Predicted Juventus lineup vs AC Milan: Juve looks to end Supercoppa struggles

LW: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup against Bologna over the weekend, but was even more surprisingly brought into the match for Moise Kean after Kean had made Ronaldo’s introduction unnecessary by extending Juve’s lead to 2-0. Ronaldo certainly won’t be left out of the lineup for this match as he’ll be looking to win the first trophy of his Juventus career on Wednesday. He was in impressive form before the winter break and Juve will hope he can keep his impressive run going on the other side of the winter break. He could end up starting at striker in this match because of Mandzukic’s absence, but the last time Mandzukic was injured it was Dybala who ended up as the striker.

ST: Paulo Dybala

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With Mario Mandzukic out and Moise Kean just starting his first match of the season on Saturday there appears to only be one option available that Massimiliano Allegri would trust to start as the striker in his 4-3-3. That man is Paulo Dybala who hasn’t quite shown off his incredible talents this season like he has in previous years and that is due in large part to the roles he has been asked to fill this season. He has been a major disappointment on the right wing this year, but he has been somewhat better playing in the center of Juve’s attack. He’ll be given that chance against an AC Milan squad that has looked vulnerable throughout the season. He has scored 3 goals in the Supercoppa during his Juve career so if there was ever a time for him to turn his season around it would be Wednesday’s match.

RW: Douglas Costa

It appears that Douglas Costa will be the biggest beneficiary of Mario Mandzukic’s injury. He had struggled to make his way into the starting lineup over the last couple of months due to Massimiliano Allegri’s misguided choice to repeatedly start Paulo Dybala on the right wing. Now it appears he will be a regular starter during Mandzukic’s absence and he should be expected to make his second start of 2019 on Wednesday. He gave Bologna plenty of trouble in his first start following the winter break and Juve will be hoping he continues to do so for the next month.

Now is the time for Costa to show Allegri that he needs a real winger on the right if he hopes to claim a Champions League trophy.