5 reasons why Juventus will struggle against Chelsea | UEFA Champions League 2021-22

After delivering feisty encounters on matchday one of the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, the biggest continental tournament is back with more mouthwatering fixtures. Today, however, we are only focusing on one particular fixture, a game millions are holding their breaths for.

Sparks are set to fly when defending European champions Chelsea make the trip to Turin to take on Juventus on Wednesday night. Both teams are packed with talent, of course, and have kicked off their 2021-22 Champions League campaigns with maximum points. However, on closer inspection, there seems to be a clear favorite in this fixture, and today we will tell you why that is.

Now, without further ado, let us check out the top five reasons why Juventus will struggle against Chelsea in the Champions League.

---

#5 Lack of harmony in the Juventus dressing room

Juventus brought back Massimiliano Allegri before the start of the 2021-22 campaign, which allegedly contributed to Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. The serial winner in Serie A is known for his cautious approach and efficient counter-attacking, neither of which has been on point this season.

Allegri has failed to bring back the winning mentality Juventus possessed before losing the league in 2020-21, resulting in a tense dressing room atmosphere.

Following the 1-1 draw with Milan, which marked Juventus’ worst league start in 60 years, Allegri was furious with his players. He did not think they did enough to make the club proud and let them have a piece of his mind.

Juventus could find it difficult to impose their style of play against a team of Chelsea’s caliber. If Allegri loses his cool once again, it could be more and more difficult for his team to get their things in order. Juventus need unity and cooperation at this point, which is getting more and more difficult to muster.

---

#4 Chelsea's determination to bounce back

On Saturday, Chelsea were narrowly beaten by Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. They failed to get a single shot on target against the defending Premier League champions and were beaten by Gabriel Jesus’ goal. Chelsea were a victim of Thomas Tuchel’s overly defensive approach on Saturday, and he is unlikely to repeat the mistake in Turin.

Chelsea are desperate to return to winning ways and beating Juventus is the perfect way to make a statement. Chelsea beat Zenit 1-0 at home in the 2021-22 Champions League group stage opener, a fortnight back. The challenge is considerably stiffer this week, but the Blues seem up for it.

#3 Chelsea’s bench strength

Chelsea and Juventus are two of the most decorated teams in the world. They know how to attack, how to defend, and how to catch the opposition off-guard. Most of the time, they do so with the help of their bench. Unfortunately for Wednesday’s hosts, Chelsea are considerably ahead of them in this particular area.

Thomas Tuchel has the luxury of fielding mildly experimental sides to exploit Juventus’ unexpected defensive vulnerabilities. If they do not work, he can always fall back on tactics that work. Chelsea’s deep bench, which comprises of the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell, allows him to be adventurous, something Allegri cannot afford this season.

---

#2 Absence of Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata

Cristiano Ronaldo leaving in the summer left a gaping hole in Juventus’ attack. Following the superstar’s departure, Juventus were beaten by Napoli and Empoli consecutively before settling for a draw with Milan in Serie A. Their poor attacking performance improved slightly in the next two games, primarily due to Paulo Dybala.

The Argentine suffered a thigh injury following Juventus’ win over Sampdoria last weekend and has been ruled out of the clash against Chelsea.

Former Chelsea forward Morata has also been ruled out of the game after he tore his muscle fiber. Neither is expected to return before the international break in October. Interestingly, both Morata and Dybala were on the scoresheet in Juventus’ Champions League opener against Malmo a couple of weeks ago.

---

#1 Juventus’ poor form in the Serie A

In the 2020-21 Serie A campaign, Inter Milan capitalized on Juventus’ vulnerabilities and beat the Old Lady to the league title. The Nerazzurri broke Juve's nine-year streak, marking a new era in Italian football. The Bianconeri sacked manager Andrea Pirlo following the debacle, bringing Massimiliano Allegri back to Turin.

Unfortunately, Allegri’s return has not done Juventus any favors. The Italian giants only picked up a couple of points from their opening four fixtures, marking their worst ever start to a Serie A campaign this century.

Juventus did bounce back with consecutive wins over Spezia and Sampdoria, but they conceded four goals in those two fixtures alone. Their defensive stability has gone for a toss this season, which could hurt them badly against Chelsea.

Playing in the Champions League is always special for any team, but this out-of-shape Juventus probably do not have enough to beat the Blues.