Preview: Juventus vs. CD Guadalajara - prediction, team news, lineups

I Bianconeri will look to get up and running before taking on Real Madrid and Barcelona later on in their US tour.

Match preview

Juventus head into their pre-season campaign on the back of a tough season by their own standards last time around, as their wait for a 37th Serie A title was extended for another year after nine consecutive triumphs finishing in 2020.

Massimiliano Allegri's side eventually came fourth in the Italian top flight, finishing with three games without a victory, having also fallen short in the Coppa Italia final against Inter Milan, as goals from Alex Sandro and Dusan Vlahovic were only good enough to force a period of extra time before their rivals raced out of sight with two goals in the additional 30 minutes.

Having, at least, booked their place in the upcoming season's Champions League thanks to a top-four finish, the Turin outfit will turn their attention to the new campaign with a somewhat new-look squad, as mainstays Giorgio Chiellini and Paulo Dybala have departed over the summer alongside Matthijs de Ligt and the likes of Federico Bernardeschi.

It has not only been exits, though, with Juventus already announcing the signings of Gleison Bremer and Angel Di Maria, as well as the return of French midfielder Paul Pogba to the Allianz Stadium after a six-year spell at Manchester United.

With contests against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid looming, prior to the beginning of the domestic season in mid-August, Allegri's side will look to kick off their preparations with a victory in Las Vegas.

They take on a Guadalajara side who will briefly put their Mexican top-flight campaign on hold for Saturday's friendly, having made a slow start to the season.

Looking to build on last term's sixth-placed Apertura finish, Las Chivas headed into the new Apertura phase with high hopes, but they have been unable to pick up a win in four attempts thus far.

They started with a goalless stalemate at home to Juarez, before falling to a narrow defeat at the hands of San Luis, as Facundo Waller's goal on the stroke of half time made the only difference.

Ricardo Cadena's side were then pegged back away at Santos Laguna, as Jose Gonzalez's opening goal was cancelled out by an Eduardo Aguirre equaliser for the hosts in the 70th minute, before having to settle for another goalless draw against Leon last time out, albeit having fought for the final 25 minutes with 10 men after Luis Olivas's red card.

While their league position would quickly change with an upturn in form, given it is still particularly early, Guadalajara may be slightly concerned by their winless start and will hope to build confidence with a victory over the European giants on Saturday.

Juventus form (all competitions):

CD Guadalajara form (all competitions):

Team News

Given it is their first full game of pre-season, Juventus are expected to take a look at the majority of players in their squad, with regular rotation expected.

New signings Pogba and Di Maria are bound to feature for I Bianconeri, while Bremer may not join the camp in time to get on the pitch, with Leonardo Bonucci and Daniele Rugani expected to partner up in defence following the exits of De Ligt and Chiellini.

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey has not gone on the tour, with a departure anticipated, while winger Federico Chiesa remains out of action through a long-term injury, with the likes of Denis Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli and Dusan Vlahovic likely to play for the majority of the contest.

Guadalajara defender Luis Olivas will be available to play on Saturday despite his red card last time out, as he will instead be suspended for their next league outing against Queretaro.

Fellow centre-back Antonio Briseno could also make an appearance after he was suspended for the Leon game, having been shown a red card in the previous outing despite not getting onto the pitch.

Jose Gonzalez could again be given a chance to start up front, although Cadena may look to rotate his squad ahead of their return to league action next week.

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, Rugani, Sandro; Pogba, Locatelli, Zakaria; Di Maria, Vlahovic, Kean

CD Guadalajara possible starting lineup:

Jimenez; Briseno, Olivas, Orozco; Torres; Cisneros, Calderon, Beltran, Ponce; J Gonzalez, Brizuela

We say: Juventus 3-1 CD Guadalajara

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