Juventus: 5 key players to watch against Torino on Matchday 10

Juventus will face Torino on Matchday 10 in the Derby Della Mole. They will need these five players to stand out.

After drawing 1-1 with Benevento last weekend, Juventus got back to their winning ways by defeating Dynamo Kyiv 3-0 in the Champions League. Federico Chiesa, Alvaro Morata, and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the stars of the attack in 2020-2021, and all three men got on the scoresheet at mid-week.

Torino awaits Juve on Saturday evening at the Allianz Stadium for the Derby Della Mole. Nothing is guaranteed for the Bianconeri, and so these five men in Black and White must play at a high level for Andrea Pirlo.

CB Leonardo Bonucci

Andrea Belotti and Simone Zaza are two star forwards in Serie A, with Belotti being a particularly danger man to the Bianconeri. A little bit of veteran leadership is needed in the derby, and Leonardo Bonucci can provide it at the back.

Bonucci is having a decent season, joining his defensive teammates in mostly shutting down opposing attacks. Juventus could keep a clean sheet vs. Torino this weekend, and Bonucci would be crucial in that effort. He may also be needed to make those dangerous diagonal passes with his renowned ball-playing ability.

CM Arthur Melo

Arthur Melo is ready to bounce back after that poor performance against Ferencvaros. He looked better against Benevento, albeit only marginally so. For the most part, Arthur has been a positive addition to Juve’s previously woeful midfield, but there is still room to grow for the former Barcelona man.

The 24-year-old will need to be strong defensively and dictate the play vs. Torino. He must be ready for the challenges of this derby match and the physicality that players like Tomas Rincon will bring to the table for the opposition. This is Arthur’s chance to make a name for himself in a Juventus kit.

CM Adrien Rabiot

Likewise, his center midfield partner is a key player to watch for the Bianconeri on Serie A’s Matchday 10. Adrien Rabiot is, per WhoScored.com, averaging 1.9 tackles per game and 1.6 interceptions per game for the team in Serie A this season. He has raised his game in 2020 and has become a key defensive presence in the middle of the park.

Rabiot may be asked to step up in the attack, adding key passes and a goal-scoring threat to the forwards in the match. The rising star for the French national team is a weekly fixture in the Juventus XI, and he should be the best midfielder on the pitch this season. Something tells me he will have a goal contribution vs. Torino.

FW Paulo Dybala

Although he has worn the captain’s armband this season, Juventus forward Paulo Dybala hasn’t completely looked like a leader. This has been his worst season so far, maybe of his career. It has shocked Juventini, because Dybala is normally one of the very best players in Serie A. Last season, for example, he was vital in Juve securing a ninth straight Scudetto.

There is no better time for Dybala to turn things around than in the Derby Della Mole. This is Dybala’s opportunity to remind fans around Italy why he isn’t just one of the league’s best, but also one of the world’s best forwards. Dybala’s exciting dribbling and goal-scoring touch have been missing this season, but they have not been completely absent either.

Look for La Joya to produce a gem of a performance in the derby against Serie A’s worst defense.

RM Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski is another player who stands to benefit from facing a defense that has allowed 22 goals in nine Serie A matches. The Swedish international is at his best in the right wing position, but he could play a little further back as a right midfielder in a 3-5-2 system on Saturday.

Just 20 years of age, Kulusevski has scored twice in Serie A this season as a first-year Juventus player, as he looks to build on his excellent season at Parma in 2019-2020. Kulusevski is not even close to being the finished product and has admittedly struggled in a number of games this season, but that delightful opener against Sampdoria was the first sign of the stardom he’s capable of reaching in Turin.

It will be exciting for Juventini to see Kulusevski’s explosiveness and sharpshooting on display in the Derby Della Mole. He is a possible X-Factor for the Old Lady on Matchday 10.