Juventus: 3 players who must step up for Matthijs de Ligt against Sassuolo

Juventus won’t have one of their top players available this weekend against Sassuolo due to COVID-19.

On Wednesday, Juventus defeated Serie A leaders Milan without Juan Cuadrado and Alex Sandro due to COVID-19, and they will miss another important defensive player this Sunday night against Sassuolo after Matthijs de Ligt received a positive COVID-19 test.

De Ligt is a leader for Juventus and the team’s best center back. The Bianconeri are blessed with a quartet of great central defenders, but the former Ajax man is undoubtedly the shining star of the group. So his absence will be felt, yet Juve have the quality to make up for the loss.

Let’s look at three players who can step up with Matthijs de Ligt unavailable.

CB Giorgio Chiellini

Giorgio Chiellini will likely start next to Leonardo Bonucci now that he’s healthy after picking up yet another thigh injury. Muscular issues are tricky and are derailing Chiellini’s final years with the Bianconeri, but he remains one of the better defenders in Serie A when he’s healthy.

Chiellini seems to bring the best out of Bonucci, which is good news for Juventini. He can’t bring de Ligt’s athleticism to the table, but his ability to read the game and ball-playing remain at the highest possible level.

CB Leonardo Bonucci

Of course, we must also highlight his central defensive partner, Bonucci. Compare Juve’s loss to Fiorentina to their win to Milan, and you will see just how important it is to the Old Lady that Bonucci plays at his best. He is good for 90 percent of the match, but there is that 10 percent where he is shaky and causes mistakes that opponents can punish.

Bonucci should be calm with Chiellini next to him, but Juventus cannot afford any defensive errors against an exciting Sassuolo side. Even with star man Domenico Berardi out, Jeremie Boga and Francesco Caputo, who has six goals this season, are tough opponents.

CB Merih Demiral

Merih Demiral is a candidate to start at either center back over Giorgio Chiellini or at right back over Danilo. I would like to see a three-man defense on Matchday 17 vs. Sassuolo, with Demiral locking down that right side. He is fit and deserves to play, because he is a great defender.

Either Chiellini or Demiral will be called upon, if not both, and Demiral has a golden opportunity to back up Juventini who believe he should start next to de Ligt on the regular. Bonucci vs. Demiral is a center back battle to watch throughout 2021.