Editorial (July 31, 2018) – Juventus will start another year being the favorites to lift the Serie A trophy. The Italian club will begin the 2018/19 season facing off Chievo Verona on August 19.
Predicting Juventus run in the 2018/19 European season
La Vecchia Signora will have a better chance of winning trophies with Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad. That is enough to say for a team that has dominated Italy since 2012.
Juventus have all the odds by their side domestically; however, they know exactly what to do in order to become the best team in the world: Win the UEFA Champions League.
In fact, they have all the pieces to crown themselves in Europe’s top club competition this season.
Italy’s dominance
It’s not a secret Juventus are the front-runners in Serie A even before Ronaldo’s signing. That’s because their best players from last season are still on the team.
Moreover, this summer has been the benefit of being the reigning Italian champions as they signed Douglas Costa until 2022, buying him from Bayern Munich. On the other hand, Emre Can, Joao Cancelo, Mattia Perin joined the squad in the transfer fee market.
It is difficult to see what Serie A club could challenge Juventus this season. Reports say Italy’s center-back Leonardo Bonucci wants out of Milan and aspires to rejoin Juve. If that transfer makes a reality, it’s better for the rest Italian clubs to not dream big enough this season.
Last season La Vecchia Signora became the first team in Europe that won four consecutive ”doubles” when they lifted their seventh Serie A trophy in a row on May 13th.
Champions League run
If there’s a team anyone would want to avoid in the UEFA Champions League, that’s Juventus. Historically, the Bianconeri are one of the hardest team to eliminate in international competitions. Just imagine this team with Ronaldo on board.
The Bianconeri looks on the verge of the new Europe’s top club tournament.
Ronaldo can guide Juve to their first trophy outside of Italy since 1996 as he won three successive Champions League with Real Madrid.
Ronaldo has also been the Champions League’s top goalscorer in the last six years. That is enough to say about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Cristiano is only one of the many attacking options Juventus have, of course, Paulo Dybala will be a key player.
La Joya will pair together with Ronaldo and Costa, the new big three that will terrorize the World this season.
Final prediction
There’s no rival in the horizon that can beat Juve in Italy, so the Bianconeri will earn their eight straight Serie A title and 37 overall as well as their 14th Coppa Italia trophy.
In the Champions League, the Italians need to take care of teams like Manchester City, Barcelona, Liverpool and even Real Madrid despite Ronaldo left them. Nevertheless, as a result of a great management effort, it seems Juventus are going to be in their third European final in five years.
Whoever may be the opponent in a potential final, Juventus can defeat anyone with this lineup and earn their third Champions League trophy. For instance, the Italians keep pushing in the International Champions Cup to start their preseason warms up.
Juve’s squad
Here’s Juventus completed squad for this season:
Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczęsny, Mattia Perin, Carlo Pinsoglio.
Defenders: Mattia De Sciglio, Giorgio Chiellini (captain), Medhi Benatia, Alex Sandro, Mattia Caldara, Andrea Barzagli, João Cancelo, Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Spinazzola
Midfielders: Miralem Pjanić, Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio, Blaise Matuidi, Emre Can, Stefano Sturaro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Juan Cuadrado.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuaín, Paulo Dybala, Douglas Costa, Mario Mandžukić, Federico Bernardeschi, Andrea Favilli, Moise Kean, Marko Pjaca.
