Juve vs Milan: Official Lineups Unveiled as Tudor and Allegri Cook Up Early-Season Tactics
5 October 2025
Lineups and stakes
At the Allianz Stadium, Juventus boss Igor Tudor revealed the starting XI for today’s high-stakes clash with Milan in the fifth round of Serie A. The Italians prepared a lineup that leaned on speed in transition and a solid backline, with the Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic left on the bench as a strategic option for later in the game.
The Juve setup features Jonathan David and Kenan Yildiz in advanced roles, with Weston McKinney also part of the attacking thrust. The plan suggests a 3-4-2-1 shape, built around a compact defense and a two-man creative duo behind the lone striker.
On the Milan side, Max Allegri responded by starting Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modrić in midfield, with Mike Maignan guarding the net and a backline anchored by Tomori, Gabia, and Pavlovic. Rafael Leao begins the match among the substitutes, a nod to tactical flexibility as the game unfolds.
The two teams meet in a clash that carries more than three points: it is a litmus test in the early title race, a moment where momentum can swing and claim top spot temporarily away from the nearest pursuers.
Juventus lineup (3-4-2-1): De Gregorio; Gatti, Rugani, Kelley; Calulo, Locatelli, McKinney, Cambiasso; Consizao, Yildiz; David. Milan lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabia, Pavlovic; Sailmkerz, Fofana, Modric, Rabio, Bartisagi; Jimenez, Polisic. (Notes: formations paraphrased for clarity; the original listing in the match preview follows a similar 3-4-2-1 and 3-5-2 structure.)
As the teams shake out of the tunnel, the tactical chess begins. Tudor’s Juve will look to press high and exploit space behind Milan’s midfield while Allegri’s Milan aims to control the middle third and feed danger from the flanks when possible. The clash is framed not just by the standings but by a broader narrative of coaching pedigrees and the evolving Italian derby landscape.
Form and momentum matter: Milan lead the table with 12 points from five games (four wins and one loss), while Juventus sit just behind on 11 points with three wins and two draws, freshly propelled by a dynamic start that has raised expectations and questions about defensive solidity.
Allegri’s connection to Juventus is a talking point in itself. The Italian coach has a storied history with the club, including two long spells, and his tactical fingerprints—whether on the touchline or the board—are never far from the discussion before a Juve-Milan head-to-head. Across his time coaching teams other than Juve, Allegri’s record against the Old Lady is a reminder that these meetings carry history beyond today’s starting XI.
Across their past meetings, Tudor and Allegri have shaped several memorable moments. Tudor’s side enters with a slight edge in certain head-to-heads, while Allegri looks to reclaim the strategic tempo that has defined his most successful stints. The dynamic between a veteran widely regarded as a master of reorganization and a rising tactical thinker on the Juve bench promises a game of chess with the clock ticking down to kickoff.
Why this match draws attention goes beyond immediate points. It is a reflection of two clubs at a crossroads: Juve striving to re-establish themselves near the summit after a strong start, Milan seeking to consolidate top-tier status and push a message to rivals that their pursuit of a domestic crown remains very much alive.
In the longer arc, today’s game continues a narrative of psychological warfare and ambition that has long defined this rivalry in Italian football. The result could ripple through the early-season pecking order and set the tone for the months ahead.
Is this the moment for either side to stamp authority, or will the tactical cat-and-mouse extend into the next fixture list?
With a season already showing signs of drama, the Juventus-Milan encounter promises both fireworks and the kind of nuanced planning that only top-level managers can deliver. The stage is set for a game that could tilt the early championship conversation and remind football fans that in Italy, the calendar is a stage and the players are merely actors waiting for the cues.
Punchline time
1) If the plan works, call it genius; if it doesn’t, blame the paperwork—somewhere there’s a lineup sheet with a mind of its own. 2) In football, as in stand-up, timing is everything: the joke lands when the ball lands, not when your ego does.
