Juventus predicted lineup vs Inter - Serie A
A resurgent Juventus host title-chasing Inter in a Serie A derby on Sunday night.
Massimiliano Allegri has steered the Old Lady out of the tailspin in which they started their season, going unbeaten in Serie A since November, but was almost in Madrid last summer. The 54-year-old had "already signed" with Real Madrid, according to his own account of events, before reneging on the agreement when Juve offered him a return.
Here's the lineup Allegri may deploy for his third Derby d'Italia in a second spell that almost never was.
Juventus predicted lineup vs Inter - Serie A
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Wojciech Szczesny (GK) - While Robert Lewandowski's penalty put Poland ahead, Szczesny's remarkable shot-stopping kept his nation in front as they secured passage to the Qatar World Cup with a play-off win over Sweden on Tuesday.
Danilo (RB) - Since Porto whisked him away from Santos in 2011, Danilo has commanded a staggering sum of more than £100m in cumulative transfer fees.
Matthijs de Ligt (CB) - Juventus forked over £77m in one go to nab De Ligt in 2019. After an adjustment period, the highly vaunted Dutchman is beginning to demonstrate some of that value.
Leonardo Bonucci (CB) - The former Inter youth team player was only afforded 136 minutes for the senior side before making his way to Turin via Genoa and Bari.
Mattia De Sciglio (LB) - With Luca Pellegrini suspended and Alex Sandro only tentatively back from injury, the Milan-born former Rossonero may be granted the chance to renew his hostilities with Inter.
2. Midfielders
Juan Cuadrado (RM) - The Colombian creator has netted a career-high five Serie A goals against Inter.
Arthur Melo (CM) - After breaking back into the Bianconeri's regular starting XI, Arthur was granted his first Brazil cap on Wednesday since November 2020.
Manuel Locatelli (CM) - Juve's midfield director missed Italy's calamitous failure against North Macedonia with a positive COVID-19 test he has since recovered from.
Federico Bernardeschi (LM) - Without the loaned out Dejan Kulusevski, Allegri may turn to the Italy international - overlooked as his country failed to qualify for another World Cup - to man-mark Marcelo Brozovic in a tactic that has stymied Inter earlier this season.
3. Forwards
Dusan Vlahovic (ST) - Bracketed alongside Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland as "the best players of their generation" by his manager, it would be quite a comedown for Allegri to drop the 22-year-old on Sunday.
Paulo Dybala (ST) - Now into the final months of what will be his last season at Juventus, Dybala may be given the chance to impress against one of several contenders for his signature this summer.