Juventus vs Chelsea - Combined XI | UEFA Champions League 2021-22

Centre-back: Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)

Rudiger revived himself under Tuchel so much that he's now one of the best in the business again

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.

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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)

Silva's experience and leadership qualities have transformed Chelsea's defense

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.

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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)

Bonucci scored in the Euro 2020 finals for Italy, setting them on their way to the title

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.