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For the first time ever, we get to see what an Andrea Pirlo team is all about.
And that simple fact, no matter if it’s a friendly or the Serie A opener, is something we’ve never seen before. This is newfound territory that Juventus is about to head down, and we are going to see right in front of our eyes — and only eyes since we can’t actually be there in person because of this stupid pandemic — what this initial version of Pirlo’s Juve is like.
It’s not the full version.
It might not be the one we see in a month or two.
But this is the first impression today against Novara. The very first impression.
I can’t remember a friendly, especially one that is taking place a week before the new season is set to begin, that has this much intrigue attached to it. It wasn’t like this with Maurizio Sarri. It wasn’t like this with Max Allegri and Antonio Conte. This is the first venture into the unknown. And while this first game — and, remember, it’s a friendly with a brand new coach in every sense of the term — won’t mean anything in the standings like it will the next Sunday Juventus has a game, this is an important thing to see.
Simply because we don’t know.
And maybe that’s the fun in it. It’s definitely part of the nervousness.
But it’s also an incredibly curious time where we’re going to be learning what Pirlo’s vision is as a manager and what he can do with this team with each passing week. That’s at least ... a little exciting? I don’t know. It’s an interesting time to root for this club, that’s for sure.
MATCH INFO
When: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020
Where: Juventus Training Center, Turin, Italy
Official kickoff time: 10:30 a.m. local time in Italy and across Europe; 9:30 a.m. in the United Kingdom; 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time; 1:30 a.m. Pacific Time
STARTING LINEUPS
Juventus starting XI (3-4-1-2?): Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, McKennie, Rabiot, Alex Sandro; Ramsey; Kulusevski, Ronaldo
Juventus bench: Buffon, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Demiral, Pellegrini, Rugani, Arthur, Bentancur, Nicolussi, Portanova, Douglas Costa, Pjaca, Vrioni.
HOW TO WATCH
Television: Sky Sport Serie A (Italy)
Online/mobile: Juventus TV (Worldwide; subscription only); Sky Italia Go (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.