Predicted Juventus lineup vs Parma: Mandzukic returns to right the ship

ALLIANZ STADIUM, TURIN, ITALY - 2018/12/07: Mario Mandzukic of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the Serie A football match between Juventus FC and FC Internazionale. Juventus FC won 1-0 over FC Internazionale. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
ALLIANZ STADIUM, TURIN, ITALY - 2018/12/07: Mario Mandzukic of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the Serie A football match between Juventus FC and FC Internazionale. Juventus FC won 1-0 over FC Internazionale. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
2 of 5
7th December 2018, Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy; Serie A football, Juventus versus Inter Milan; Joao Cancelo of Juventus is pursued by Marcelo Brozovic of Inter (photo by Pierpaolo Piciucco/Action Plus via Getty Images)
7th December 2018, Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy; Serie A football, Juventus versus Inter Milan; Joao Cancelo of Juventus is pursued by Marcelo Brozovic of Inter (photo by Pierpaolo Piciucco/Action Plus via Getty Images)

GK: Mattia Perin

Wojciech Szczesny had a rough day on Wednesday and now it looks likely that he will get the day off on Saturday. In his absence Mattia Perin will get another chance impress at Juventus, having already kept 4 clean sheets in 5 starts. Szczesny had a busier day than expected the first time Juventus went head to head with Parma and Perin could really have his hands full with a short-handed defense in front of him. It might take Perin’s best performance yet to keep clean sheet number 5.

LB: Leonardo Spinazzola

I thought Leonardo Spinazzola would get the start in Wednesday’s Coppa Italia match as Alex Sandro was due for a rest and it seemed like Joao Cancelo was ready to return to the starting lineup. However, Sandro was given the start in that match so it seems like this would be the perfect time for Spinazzola to get a start. He has performed well in the starts he has been given this season and Parma’s attack isn’t exactly the most dangerous in Serie A. Juve’s defense will already look a bit unusual for this match, so why not throw another unfamiliar face in there?

RB: Joao Cancelo

Joao Cancelo went from hero to zero over the course of just a few days last week. On Sunday he came on in the second half and was absolutely spectacular as he led the Juve comeback with a goal and a penalty drawn. His performance on Wednesday was the polar opposite as he came on in the first half for an injured Giorgio Chiellini and quickly made the mistake that led to Atalanta’s first goal. Based on his performances so far this season it is reasonable to expect he’ll look more like the former than the latter on Saturday and he’ll be looking to make a memorable first impression in his first match against Parma.