Despite enduring a historically bad start to the 2021/22 Serie A season, Juventus will return from the second international break of the campaign in a position to pounce on the leading pack.
Three domestic wins on the bounce leave Massimiliano Allegri’s side with 11 points after seven games. They sit seventh in the table, four points off AS Roma and already ten adrift of perfect leaders Napoli. It’s a big gap, but one that’ll surely close.
Nevertheless, Juve’s effort in the build-up to the October break was mightily impressive considering their hectic September schedule. The Bianconeri played seven times in 22 days across two competitions. During which, Allegri had been forced to rotate.
After their deflating 1-1 draw to AC Milan that ignited their resurgence, Manuel Locatelli and the influential Alex Sandro were rested for the midweek trip to Spezia. Juve would eventually prevail as 3-2 victors but only after the aforementioned pair were introduced at half-time. Fringe players such as Weston McKennie and Mattia De Sciglio contributed to a shoddy first-half performance that day.
More recently, the manager had to tinker following the injuries to Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata both sustained in the triumph over Sampdoria. Allegri got creative with the Federicos to outwit Chelsea before Moise Kean was gifted a rare start in the Derby della Mole. Despite the persistent rotation, the Allegri’s favoured 4-4-2 system has remained ubiquitous.
However, while Juve and Allegri admirably mitigated recent injury woes amid a hectic schedule, another daunting period is on the horizon.
The next few weeks are incredibly tough for Juventus
Between October 17 and November 6, Juventus will play seven times. During that period, they’ll also enjoy a trip to Russia, which won’t be fun, as Zenit await on Matchday 3 in the Champions League.
Domestically, Juventus will prepare for huge clashes against Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi this Sunday, the Derby d’Italia away at the champions a week later and an exciting Fiorentina side on November 6. Potential banana skins also manifest when they host Sassuolo and visit a buoyant Hellas Verona. It’s an incredibly tough set of fixtures in a short space of time.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, however. Following clashes against Lazio and Atalanta in November, Juventus play four of the current bottom five in December.
For now, though, Allegri will be focussing on the here and now, and he’ll be aware that his squad management will have to be astute over the next month. On the bright side, their injury list is currently clean. Dybala and Morata are in line to return against Roma, while Arthur Melo and Kaio Jorge are finally available for selection.
The current availability is great news for the manager, who’ll need as many players as he can.
Allegri’s core
This season, Allegri’s trusted a core of players. His two veteran centre-backs, Matthijs de Ligt, Juan Cuadrado, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Manuel Locatelli, Rodrigo Bentancur Federico Chiesa, Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata make up this lengthy core. Faith has also been placed in Federico Bernardeschi, while Moise Kean is still settling.
On the contrary, Weston McKennie has been granted several chances to shine but has thrown Allegri’s faith straight back in the manager’s face with a string of poor performances. Dejan Kulusevski is yet to convince the returning boss and Aaron Ramsey’s status hasn’t altered. The Welshman remains on the periphery with Daniele Rugani, who’s yet to start a Serie A game this season. Mattia De Sciglio hasn’t been utilised since his pitiful display at Spezia, while Luca Pellegrini has endured a similar fate. The dynamic left-back is someone who probably deserves more minutes, but Alex Sandro’s current form makes him undroppable.
Chances will certainly arise for the majority of the senior squad, no matter how ostracised, over this ominous period for Juventus. The depths of this Bianconeri squad will be tested and it’s time for the fringe players to step up.