With just over 48 hours to go until the kickoff of Juventus-PSV the first leg of the Champions League playoffs for a spot in the Round of 16 the stakes have never been higher.
After their league phase encounter, where Juve secured a 3-1 victory at the Allianz Stadium on September 17, the two teams now meet again in a decisive showdown.
With everything on the line in 180 minutes, Thiago Motta must learn from Juventus’ recent performance at the ‘Sinigaglia’ against Como. As a result, significant changes in the starting lineup could be expected as the Bianconeri prepare to face the Eredivisie leaders.
According to IlBianconero, Khephren Thuram and Douglas Luiz made a strong impact against Como, in stark contrast to the underwhelming performances of Manuel Locatelli and Teun Koopmeiners.
This could lead to a shift in midfield, with the Frenchman and the Brazilian possibly starting against PSV from the first minute.
If Thuram and Douglas Luiz take control of the midfield, Koopmeiners may return to his role behind the lone striker who, barring surprises, will once again be Randal Kolo Muani. this would offer the former Atalanta star another chance to turn around what has been a disappointing season so far.
Among those who struggled against Como was Nico Gonzalez. Despite playing a role in the build-up to Kolo Muani’s goal, his overall performance fell short of expectations. Because of this, Thiago Motta may consider a change on the right wing, with Francisco Conceição who only played a few minutes emerging as a strong candidate to start in the crucial Champions League clash
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