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In a clash of epic proportions, Juventus play Chelsea at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Wednesday in the Champions League.
The sides meet after a gap of nine years and while a lot has changed since, the Blues play the Italian giants as European champions once again, just as they did in 2012.
Back then, the Bianconeri tore the script apart with a 2-2 draw and a 3-0 victory, condemning the Blues to the Europa League. A repeat, however, seems unlikely.
Massimiliano Allegri's side have struggled mightily since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. Chelsea, bolstered by the return of Romelu Lukaku, have been on a fine run of form.
The loss to Manchester City at the weekend was their first of the 2021/22 campaign.
Both sides also emerged victorious on the opening day of the competition, with the Bianconeri brushing aside Swedish minnows Malmo 3-0 on the road and the Blues narrowly edging Zenit St. Petersburg 1-0 at home.
The two European giants are favorites to progress into the knockout rounds from Group H. But the battle for top spot is still open and tomorrow's outcome will play a big role in deciding the same.
Ahead of the mouth-watering clash, let's take a look at how Juventus and Chelsea stack up in a fascinating combined XI: (Formation: 3-4-1-2)
Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
As good as Wojciech Szczesny has been for Juventus, Chelsea's Edouard Mendy is simply a cut above him and everyone else in the goalkeeping department right now.
Signed for only £22 million from Ligue 1 side Rennes (which still seemed quite a lot for a few pundits) to replace the erroneous Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mendy surpassed all expectations with talismanic displays.
A physically dominant goalkeeper who exerts a strong influence in the defensive third, the Senegalese custodian can read the game brilliantly and make timely interventions.
He played a crucial role in guiding the Blues to the European title last season, before winning the goalkeeper of the season award from UEFA and a place in the team of the year too.
Boasting an impeccable record of 19 clean sheets in 36 league games for Chelsea, Mendy is a reckoning force in goal and it's going to take Juventus something special to beat him.
Centre-back: Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)
Thomas Tuchel's arrival has been a boon for many Chelsea players. The list includes Antonio Rudiger, who has thrived in his system of a three-man backline to establish himself among the best centre-backs.
Almost frozen out by Frank Lampard, the German fought his way back into the XI with consistently impressive performances. He solidified their defense, which laid the foundations of their Champions League glory.
A tall and athletic defender with superb ball-playing skills, Rudiger is a top tackler and boasts a commanding presence in the air too. He has averaged three aerial duels in the Champions League this season.
His performances have garnered widespread acclaim. And Chelsea, who are currently locked in a contract stand-off with the star's agent, must pull out all the stops to keep him for a few more years.
Centre-back: Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Joining Rudiger in this three-man backline is his own teammate Thiago Silva, whose time and again proven age is just a number. He continues to go strong even at 37.
Signed for just one season from Paris Saint-Germain last year, Silva made such a transformational impact that Chelsea didn't hesitate to extend his contract. He's now repaying their faith again.
A flawless defender with exceptional leadership skills, he packs all the traits required of a modern centre-back. He also offers some valuable offensive threat from a set-piece.
He's got some experience playing against Juventus, having faced them seven times before. But it's been almost a decade since he last came up against the Bianconeri.
Centre-back: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Completing our three-man backline is Juventus veteran Leonardo Bonucci, who has had an amazing year thus far. He came up big for his club during the home stretch of last season before helping Italy to European glory in the summer.
Now in his 11th season with the Bianconeri, Bonucci remains as valuable to their fortunes as ever. He's a solid tackler, possesses excellent positional sense, and reads the game brilliantly too. A 6ft 3in stature also allows him to frequently pose a threat from set-pieces.
34 now and still going strong, Bonucci's wealth of experience could prove immense against Chelsea's relatively young and exuberant attack. The Bianconeri will hope to at least secure a draw against the reigning European champions.
Right wing-back: Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)
Reece James would've made for a good inclusion too but since he's injured and set to miss the clash, we're going with Juan Cuadrado, who's not too shabby either.
A natural right-back with the versatility to excel in any position on this side of the pitch, the Colombian made the most assists by any defender in Serie A last season with 10.
He's often criticized for holding onto the ball a tad too long. But given his creative skills and expansive passing range, Cuadrado remains a valuable member of the Bianconeri squad.
Defensive midfielder: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
N'Golo Kante is so good that despite all the plaudits he receives, there's a sense that the Frenchman is still underrated. His impact for Chelsea is impossible to put into words.
He's been an indispensable figure in the XI right since arriving from Leicester City five years ago. Kante also played an instrumental role in their run-up to Champions League success last season.
A never-ending reservoir of energy, the 30-year-old is renowned for covering every blade of grass in trying to win back possession. His distribution skills are unparalleled too.
Defensive midfielder: Jorginho (Chelsea)
This one was quite an easy selection too. Jorginho took some time to win over the fans but few will now refute his influence on the squad. The Italian has grown into a key figure.
His ability to dictate plays from the deep is what makes Jorginho so valuable to his club and country. He also won the envious double of the Champions League and Euro 2020 this year.
The midfielder is a set-piece specialist while his prowess from the spot is well-documented too. Juventus must limit his influence on the match to have a chance of winning.
Left wing-back: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
The arrival of Ben Chilwell was touted to spell the end of his Chelsea career, but Marcos Alonso has come in from the cold to re-establish himself in their starting XI.
With a goal and an assist this season, he's already equaled his total contribution from the 2020/21 campaign. He has also bagged a nomination for Premier League player of the month award for September.
Alonso has filled in impressively for the injured Chilwell, playing with plenty of vim and vigor down the left. In his current form, Juventus are going to have a hard time containing him.
Attacking midfielder: Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
Federico Chiesa was already a highly sought-after talent when he came to Juventus last year. His top-notch performances with Fiorentina garnered the attention of many.
Making a slow start to life in Turin, the Italian eventually settled in perfectly and grew into a valuable player for them, making talismanic contributions in the big games.
He registered a commendable 14 goals and 10 assists for the 2020/21 season in all competitions, adding an extra layer to their flanks with his electric pace and dynamism.
Chiesa, now a Euro 2020 winner too, hasn't really got going in the same vein in the new campaign. But he's tailor-made for the big games, and Wednesday's occasion might just spring him back to life.
Striker: Moise Kean (Juventus)
A striker earmarked for the future, Moise Kean has all the makings of a prolific striker. At only 20, he possesses devastating finishing skills while his first-touches are fine.
The young Italian gun rose to fame in the 2018/19 season for stepping up to the plate whenever Cristiano Ronaldo didn't play, netting six goals in just 13 league appearances.
Kean later continued that form with PSG last season. He scored another 13 times in just 26 games in Ligue 1, once again highlighting his precocious attacking talents.
Now back in Turin, first-team chances have been hard to come by. But with Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata both injured, Allgeri will give him a chance to lead the line. A huge opportunity to stake a claim in the starting XI.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Despite spending over £200 million last summer, Chelsea lacked a consistent goalscorer upfront. In fact, their best record in the league by a player was seven goals by Jorginho, a midfielder.
Yet no one saw Romelu Lukaku returning to Stamford Bridge to resolve their striker crisis, with the Belgian signing from Inter Milan for £97.5 million on a shock transfer.
He's wasted no time in proving his worth to the team, netting four goals in his first four appearances. But he has gone slightly off the boil since then, firing a blank in the next three.
Lukaku will be aiming to return among the goals on Wednesday against Juventus, an old rival. But it won't be easy given his poor record of just one strike against the Serie A giants in six games.
