Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford on Tuesday night as Manchester United welcome Juventus for their Champions League group stage clash.
The Portuguese scored during a 1-1 draw at home to Genoa over the weekend, making it five goals and three assists in his last seven outings.
However, it maintained Juventus’ unbeaten streak in all competitions this season.
Here’s a look at how Massimiliano Allegri will attempt to win the tactical battle with Jose Mourinho.
SECRET WEAPON
All eyes will inevitably be on Ronaldo but Juventus may turn to a full-back to drive them forward in Manchester.
Joao Cancelo is not your ordinary full-back though. He has more successful dribbles (24) than any of his team-mates in Serie A this season and is joint-second with Ronaldo for key passes per game (1.8).
The 24-year-old has been an attacking force, boasting the pace and skill to get to the byline and even inside the box on occasion. Allegri may consider directing play down his flank in the build-up to create chances.
Luke Shaw still endures momentary lapses of concentration and should Anthony Martial feature down that side again, Cancelo will fancy his chances of getting in behind on the right.
AERIAL ASSAULT
United have been suspect from crosses this season, so much so that Mourinho deployed Marouane Fellaini to assist the centre-backs on a couple of occasions.
In Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic, Juventus have supreme aerial ability inside the box. One usually takes up a position in between the two centre-backs while the other peels off to the back post, gaining a significant advantage over either Shaw or Ashley Young.
Mandzukic’s injury changes things but with United likely to remain compact, the Bianconeri will find it tedious to play through them so crossing is still the best route to goal. Their full-backs are capable of good delivery to aid that strategy but also expect Paulo Dybala to drift wide and overload the flanks to get service into Ronaldo.
