Leonardo Bonucci awaits a hot return and other Juventus v AC Milan talking points

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  • Leonardo Bonucci is finally settling in well at AC Milan.

    Another chapter in the iconic rivalry between Juventus and AC Milan takes place on Saturday evening.

    This clash usually defined the Serie A title race from the end of the 1980s until the turn of this decade. Now, only this weekend’s hosts at Allianz Stadium are involved in the scrap for the domestic game’s grandest trophy.

    But with a Rossoneri revitalised under Gennaro Gattuso back in the picture for Champions League qualification, the stakes remain high on both sides.

    Here are the talking points:

    NICE TO SEE YOU, LEO

    An expert sense of timing applies for Leonardo Bonucci, both in and out of the tackle.

    A wild swing of the celebrated centre-back’s elbow against Genoa last October saw him miss out on an instant return to Juve, the club he’d contentiously left in the summer following 319 appearances and 12 major trophies.

    This was almost an act of self-preservation. Bonucci was then, the poster boy for Milan’s misspent summer windfall, performing way below the high standards set during seven superb years in Turin.

    Milan were swatted aside on that day in a deflated San Siro. Much has changed since.

    Central to this has been the improved form of Bonucci. He now leads a defence that has kept clean sheets in its last three away matches in Serie A.

    A positive reception from the Allianz crowd is anything-but certain. The same can’t be said about the shackles he will throw on Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala.

    Leonardo Bonucci and family with the 2016/17 Serie A title.

    Leonardo Bonucci and family with the 2016/17 Serie A title.

    MASTER AND APPRENTICE

    These are uncertain times for Italian football as the reality they will miss out on World Cup 2018 continues to sink in.

    But one area in which they can remain bullish is the quality of their coaches.

    November’s decision by Milan, ridiculed at the time, to dispense with Vincenzo Montella and promote club legend Gennaro Gattuso from the Primavera has proven a masterstroke.

    The imminent signing of a contract extension is just reward for his remarkable turnaround. This includes a 10-game unbeaten run in Serie A and growing possibility Milan’s tumultuous campaign could yet end with a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2013/14.

    In the opposite corner, Massimiliano Allegri is coveted across the continent. He is the master to Gattuso’s apprentice.

    He was in charge of Milan the last time they won this fixture in March 2011. The scorer that day? None other than Gattuso.

    Gennaro Gattuso of AC Milan celebrates scoring the winner at Juventus in March 2011.

    Gennaro Gattuso of AC Milan celebrates scoring the winner at Juventus in March 2011.

    OLD LADY’S JUGGLING ACT

    The business end of the season is upon Juve.

    They are locked in Europe’s only title race among the big-five leagues and have the small matter to come of Tuesday’s visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League’s quarter-finals.

    After usurping Napoli at the top before the international break for the first time since September, they are determined to make it seven titles in a row.

    Equally, this historic period for the Old Lady has a glaring omission – two appearances in the continental final have delivered two painful losses.

    Instant revenge against 2016/17 conquerors Madrid is at hand. To do this, careful squad management is required.

    Fortunately for Allegri, he can now count on the likes of Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic and Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado.

    Smart rotation of his resources is key for the challenges ahead.

    Massimiliano Allegri's squad management is about to be tested.

    Massimiliano Allegri’s squad management is about to be tested.

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