4) Use Mario Mandzukic to target Real’s weak spot
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Yet another Champions League winner in the Juventus squad is Mario Mandzukic who won the trophy back in 2013 with Bayern Munich’s treble-winning team. Though he was a pure no.9 at the Bundesliga club, he has been shunted to the left wing at Juve.
Dani Carvajal is a doubt for the final so right-back duties will fall upon the shoulders of Danilo. This is the position Juventus should look to exploit using Mandzukic’s ability to win aerial duels. Among forwards, Mandzukic is in the top five for aerial duels won in the Champions League this season, winning 35 so far.
In contrast, Danilo has barely been called into action to battle in the air. This would mean that Sergio Ramos will have to step in and help him out if Juve send the ball long to the Croatian forward.
That allows someone like Gonzalo Higuain or Paulo Dybala to pounce on the second ball and either take a shot on goal or create chances. Mandzukic also has the ability to hold on to the ball and bring his teammates into play so expect Allegri to order his midfielders to find him since Dybala and Higuain will most probably be marked by Casemiro and one of two centre-backs (Ramos or Raphael Varane).
