As if the task of winning in Turin on Wednesday night wasn’t daunting enough, Chelsea must do it without N’Golo Kante.
The Blues were taken by surprise when their midfielder tested positive for Covid. With Mason Mount, Reece James and Christian Pulisic already missing through injury, this is a snapshot of football in 2021: plans in disarray at the drop of a hat.
Of course, the European champions still have the materials to come here and win. In Romelu Lukaku they have a striker fresh from winning Serie A with Inter Milan in May, scoring 24 league goals en route, though his record against Juventus — one goal in six appearances — isn’t impressive.