Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Udinese

Tonight, at Allianz Stadium, Juventus will host Udinese in what we shall unofficially declare as the Rotation Game. You know, it’s one of the regular occurrences when the fixture that follows up the Rotation Game is usually the Big Game, one where the stakes are quite high and our collective blood pressure probably rivals that, if not surpasses it right before kickoff.

For now, however, it’s the Rotation Game.

And Juventus manager Max Allegri seems to be fully embracing it ahead of the Big Game when his side takes on Udinese tonight at Allianz Stadium.

What does that mean? (Or what do we think it means?) A short recap from Allegri’s pre-game press conference on Thursday:

• Moise Kean is almost a lock to get his first start since he scored in the Coppa Italia against Bologna. (That was two months ago, by the way.)
• Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus’ team leader in minutes played, is not going to start.
• Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic may or may not play after training separately on Thursday.
• Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci will not play.
• Allegri and Andrea Agnelli had dinner on Wednesday night. (Feel free to comment on what you think each of them ordered AND guess how many glasses of wine they combined to have.)

With a 16-point lead atop the Serie A standings, the result of this game isn’t exactly the most important thing going tonight. Obviously, we want to see Juventus play well and come out of the 90 or so minutes completely healthy because the last thing we need heading into the final countdown before Atlético Madrid comes to town on Tuesday night.

A win would be nice. Seeing Moise Kean dance like he did back in January would be nice.

But just getting through this game, the Rotation Game, and putting all of the attention on the Big Game will be exactly what happens come the final whistle sounding in a couple of hours.

MATCH INFO

When: Friday, March 8, 2019

Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Official kickoff time: 8:30 p.m. local time in Italy and around Europe; 7:30 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time; 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-3-3): Szczesny; Caceres, Barzagli, Rugani, Spinazzola; Bentancur, Emre Can, Matuidi; Bernardeschi, Kean, Alex Sandro

Juventus bench: Perin, Pinsoglio, Chiellini, Bonucci, Kastanos, Nicolussi Caviglia, Mavididi, Dybala, Mandzukic, Ronaldo.

Udinese starting XI (3-5-2): Musso; De Maio, Troost-Ekong, Nuytinck; Ter Avest, Stryger-Larsen, Wilmot, Fofana, Zeegelaar; Pussetto, De Paul

HOW TO WATCH

Television: TLN (Canada); Sky Supercalcio HD, Sky Calcio 1, Sky Sport Serie A (Italy)

Online/mobile: ESPN+ (United States); DAZN (Canada); Premier Sports 1 (United Kingdom); SKY Go Italia (Italy)

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live and all the stupid things we say on Twitter. If you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live and all the stupid things we say on Twitter. If you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.