Football Italia
·19 August 2024
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·19 August 2024
Thiago Motta unveils his surprising new Juventus, including Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz and Samuel Mbangula against Andrea Belotti and Pepe Reina’s Como, but Danilo is not fully fit.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Lecce-Atalanta on the LIVEBLOG.
The Bianconeri make their competitive debut under Thiago Motta, having stuttered during pre-season friendlies.
He cut out Federico Chiesa, Filip Kostic, Mattia De Sciglio, Tiago Djalò and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, while Arkadiusz Milik and Fabio Miretti are injured.
Weston McKennie had also initially been frozen out for sale, but is now back on the bench.
There are four new signings in the starting XI and the system moved to 4-1-4-1, with Vlahovic supported by Tim Weah, 20-year-old Mbangula and Kenan Yildiz.
Surprisingly, Juventus Next Gen starlet Mbangula is picked rather than Douglas Luiz, while Danilo is not fully fit, so Andrea Cambiaso switches over to right-back.
Como earned promotion from Serie B over the summer under coach Cesc Fabregas and completely revamped the squad.
However, Raphael Varane was injured just 15 minutes into his debut – a Coppa Italia defeat on penalties to Sampdoria – with Alessio Iovine suspended.
Veteran Pepe Reina is in goal, with Patrick Cutrone and Belotti leading the attack.
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Bremer, Gatti, Cabal; K Thuram, Locatelli; Weah, Yildiz, Mbangula; Vlahovic
Como: Reina; Sala, Goldaniga, Barba, Moreno; Strefezza, Braunöder, Baselli, Da Cunha; Belotti, Cutrone