PREVIOUS MEETING : Frosinone 0 - 2 Juventus (23.09.2018)
LAST 5 GAMES
JUVENTUS: 3 WINS, 1 DRAW, 1 DEFEAT
FROSINONE : 2 WINS, 0 DRAW, 3 DEFEAT
After kicking off 2019 in largely underwhelming fashion, Juventus finally look like a side ready to ‘wake up’ as the business end of the season fast approaches, at least for 45 minutes. With a 3-0 victory over Sassuolo in the rear view mirror, next up for Juventus is Frosinone, a side who are currently deep inside a relegation battle and sitting second bottom in the league table. On paper this is a fixture that looks like a straight forward win for the Bianconeri, but if this year has proven anything thus far, its that very little about Juventus is straight forward. Which begs the question, which side of Juventus will we see on Friday night? The ‘good’ such as the brilliant build up play for Juventus 3rd goal against Sassuolo, or the ‘bad’ witnessed on numerous occasions during the same game. The answer, judging on recent performances is probably both, but either way this should not, and cannot be a game in which Juventus drop points. Especially when the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo will not be rested in preparation for a midweek trip to face Atletico, but more on that shortly.
DYBALA START
After a spell of sitting on the substitutes bench Pauolo Dybala finds himself in the starting 11 once again, Allegri confirmed as much during a pre-match press conference, that also included the Juventus manager praising the recently under fire Argentine, “Paulo has impressive numbers in the Juventus shirt: he has played 168 games scoring 74 goals.There may be a period where he scores fewer goals but he's one of the best players out there.” Its true that Dybala has scored fewer goals than he has in previous seasons, but what do you really expect from a player that is playing outside of his natural position? Dybala is not a winger, but what he is, is one of Juventus most talented and gifted players, its time for Dybala to prove this once more.
ROTATION… SORT OF
Ok so here comes my main issue going into this game, not resting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo when there is a match with Atletico Madrid to be played 4 days later. Ronaldo was brought in to achieve what Juventus have been unable to achieve since 1996, win the Champions League, no disrespect towards Frosinone but Ronaldo should not called upon to ensure all 3 points in this fixture. Ronaldo is not one for sitting out games, at least not by his own free will, but as seen during Zinedine Zidanes successful reign at Real Madrid, the best Ronaldo is a fresh Ronaldo, rested during the right moments in order to be at his clinical best for the seasons most important fixtures. So far this season Ronaldo has been in the starting line up on every occasion except on 3, and one of those was due to serving a suspension for a red card against Valencia. At 34 years of age, you have to wonder how playing regularly from week to week will affect Ronaldo. Players expected to miss out on a place in the starting 11 will likely be Giorgio Chiellini, who at most would be expected to get a few minutes as a substitute, after missing the previous two fixtures due to injury. Daniele Rugani,Blaise Matuidi, Alex Sandro (suspension) and possibly Mario Mandzukic (depending on who Allegri picks between Mandzukic & Bernadeschi) are also expected not to start
BONUCCI RETURNS TO THE STARTING 11
Although not the first name that comes to mind when thinking about Juventus defence, Bonucci plays an important role in the way that Juventus go about the way that they want to play football, think about his long range pass to assist Ronaldo against Manchester United, who doesn't want to see more of that? With the recent mini injury crisis in defence its wonderful to see Bonucci return after missing three games, as well as fellow defenders Chiellini & Barzagli. Whilst the old 'B.B.C' trio might not be as rock solid as they once were during previous seasons, its a more than welcome sight to see all 3 off the injury list.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A Juventus win, possibly not pretty but none the less another 3 points in the bag and Juventus quality proving decisive. With one eye on Atletico Madrid the old lady would be wise not to have the likes of Bonucci & Ronaldo play the entire 90 minutes, especially Ronaldo who will likely be the difference between Juventus progressing to the quarter final stage of the champions league.
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