3. Who steps up for both sides?
The last two slides have alluded to a handful of injuries that will take their toll on this contest. Although we’ve exclusively only previewed the Blues up to this point, they are not the only squad impacted by absences. Juventus’ attack will receive a fresh, new look, as well.
Former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is set to miss out on the game against his old club, as is talisman Paulo Dybala. Allegri’s options at the No. 9 spot are thin with those bits of information and therefore, he’s expected to turn to Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement, Moise Kean. Kean—along with the young wingers beside him—will be tasked with breaking down one of the most experienced and disciplined back lines in world football. If he is able to do so, he puts the Old Lady in a great position to succeed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Lukaku is going to lead the Chelsea line, but who accompanies him up top is a crapshoot. Mount’s absence in particular is a huge one as he’s been so important for the Blues in a wide position both in and out of possession. None of Tuchel’s other wingers—be it Havertz, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic or Ziyech—have particularly taken the bull by the horns when given the opportunity to cement a place in the starting XI lately. If Chelsea sets up in the 3-4-3 discussed in the last slide, one of these individuals will need to step up big time. The same is true for Werner if he and Lukaku partner up again.
Elsewhere, the Blues are going to need flawless performances from the midfield. Jorginho and Kovacic are virtual locks, regardless of the team’s shape. If Tuchel opts to give the 3-5-2 another go, he could call upon the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Saul Niguez to bring a little something different to the battle in the middle of the park. Each is going to struggle to get onto the pitch regularly this season as things stand, so putting in a good shift would be hugely beneficial to themselves and their team.
Chelsea at Juventus is already a mouthwatering fixture. It’s made more juicy by the storyline of an abundance of tactical and personnel changes playing a massive part in the game’s outcome. This is set to be the case on Wednesday as the European Champions square off against the historically dominant Italian giants.
What are some of the things you’ll be looking for in the contest? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!