producing a clean display against Verona this weekend.

FW Paulo Dybala

Cristiano Ronaldo won’t play against Verona and is a doubt for Barcelona, so Paulo Dybala becomes the de facto superstar in Juve’s lineup. La Joya was Serie A’s MVP last season and crucial to Juve’s best performances, often bailing the team out with his individual quality by going on a mazy run with a brilliant curled finish off that left boot to cap the move.

Dybala is one of the best players in Serie A, and he has been missed. It may take him some time to get going after returning from an injury, but Pirlo will come to rely on the Argentine forward as a crucial player in his lineup. A good performance vs. Verona will be a step in that direction.

FW Alvaro Morata

The other main forward in Juve’s attack right now, Alvaro Morata is in sparkling form. If it weren’t for VAR, we’d be talking about the Spanish striker being on a streak of two straight braces.

He started his return to the Bianconeri with some rust against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, but he has been a real goal threat since then. Morata can be one of Serie A’s top poachers, filling a vital role as the out-and-out No. 9 Juventus were looking for. How much he helps Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo remains to be seen, but the striker’s all-around game has improved over the years. We may see his best football in 2020-2021 in Turin.

LWB Gianluca Frabotta

Gianluca Frabotta has what it takes to become a trusted contributor for Andrea Pirlo, and it seems like the Italian manager already favors the young wing back greatly. Federico Chiesa and Dejan Kulusevski can play as a left wing back, but Frabotta is the most natural fit for the position of those three players. He may even be favored over veteran, defense-minded left back Alex Sandro, who was once a key player for the Bianconeri.

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A hard-working player and composed passer, Frabotta is improving with each passing game. He could get the start against Verona and turn in another positive performance, gaining more momentum in Pirlo’s eyes and more favor from the Juventini.

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