Juventus vs Manchester City: Tudor Eyes Squad Rotation in Group Decider

Possible Opportunities for Gatti, Locatelli, Koopmeiners, and Nico Gonzalez

Pep Guardiola is playing football on the beach, while Igor Tudor is making his players sweat and then motivating them: different styles and approaches to the match that will decide the group standings. The City coach, in training camp near Miami, played beach football with some of his players, encouraging them to pass after just two touches – a clear demonstration of his possession-based, tight-space philosophy.

The Juventus coach, on the other hand, secured Champions League qualification largely through mental preparation, and he will rely on that to challenge Pep`s side. Guardiola boasts a cabinet full of trophies, while Tudor has yet to win silverware as a coach, but he learned how to win as a player. He also knows that names and prestige only count for so much.

Therefore, despite the heat, he pushed his squad hard and held a team talk, spending extra time with Federico Gatti, who could be one of the new faces in the lineup. Some squad rotation is likely, also considering the Round of 16 matches in four or five days, depending on the group finish. Dusan Vlahovic is also set to benefit, finally starting after two appearances off the bench.

Attacking Lineup Changes

The Serbian striker scored from the penalty spot against Wydad, showing he`s ready, and Tudor is prepared to give him a chance from the first minute, allowing Randal Kolo Muani (who scored a brace on his debut against Al Ain) to rest. Francisco Conceição is definitely out, having trained separately for the last two days due to muscle fatigue, and Kenan Yildiz might also be rested ahead of the Round of 16.

Rotation is also possible in midfield, where Locatelli is a candidate to replace either Thuram or McKennie. Keep an eye on players one yellow card away from suspension; there are five for Juventus: Thuram, Gatti, Cambiaso, McKennie, and Conceição. Tudor could also give Koopmeiners and Nico Gonzalez their first starts, positioned behind Vlahovic in the attacking midfield, and Filip Kostic his tournament debut.

Haaland Encounter

It`s difficult to predict how Guardiola will set up, as he has changed his entire lineup between matches – the exact opposite of the Croatian coach, who has consistently stuck with the same eleven. In the 2-0 Champions League victory at the Allianz Stadium when Thiago Motta was still in charge, it was Gatti who was tasked with marking Haaland.

The center-back has played little so far, and never from the start, due to a bad injury (a fractured fibula) at the end of last season from which he hasn`t fully recovered. However, he might push through the pain today to mark the Norwegian giant. City will, as usual, rely on possession and player movement to penetrate the box.

Juve will need to be smart, alternating moments of high pressing to win the ball back with periods of compact defense to launch quick counter-attacks, particularly down the right flank with long passes, while building up more gradually on the left. Push from the wings will be crucial, as will changing pace from the attacking midfield onwards. Nobody can do this better than Yildiz, who can become even more lethal coming off the bench.