Juventus projected lineup vs Empoli: Ronaldo and Dybala lead the attack
By John Vaccaro
LM: Alex Sandro
Allegri said that either Alex Sandro or Joao Cancelo will be rested in this match and I think Cancelo will be the one to get the day off. Sandro has played two of his best matches of the year in Juve’s last two and Allegri will likely want to give him a chance to himself in form.
Sandro will also benefit from the return of Leonardo Spinazzola, who will be included in Juve’s lineup for the first time this season. This will give Juve more opportunities to rest Sandro in the future so they might as well let him play while he’s hot, especially with a week between this match and Juve’s next. With the form Sandro is currently in he could make a major impact on this match.
RM: Douglas Costa
The last month likely won’t be one Douglas Costa remembers fondly, but this match is a good chance for him to start turning things around. Costa has been limited to substitute appearances in Juve’s last two matches after missing a month due to suspension and injury. Juan Cuadrado has started the last two matches and Bernardeschi should get to start elsewhere in this lineup so this is a perfect spot to let Costa get his legs back under him.
He came into this season as the clear choice to start on the right wing for Juve, but Bernardeschi’s breakout has given him some competition for the job. An in-form Costa would make Juventus even more dangerous than their league-leading attack already is.