Chelsea vs Juventus: 5 players to watch | UEFA Champions League 2021-22

Chelsea and Juventus square off in the UEFA Champions League Group H fixture on Tuesday
Chelsea and Juventus square off in the UEFA Champions League Group H fixture on Tuesday

Chelsea go head-to-head with Juventus in their UEFA Champions League group stage fixture on Tuesday. The Premier League side will be looking to avenge their 1-0 loss at the Allianz Stadium in September. They will also be hoping to bring an end to Juventus' 100% record in the competition.

Both teams head into the clash having recorded resounding wins in their league fixtures over the weekend. Chelsea beat Leicester City 3-0 to retain top spot in the Premier League. Juventus also recorded an away win, beating Lazio 2-0.

The game should make for an interesting watch as the two sides have a good balance of youth and veteran players. There has been an element of surprise to the home team in the goalscoring department this season. As many as 15 players have found the back of the net in the Premier League and five in the Champions League.

This game will probably determine which team ends up as the Group H winner. So we can expect a strong starting XI to be fielded by either side. On that note, here we take a look at the five players to watch out for in Tuesday's high-profile clash at Stamford Bridge.


#5 Antonio Rüdiger | Chelsea

Antonio Rudiger is a regular starter for Chelsea
Antonio Rudiger is a regular starter for Chelsea

Chelsea have enjoyed a great start to the 2021-22 campaign and they have been especially good defensively. They have the best defensive record across Europe's top five leagues. One of their most consistent players this season has been defender Antonio Rudiger.

Alongside Edouard Mendy, he is the only other Chelsea player to have missed just one game this season. He is one of the best players in the squad at the moment.

He is a leader at the back and one of the most vocal players for Chelsea. He also ranks first among Chelsea defenders for tackles, averaging 1.8 tackles per 90 in the Champions League. He also adds a great aerial presence in set-piece situations and could be an asset in the final third. Rudiger's contract expires this season and negotiations have been on for a while for a new one.


#4 Federico Chiesa | Juventus

Federico Chiesa has proven his abilities as a top-class winger
Federico Chiesa has proven his abilities as a top-class winger

Federico Chiesa has proved to be a great loan signing for Juventus and he has let his performances speak for himself. His second-half strike was the difference when the two sides locked horns in September. He will be hoping to do the same here.

He has been a menace to opposing defenders and has tormented his opponents with his quick turn of pace and quick feet. He has drawn more fouls than any other Juventus player and has also completed 3.3 dribbles per 90.

His eye for goal makes him a constant threat that Chelsea will have to look out for.

#3 Jorginho | Chelsea

Jorginho has continued to impress this year
Jorginho has continued to impress this year

Chelsea have a good squad at the moment and much of the stability to the squad comes from midfield. Jorginho, the current holder of the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award, has enjoyed a good spell in Chelsea's Champions League campaign. He is their top scorer in the competition, scoring two goals, with both of them coming from the penalty spot against Malmo.

The Italian midfielder leads the way in terms of interceptions, averaging 1.8 per 90. He has also attempted 3.3 successful tackles per game. He has maintained an impressive 91.4% pass completion rate. He could be the key in winning the midfield battle against Juventus.


#2 Edouard Mendy | Chelsea

Edouard Mendy has made a huge impact in Chelsea's defensive solidity
Edouard Mendy has made a huge impact in Chelsea's defensive solidity

Chelsea have been a defensive powerhouse in the 2021-22 campaign and much of the credit goes to their star goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The Senegalese shot-stopper has been one of the world's best in his position over the last 12 months. He has helped turn Chelsea's fortunes around.

His sharp reflexes have seen him earn the UEFA Champions League goalkeeper of the season award during Chelsea's title-winning run last season. He has kept 10 clean sheets across all competitions this season and has a high save rate as well.


#1 Paulo Dybala | Juventus

Paulo Dybala is Juventus' top scorer across all competitions
Paulo Dybala is Juventus' top scorer across all competitions

One player looking forward to this game will be Paulo Dybala. The Argentine forward missed the reverse fixture on account of an injury and has now been declared fit to face Chelsea.

He has been in good touch this term, with three goals in Serie A and three in the Champions League as well. In his previous outing in the competition, he produced a flawless display. He bagged a brace and picked up an assist against Zenit St. Petersburg in their home fixture.

Though he has featured in just two games in the Champions League, he has raked in good numbers. He has a 93.1% pass success in these games and has also created two key passes per 90.

The left-footed attacker has stepped up since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United. When he is fit, he is the best Juventus player on the field. Massimiliano Allegri will be hoping that Dybala is on top of his game against Chelsea.

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Edited by Aditya Singh