Juventus 2-1 Sassuolo: 4 takeaways as Juve book place in Coppa Italia semi-finals

Rusty return

Leonardo Bonucci made his first appearance of the year on Thursday, but his return to action wasn’t a memorable one. Alongside the seemingly bored Matthijs de Ligt, who was more interested in scoring goals than preventing them by the end of the contest, Bonucci forgot how to pass a football.

For a player revered for his passing range, his distribution was uncharacteristically appalling in this one. Most of his attempted long balls were underhit, and his inaccuracy almost cost Juve on occasions.

The veteran Italian just looked off, and while he defended the box well enough outside of the Traore goal during which he was extremely passive, his showing would’ve concerned many. Nevertheless, this rustiness can be expected of a 34-year-old playing his first game since Christmas.

However, Bonucci’s unconvincing display gives Allegri food for thought ahead of Sunday’s trip to Bergamo. While Giorgio Chiellini is out, Daniele Rugani is waiting in the wings after forming a sturdy partnership with De Ligt in January. Juve’s fourth-choice centre-back has barely put a foot wrong this term and there’s no doubting that he’ll be considered for Sunday.

I know what defender I’d rather be running at if I was Jeremie Boga.