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Projected Juventus lineup for Champions League clash with Valencia

By John Vaccaro

TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 16: Juventus player Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 2-0 goal during the serie A match between Juventus and US Sassuolo at Allianz Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 16: Juventus player Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 2-0 goal during the serie A match between Juventus and US Sassuolo at Allianz Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Turin, 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) /

CB: Giorgio Chiellini

No surprises here. Giorgio Chiellini was rested against Sassuolo specifically so he’d be ready for this match. Chiellini can be always be counted on to put on a good performance in the Champions League. Valencia’s first choice striker pairing on Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo has struggled early in the season, only scoring once between them at this point in the season. Chiellini will be tasked with keeping that struggle going. The captain’s armband will be back on its rightful arm on Wednesday and we can expect it to stay there throughout Juve’s Champions League run.

CB: Leonardo Bonucci

This is where Bonucci really gets his chance to redeem himself in the eyes of Juventus fans. He was brought back specifically for the Champions League run. Juventus sacrificed Mattia Caldara and Gonzalo Higuain because they thought that the Chiellini-Bonucci pairing gave them the best chance to win the Champions League. If they continue to fall just short then Bonucci will forever be remembered for the end of his Juventus run instead of the part he played in the first 6 Scudetti in Juve’s recent run. The two center backs have been regaining their chemistry early in the season and that chemistry will very important to the Juve defense. This Valencia squad has struggled to score early in the season, so Bonucci should be able to look good early on his road to redemption. It’s a good opportunity for Bonucci to make Juve fans forget about last season.

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