JUVENTUS v AC MILAN: DUELS

A fixture that oozes history and tradition. Last May, AC Milan broke their curse at the Allianz Stadium, finding their first ever win in the Bianconeri's new home ground. Over four months later, the Rossoneri are hoping history repeats itself as they look to end an intense and demanding week on a high. With Allegri back in the dugout, Juventus will be hungry for points after a more difficult start to the season than they expected, and they should be able to rely on their best performers during Sunday night's match. In anticipation of the big match, we analyse some of the main duels that the game will offer, from defence to attack. 

GIORGIO CHIELLINI V SIMON KJÆR
The captain of Juventus and the Italian national team will face the Rossoneri for the 28th time in his career, and the 23rd time in Serie A. A starter in AC Milan’s 0-3 win in May, he had missed the preceding four meetings in Serie A. Simon Kjær is set to take on Juventus for the eleventh time. The two defenders represent experience and a certain level of reliability for their respective rearguards. Two experienced players who are rough, tough and able to assert themselves in a one on one with strikers, and who both had a splendid summer at the European Championship that saw both Italy and Denmark reach at least the semi-finals. It will be a long-distance duel, which could in fact be ignited in dead ball situations for either side. 

MANUEL LOCATELLI V SANDRO TONALI
A beautiful head-to-head in the centre of the pitch between two young Italian midfielders. Manuel, born in 1998 and a former Rossonero (48 appearances and two goals between 2016 and 2018), moved from Sassuolo to Juventus in the summer, while Sandro, two years younger, renewed his commitment to the Rossoneri. While Locatelli is a quality addition to the Juventus midfield, Tonali is taking his minutes with personality and appreciation following some good performances at the beginning of the season, both with AC Milan and the Under 21 national team, with whom he has become a symbol and captain: One goal in Serie A against Cagliari and three assists in one match with Nicolato's Azzurrini, against Luxembourg.

FEDERICO CHIESA V RAFAEL LEÃO
A duel of the highest speed. The rapid Bianconeri and Azzurri winger goes up against one of the leaders of our attack, who is becoming more and more of a mainstay in the team. We start with the opponent, who has often been able to flourish against AC Milan: Chiesa has, in fact, had a role in six goals against AC Milan in the league (three goals and three assists) and it was also again against us, last January, that he scored his only brace since joining Juventus. Coach Pioli knows him very well, being the coach under whom the Juventus number 22 has collected the most appearances (66) and the most goals (12) in his Serie A career, with Fiorentina in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. Leão has scored in the last two Serie A games and has been involved in a goal in each of his last two league appearances against Juventus: A goal in July 2020, and an assist last January. Between dribbling and trickery, they will likely be the ones to spark the game into life at Allianz Stadium.

PAULO DYBALA V BRAHIM DÍAZ
Two playmakers, two footballers who know how to create a bit of everything, two players who wear the number 10 on their backs. One, Dybala, is more established on the international scene, having been in the spotlight for several seasons, first at Palermo and then at Juventus. The other, Brahim, is in his second season in Italy and is constantly improving. AC Milan are the Juventus player’s second favourite victim in Italy after Udinese, having scored five goals at the Stadium against AC Milan in the league, out of seven total Serie A goals against the Rossoneri. For his part, Díaz was the protagonist of a wonderful goal in May at the Allianz Stadium, the goal that opened the scoring and sent AC Milan on their way to a 0-3 final result. Away goals are the Spaniard’s speciality, as all of his five goals in Serie A since joining AC Milan have come away from home (against Crotone, Fiorentina, Torino, Juventus, and Sampdoria). A true battle of flair and creativity. 

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