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Juventus projected lineup vs Lazio: Changes needed for Ronaldo’s home debut

By John Vaccaro

VERONA, ITALY - AUGUST 18: Juventus player Miralem Pjanic in action during the serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
VERONA, ITALY - AUGUST 18: Juventus player Miralem Pjanic in action during the serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /
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VERONA, ITALY – AUGUST 18: Federico Bernardeschi #33 of Juventus celebrates his goal with his team-mates Emre Can (R) and Giorgio Chiellini (up) during the serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
VERONA, ITALY – AUGUST 18: Federico Bernardeschi #33 of Juventus celebrates his goal with his team-mates Emre Can (R) and Giorgio Chiellini (up) during the serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) /

Center Back: Giorgio Chiellini

This is the easiest choice Juventus has to make. Chiellini remains one of the best center backs in the world and that doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. He played a solid defensive game against Chievo, making 2 tackles, 1 interception, and two clearances. He also fittingly chipped in with an assist on the opening goal in his first game as Juve’s captain.

We can always expect to see him in this position for big matches like the one Juve is playing this weekend. Juve will need their captain to keep the back line organized against last season’s highest scoring Serie A team. The defense’s success will depend on Giorgio Chiellini.

Center Back: Leonardo Bonucci

While many Juve fans still haven’t forgiven Leonardo Bonucci for the way he left the team, he will be a positive presence for the defense this season. His contribution on the defensive end was solid with a tackle and a couple of interceptions. However the really impressive stat for his performance 90.8% pass accuracy on 98 pass attempts. Bonucci’s passing is something Juve fans have grown used to over the years, but it’s this skill that separates him from the other center backs on the roster.

The center back pairing of Bonucci and Chiellini will be Juve’s best option for this year. Expect the tandem, who have already won 6 Scudetti together, to continue to be Juve’s go-to center back options. We’ll see them get rotated every once in a while, but for a big game like this and this early in the season there’s no doubt these two will be starting on Saturday.

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