Juventus: 5 players who must shine at the San Siro against Milan
Juventus face a must-win proposition on Wednesday night at the San Siro, and they will need the following five players to be at their best.
On Sunday night at the Allianz Stadium, Juventus got their 2021 off to a bright start by ripping through Udinese 4-1 behind two goals and an assist from Cristiano Ronaldo. Federico Chiesa and struggling superstar Paulo Dybala also got in on the action with a goal apiece.
Juve must face a much more difficult opponent this Wednesday in Milan, who currently lead Serei A and have built up quite the difference in the table between themselves and the Bianconeri. If Juve are to win a 10th straight Scudetto, they have to win this game.
Let’s look at five players who must shine for Juventus on Serie A’s Matchday 16.
FW Paulo Dybala
Alvaro Morata is out after suffering an injury just before the Udinese match, and that means Paulo Dybala will draw a consecutive start. I honestly don’t think Dybala was at his best throughout the weekend’s match, but the late goal could be a confidence-booster for him against Milan this week.
He needs to be a LOT better against the Rossoneri. They have, in my opinion, the league’s best center back duo right now in Alessio Romagnoli and Simon Kjaer, who has been a revelation. Dybala has to be more incisive and smarter with the ball.
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RB Juan Cuadrado
Important update: Juan Cuadrado is out with a positive COVID-19 test. So consider Merih Demiral the option who must shine here.
Juventus right back Juan Cuadrado will be the second-best player on the pitch for the club in terms of form since Alvaro Morata is out. (The best is obviously Cristiano Ronaldo.)
Cuadrado already came up big in one rivalry game this season, assisting two late goals to carry the Bianconeri to victory over Torino. He will have to be even better on Matchday 16.
His hard work in defense goes underrated, but Cuadrado cannot afford any positional lapses either. Ante Rebic is a strong, fast, and experienced wide forward who loves scoring goals. Rebic is the danger man with Zlatan Ibrahimovic out, and Cuadrado has to use his veteran savvy to win this battle.
CM Rodrigo Bentancur
I thought Rodrigo Bentancur did a very good job against Rodrigo De Paul and Udinese’s solid midfield, growing into the match. Bentancur will need to be great against Milan, especially when it comes to his defensive work against Hakan Calhanoglu. Right now, there isn’t a better chance-creator in Serie A than the former Bundesliga star.
Bentancur is at his best when he is putting in hard defensive work for the Old Lady, and Juventini will hope that he can be the all-around star in midfield that he’s supposed to. These are the kind of big games Bentancur needs to shine in if he is to assert himself as a star in Turin.
FW Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has carried Juventus to victory so many times this season, against high-quality opponents and lower-tier foes. Juve’s reliance on Ronaldo is indeed worrisome, but since it is unlikely to change this season, we know he is THE key man to watch on Wednesday night at the San Siro.
Expect Ronaldo to find the back of the net, even considering the quality of competition. He averages more than a goal per game in Serie A, and I do not foresee that changing at any point this season. Ronaldo is the world’s finest goal-scorer, and he is the last person Juventini have to worry about in a must-win match. He has been there, done that to an extent that nobody in the history of this game has.
GK Wojciech Szczesny
Wojciech Szczesny vs. Gianluigi Donarumma will be the battle of the best goalkeepers in Serie A, though, given his performances this season, you’d hardly think Szczesny would be worthy of such a title. He is, but he needs to step up and start making the kind of matchwinning saves that the best keeper in the league should be making.
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Milan are an exciting team, and even without Zlatan, they pose a serious attacking threat. Rafael Leao is one of the best young forwards in the world, Rebic is a proven player in two leagues, and Calhanoglu is a goalkeeper’s worst nightmare on set pieces. Szczesny will have to make big saves in this match, unlike in other matches where he has been able to skate by. Let’s hope he is up to the task.