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Italian giants Juventus will host European Champions Chelsea in a marquee Champions League clash at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday. In four previous meetings in the competition, both teams have won once apiece.
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea began their title defence with a 1-0 victory over Zenit St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, Juventus kicked off their Champions League campaign with a resounding 3-0 win over Swedish champions Malmo.
Chelsea, though, are coming off an uninspiring 1-0 defeat to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at the weekend. Juventus have fared worse in their league this campaign. But they have won their last league games, including one last weekend.
However, both teams have key players missing for this game. Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Paulo Dybala (thigh) and Alvaro Morata (hamstring) will miss this game.
The Blues have a slightly longer injury list. Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Reece James are set to miss out due to injuries. Tuchel has also mentioned that N'Golo Kante will be missing, too, as the Frenchman is self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19
Despite the spate of absentees in both camps, this game could decide the Group H standings. So both teams will look to win this match as they seek to qualify for the knockout stage. On that note, here's a look at five players to watch out for from both teams in this game:
#5 Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
The last two seasons have been a little shaky for the Juventus midfield. The Serie A giants tried to fix that hole with the signings of Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey and even Weston McKennie. But it seems like they have found the perfect player in this window.
Manuel Locatelli is being labelled as Juventus' new midfield maestro, despite only arriving in Turin this summer. That's because Locatelli is a modern-day midfielder, who has been playing in Serie A for five seasons now.
After a good outing last weekend, scoring a goal, Locatelli will be buzzing with confidence. The Chelsea game, though, will be an entirely different challenge. But the Italian could be one to watch out for in this game.
#4 Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea)
There are very few midfielders who can match Mateo Kovacic for what he does on the pitch. The Croatian's tireless running and dribbling prowess makes him a key player for Chelsea in the middle of the park.
While he is rarely involved in goals, this season Kovacic has scored one and provided three assists in the league. Kovacic's ability on the ball and his press-resistant style of play makes him an integral player in Thomas Tuchel's setup.
The 27-year-old has played against Juventus during his time at Inter Milan, and he will be in Chelsea's midfield when they take on the Bianconeri. Along with Jorginho, Kovacic will look to set the tone for Chelsea as they look to make it two wins out of two in the Champions League.
#3 Moise Kean (Juventus)
Juventus completed the signing of Moise Kean this summer to add to their attacking options for the season. The 21-year-old struggled in the Premier League, but his potential is not to be underestimated. He is regarded as one of Italy's most promising youngsters, and can be lethal on his day.
After injuries to Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala, Allegri might start Kean up front against Chelsea. That gives Kean a great chance to show his potential against the champions of Europe and prove his worth.
It won't be an easy task coming up against Chelsea who have one of the meanest defences in the game at the moment. But Kean should relish this opportunity as he looks for consistent game time at Juventus.
#2 Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
The Belgian striker finally got his move back to Stamford Bridge, and it is safe to say that he is enjoying it.
Romelu Lukaku has scored three league goals for Chelsea already. He also scored the winner against Zenit St. Petersburg to help the Blues start their Champions League defence on a winning note. Lukaku has shown his finishing skills, strength and clever movement in the box already during his short time at the Blues.
The 28-year-old has played against Juventus in the last few seasons and knows what he'll be up against. If Chelsea find the back of the net against Juventus, Lukaku is likely to be involved in some way. Tuchel will hope that his big summer signing stamps his authority in this key Group H encounter.
#1 Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
Juventus' Federico Chiesa will be another player to watch out for against Chelsea. The Bianconeri have made one of their worst starts to a season in six decades. But Chiesa has been one of their very few positives during this period.
After his amazing performance in Italy's Euro 2020-winning campaign, Chiesa has become the focal point of the Juventus side. With Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Manchester United, Chiesa has the opportunity to become the face of the club, alongside Dybala.
With Moise Kean in the box, Chiesa's accurate and low crosses could hurt Chelsea if they slip up. The Blues will have to be extra cautious of the 23-year-old, as his attacking threat could well determine the outcome of the game.
