Juventus 3-1 Atalanta: 3 takeaways from Juve’s last pre-season friendly
3. Bonucci and De Ligt appear to be Juventus’ first-choice pairing at the back
The friendly against Atalanta was an important one for many reasons. Juventus ended up winning the game — that was only the icing on the cake for the eleven thousand spectators who bought tickets to attend the game amid the pandemic and those who were watching the game via the television screens from their respective homes.
On top of the victory, we have come to form a slight idea about Juve’s first-choice centre-back pairing that Massimiliano Allegri would like to use going forward.
The 36-time Scudetto winners have already let Merih Demiral join Atalanta on a season-long loan deal this summer, leaving Juve with five senior centre-halves in Daniele Rugani, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Matthijs de Ligt, and Radu Dragusin. If reports that have recently started hovering in the air are to be believed, Dragusin could also leave Juventus this summer, with Cagliari interested in a loan deal.
As Juventus don’t seemingly intend to sign a centre-back this time, Dragusin’s departure would mean the promotion of Koni De Winter, 19, to the fifth-choice centre-back in the senior team. That leaves Juve with very few reliable bodies at the back.
Allegri chose to go with the defensive pairing of Matthijs de Ligt and Leonardo Bonucci against Atalanta. Apart from the Bonucci error that led to Atalanta’s penalty and goal, both defenders looked authoritative on the ground and in the air. Barring that one incident, they were in full control of their 18-yard box.
Next. Juventus close in on Manuel Locatelli. dark
The partnership of Rugani and Chiellini played out the final minutes of the game. However, the Dutch-Italian tandem is understood to have done enough to warrant a start in Juve’s opening match against Udinese next Sunday.