No surprises as Juventus announce its Champions League squad list

In recent years, Juventus have always left one or two surprises to be discovered when announcing their squad list for the Champions League group stage. That has usually involved the status of Stephan Lichtsteiner, whose omission usually left Juve hurting when it came to their depth at right back in the middle of the week. (That decision, still, is something that will have some of us wondering about.)

As we know, Lichtsteiner is no longer around, instead squeezing into his new Puma-made Arsenal jersey this season.

And, whether it’s related to or not, there are no surprises when it came to the group stage squad Juventus submitted to UEFA on Monday for this season’s Champions League. It will be these 23 players listed below who will be available for selection when Juventus opens the group stage in Spain against Valencia on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

1 Szczesny

2 De Sciglio

3 Chiellini

4 Benatia

5 Pjanic

6 Khedira

7 Ronaldo

10 Dybala

11 Douglas Costa

12 Alex Sandro

14 Matuidi

15 Barzagli

16 Cuadrado

17 Mandzukic

18 Kean (B List)

19 Bonucci

20 Cancelo

21 Pinsoglio

22 Perin

23 Emre Can

24 Rugani

30 Bentancur

33 Bernardeschi

Isn’t it nice to sit here, see that list and then not have to scream something like “WHY ISN’T RODRIGO BENTANCUR INLCUDED?!” or “WHERE THE HELL IS DANIELE RUGANI?!”

None of that.

This is about as simple as squad list construction gets. No need to wonder something along the lines “Well, why did Juventus choose Benedikt Howedes over Stephan Lichtsteiner?” knowing full well that Mattia De Sciglio doesn’t really have the cleanest of pasts with his health.

The only noticeable omission on the squad is somebody we already knew wasn’t going to be available to play until the last few group stages (if at all), fullback Leonardo Spinazzola. After undergoing knee surgery, Spinazzola said at his introductory press conference that he wants to be back in late-October or November, but we know that knee injuries can test the timetables that players set out for themselves.