90min

The Juventus Lineup That Should Start Against Ferencvaros

By Declan Houten

He's finally back!
He's finally back! / DeFodi Images/Getty Images
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Juventus are hot on the heels of Barcelona in Group G of the Champions League, and will continue their pursuit of Ronald Koeman's side against Ferencvaros in Turin.

It turns out that for a complete novice who has never so much as managed a youth team game, let alone one of the most historic institutions in world football, Andrea Pirlo is not bad at all, and after a bumpy start at the helm of the Bianconeri he's starting to get the team playing how the most expensively assembled side in Italy should be.

One result which will really have had them smarting, however, was the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona back in late October, a match where the quantity of goals that Alvaro Morata saw ruled out could have won about ten matches.

With Barcelona faltering domestically, and Juve now having Cristiano Ronaldo available again after a long old COVID-19 hiatus, La Vecchia Signora are en route to revenge, and beating the Hungarian champions Ferencvaros will be the first step. But what team will they do it with? Here's 90min to answer just that question for you.

1. Goalkeepers & Defenders

Cuadrado was the skipper against Cagliari
Cuadrado was the skipper against Cagliari / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Wojciech Szczesny (GK) - Alongside Lukasz Fabianski and now Emi Martinez, one of several goalkeepers to leave Arsenal and carve out a pretty solid career afterwards. One of Juve's most consistent players will likely be starting in goal on Tuesday.

Juan Cuadrado (RB) - Had the great privilege of wearing the captain's armband for Juve against Cagliari at the weekend. Often underestimated, but now a firmly established player in Turin.

Danilo (CB) - 'Merih Demiral was subjected to magnetic resonance imaging at J|Medical today, which revealed an elongation of the right iliopsoas muscle', per Juventus' Twitter account. While that might sound very cool and mysterious, the outcome is actually not that cool - Demiral will be out for just under two weeks, and Danilo, the man who has played everywhere defensively in his career, will be shoved in to replace him.

Matthijs de Ligt (CB) - More bad news: Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci will both be unable to play against Ferencvaros with respective thigh and muscle injuries.

Some good news: Matthijs de Ligt is finally back after successful shoulder surgery! Chiellini and Bonucci may well have something to think about by the time they get back if this towering youngster can deliver on his promise.

Alex Sandro (LB) - With Danilo now our emergency centre back, former Chelsea target Alex Sandro will come in to replace him on the left - a pretty good solution if you ask me.

2. Midfielders

Arthur looks very much at home in Turin
Arthur looks very much at home in Turin / MB Media/Getty Images

Dejan Kulusevski (RM) - After finishing sixth in the voting for the 2020 Golden Boy, Kulusevski's stock is rising week after week, and he is starting fairly regularly for Juve now as one of Pirlo's favoured options on the right.

Arthur (CM) - It's becoming increasingly clear that what was (perhaps) a book-balancing exercise for Barcelona was of genuine benefit to Juventus as regards the exchange of Miralem Pjanic for Arthur. The Brazilian has an intuitive feel for the game, and provides those flashes of quality that are vital against set defences.

Rodrigo Bentancur (CM) - An energetic box-to-box midfielder who is the perfect partner for a graceful playmaker like Arthur. His battle with Adrien Rabiot may be an intriguing tactical dilemma for Pirlo to ponder over (perhaps with a glass of red wine).

Federico Chiesa (LM) - Yet to get off the mark for Juve, but beginning to form a promising relationship on the flanks with Kulusevski. Could Ferencvaros be the versatile wide player's first victim?

3. Forwards

These two have formed a good understanding
These two have formed a good understanding / MB Media/Getty Images

Alvaro Morata (ST) - Gabriel Batistuta, he ain't, but it's nice to see a man who has been the butt of many a joke finally start to succeed as a complete forward who can bully centre backs and bring others into play. The foil CR7 never knew he needed.

Cristiano Ronaldo (ST) - Last, but certainly not least, an evergreen footballer who is most likely not going to be in Italy for much longer. Lionel Messi might get a rest against Dynamo Kyiv, but Ronaldo certainly won't when there's a Champions League goalscoring record to be consolidated.