3 Juventus Players Who Must Hit Form After International Break

With their injury list growing, there is little doubt that the international break came at just the right moment for Serie A giants Juventus.

Sitting just three points clear of closest challengers Napoli, the Bianconeri ended their last league fixture with Claudio Marchisio, Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini and Martin Caceres all struggling.

Sadly for head coach Massimiliano Allegri, however, their problems may have grown over the past seven days with both Andrea Barzagli and Dybala sent home from their respective national teams due to fitness concerns.

The former returned to Turin after being diagnosed with an overloaded thigh muscle, with the official Juventus website revealing it would be monitored by their medical staff, leaving his availability unclear.

Meanwhile, the Argentinian striker—who limped off in that last outing against Torino and is Juve’s leading goalscorer—suffered a torn muscle in his thigh, per Football Italia, adding to the club’s injury woes.

Given that Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro and Sami Khedira are all suspended for Juve’s next Serie A fixture, they will need a number of other players to step up when domestic football resumes this weekend.

What follows—in no particular order—is a look at three members of the Juventus squad who must hit top form immediately, with their performances likely to decide whether or not the Bianconeri can hold off Napoli and secure a historic fifth consecutive Scudetto.

Paul Pogba

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

The past few weeks have seen Paul Pogba deliver his best for Juventus, and that will need to continue over the club’s remaining games.

The midfielder is blessed with an incredible array of skills, weighing in with two goals and two assists in his last two outings, lifting his seasonal tallies to seven and nine, respectively.

That kind of influence is sorely needed as a number of other players fail to deliver, and a strong run of form from Pogba could be enough to see the Bianconeri crowned champions of Italy again.

Daniele Rugani

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

With Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini suffering with injury, the last thing Juventus needed was to lose Leonardo Bonucci, but his yellow card against Torino means he will now miss out against Empoli this Saturday.

That combination of factors means that Daniele Rugani is almost certain to find himself in the starting XI to face his former club, and even when Bonucci returns, he is likely to be needed by Allegri in the coming weeks.

The 21-year-old has made just four Serie A starts for the Bianconeri, but he must be ready to step up and shine as those ageing veterans—who have been central to Juve’s success in recent campaigns—sit out.

Alvaro Morata

Filippo Venezia/Associated Press

While Pogba has lifted his performances, few players have shone as brightly as Alvaro Morata in recent weeks, with the Spanish striker netting seven goals—and adding three assists in his last 13 appearances.

That those outings saw him feature for just 726 minutes shows just how impressive Morata has been, and while talk of a return to former club Real Madrid continues, per Goal, the player has expressed his fondness for the Old Lady.

“I am playing for the biggest club in Italy and it would be wonderful to remain here,” the 23-year-old told reporters in Spain (h/t Football Italia). "The affection the people have for Juventus all through the country is incredible. I love everything about Italy.”

Dybala’s fitness—as well as that of Mario Mandzukic—remains a concern, but having a healthy Morata in the coming weeks could make all the difference, just as Pogba and Rugani can do in their respective positions.