Pereyra Crucial to Juventus' Champions League Progress

When Paul Pogba limped off midway through the first half of Juventus' 3-0 Champions League second-leg win over Borussia Dortmund and was ruled out for much of the rest of the season, a cruel blow was dealt to the Italian champions' continental hopes and dreams.

Pogba has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the world, and his match-winning performances this season have led to rumours linking him with transfers to some of Europe's richest clubs.

Yet while his injury and subsequent absence was a blow, the wound was nowhere near terminal. Roberto Pereyra has had a lot to do with that.

The Argentine joined the club on loan from Udinese at the start of this season and has gradually won over any doubters with his displays in a multitude of positions. Indeed, in the aforementioned game against Dortmund, following Pogba's substitution, Pereyra's drives caused the Germans serious problems.

Before the hour mark, he took the ball from deep inside his own half, shrugged off the attention of his markers and burst through midfield to supply Alvaro Morata with an opportunity which was saved. Later, he did something similar but instead teed up Carlos Tevez, who tucked away the third goal.

Such moments are microcosms of Pereyra's overall game. His haircut is similar to that of his team-mate, Arturo Vidal, but their style is what makes them even harder to distinguish. Like Vidal, Pereyra is an energetic all-rounder who enjoys haranguing the opposition and loves playing in Massimiliano Allegri's diamond midfield.

Allegri has utilised the diamond in tandem with the 3-5-2 that his predecessor Antonio Conte honed to such perfection in the past. Juve use both well, but in different circumstances. The former is used for a more high-tempo brand of play, while the latter is used as a sort of defensive comfort blanket.

Pereyra can operate well in either but particularly seems to enjoy the diamond. As Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe explained: "The outside central midfielders have to be pure athletes; the amount of running...and fanning wide they have to do off the ball to protect their full-backs is remarkable."

Pereyra is a hard worker and a dynamic, athletic player. Essentially, he is perfect for the diamond midfield, where he, Vidal and Claudio Marchisio act as links bringing together defence and attack.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press/Associated Press

If Juventus expect to go deep in the Champions League, they may have to accept having less possession against certain opponents. Thus, transition football could well come to the fore, and Pereyra will be willing and able to oblige in this regard.

Arguably, he is even better suited to it than Pogba. According to WhoScored.com, Pereyra is a more direct player than Pogba. While not capable of such majestic moments of skill, he has an average of 1.4 dispossessions per game, 1.2 less than Pogba. He also has just 1.3 bad touches per game, 0.6 less than the Frenchman.

Additionally, Pereyra's passing is slightly more accurate, with an average pass success of 86.7 percent compared to Pogba's 83.8 percent. Pereyra is an extremely effective player, and when it comes to pressing and counterattacking the best in Europe, he will be an important cog in the Juventus machine.

His versatility only adds to his value. Pereyra has switched between positions throughout the season but has rarely appeared flustered by the changes. As a right wing-back, a central-midfield runner or an attacking-midfield nuisance, he has often done his job with aplomb.

While Juventus are without one of the finest individual talents in world football in Pogba, they enter Wednesday's crucial away clash with Monaco with a dependable, efficient and flexible team player in his place.

Pereyra might not produce the same flashes of inspiration, but at a time when Juve could find their backs against the wall, he can provide exactly what they need.