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Juventus’ predicted XI vs AS Roma: Dybala & Morata miss out

By James Cormack

TURIN, ITALY - OCTOBER 02: Massimiliano Allegri coach of Juventus FC reacts during the Serie A match between Torino FC v Juventus at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on October 2, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - OCTOBER 02: Massimiliano Allegri coach of Juventus FC reacts during the Serie A match between Torino FC v Juventus at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on October 2, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) /
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Massimiliano Allegri pits his wits against an old foe on Sunday night as Juventus host Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma in Serie A.

The Giallorossi have made a bright enough start under the treble-winning boss, while the Bianconeri are on the rise following their historically bad start to a league campaign. Juve’s three consecutive wins have thrust them up to a lofty seventh in the table, four points adrift of Sunday’s opponents.

Roma’s visit is the first fixture in a daunting schedule for Allegri’s men in which they’ll play another six before the November international break. Squad rotation is going to be key during this period. On Sunday, though, expect rotation to be kept to a minimum.

With Paulo Dybala ruled out and Alvaro Morata unlikely to start, here’s how Juventus could line up against Roma on Matchday 8.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Mattia De Sciglio could come in from the cold against AS Roma. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Mattia De Sciglio could come in from the cold against AS Roma. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Wojciech Szczesny (GK) – Szczesny is slowly restoring his reputation following a horrific start to the campaign. He’ll start on Sunday.

Danilo (RB) – Various reports suggest that only one of Danilo or Alex Sandro is expected to start against Roma, and we reckon Allegri will stick with the tried and trusted Danilo at right-back. He has more room for rotation at left-back. The 30-year-old has started five Serie A games this season, playing 90 minutes in all of them.

Leonardo Bonucci (CB) – The Italian endured a nightmare international break as he was sent off in Italy’s Nations League defeat to Spain. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t deter Allegri from deploying Bonucci, who’s so key to Juventus’ build-up play, from the outset on Sunday.

Matthijs de Ligt (CB) – The Juve boss said De Ligt “should play” against Roma after returning from international duty with the Netherlands. Old Juve’s September Player of the Month will be looking to continue his stellar form at the heart of the Bianconeri’s defence.

Mattia De Sciglio (LB) – De Sciglio has been ostracised from Allegri’s plans since his woeful 45 minutes at Spezia, but he could return to the fold here with Alex Sandro perhaps a little wary following his exploits with Brazil.

Midfielders

Juventus’ best midfield pivot. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Juventus’ best midfield pivot. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Juan Cuadrado (RM) – Allegri will surely overlook Cuadrado’s draining break with Colombia to put him in Sunday’s starting XI. The veteran’s that important to this Juventus side. Once again, Cuadrado’s emerged as a consistent performer this season, only this time from a more advanced position. He’s scored just once in four Serie A starts but provides the Bianconeri with so much more than production in the final third.

Manuel Locatelli (CM) – Locatelli has been a near ever-present in the starting XI ever since he made his first start away at Napoli on Matchday 3. He’s enjoyed a wonderful start to life in Turin and heads into this contest having won the Derby della Mole for Juventus two weeks ago.

Rodrigo Bentancur (CM) – Allegri looks to have stumbled upon Locatelli’s ideal pivot partner. Bentancur may frustrate fans with his frequent inability to pass the ball to a black and white shirt, but his importance without the ball is staggering. The Uruguayan’s combative and robust skillset complements the class of Locatelli nicely, and the pair are expected to start together again on Sunday.

Federico Chiesa (LM) – With De Sciglio potentially filling in at left-back, Chiesa will be tasked with holding the width down the left touchline and offering a source of penetration via bursts in behind the Roma defence. However, expect Chiesa to perform a fairly fluid function in this one where he’ll rotate into central areas often.

Forwards

Federico Bernardeschi has earned the trust of Max Allegri. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Federico Bernardeschi has earned the trust of Max Allegri. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images) /

Federico Bernardeschi (ST) – Paulo Dybala’s continued absence means the creative burden is likely to fall on Bernardeschi once more with Dejan Kulusevski out of favour. Allegri seems content with the former Fiorentina star’s start to the season, with the returning boss placing plenty of faith in the versatile Italian.

Moise Kean (ST) – Alvaro Morata is set to make the squad for Sunday night but it seems unlikely for him to start. Thus, Kean is poised to earn another chance to shine. The 21-year-old is still settling in Turin after returning to the club in the summer, earning just 145 Serie A minutes up to this point. A productive performance on Sunday could ignite his second stint at Juve.