Morata will take Ronaldo's role in attack against Crotone

With Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo out of action after testing positive for coronavirus, Spain's Alvaro Morata will have a chance to redeem his grim debut against Roma this Saturday when Juventus visit Crotone.

Morata, who returned to Juventus in the last transfer market on loan for ten million euros and with a purchase option set at 45 million from Atlético Madrid, will be in the starting line-up this Saturday with coach Andrea Pirlo.

The positive result for coronavirus of Cristiano, who will miss, at least, the visit to Crotone and the debut in the Champions League against Dinamo Kiev, coupled with the physical problems of the Argentine Paulo Dybala, who trained with Argentina's national side without playing due to abdominal problems, opens the doors of Juventus forward position to Morata.

The Spanish striker, who played for Juventus from 2013 to 2015, made his debut just after arriving in Turin at the Roman Olympic Stadium against Roma, but he was far from his best form in that match.

On that occasion, it was Ronaldo who redeemed a grim performance from the whole team by scoring a transcendental double to rescue a valuable 2-2.

October 16, 2020

That match is still the last of Juventus, who did not play against Napoli on 4 October because their opponents did not travel to Turin, following the order to stay in quarantine from local authorities.

Morata will look to celebrate his first goals as a Juventus player in his second stage in Turin, after scoring 27 goals in 93 matches in his first experience.

Pirlo is likely to be aiming for an attacking trident this Saturday, with Madrid's number '9' in the centre of the attack, accompanied by Federico Chiesa, recently signed for 50 million from Fiorentina, and Swedish talent Dejan Kulusevski.

Also aiming for the starting eleven are Brazilian Arthur Melo, formerly of Barcelona, and Uruguayan Rodrigo Bentancur, who were the best in their team, along with Cristiano, in the match against Roma.

The Turin team, which won the match against Napoli 3-0, has seven points in three rounds and is two points behind Atalanta and Milan, who share the league lead with full wins.