Gianluigi Buffon

by Aaron Giambattista

SuperGigi hasn’t been called into action much, but when he does, he’s always decisive. The mark of a truly great keeper is one who has nothing to do all match other than make one save, and then go back to sleep. Always attentive, he’s made some solid stops in games early on that make a difference. Not a whole lot of world class saves to pick out, but that probably speaks more to the impregnable defense in front of him than Buffon’s form.

Pagelle Average Rating: 6.3
Matches Played: 23

Marco Storari

by Lars Aabjerg Pedersen

Played well enough in the season opener against Parma, but hasn’t had a game since, as Buffon has been healthy (and back to usual greatness). He was suspended for the Coppa Italia game against Cagliari, but will expect to play the rest of the games in that tournament. Ever reliable when called upon and seemingly a good influence around the squad, I wouldn’t want any other player in this role.

Pagelle Average Rating: 6.5
Matches Played: 2

Andrea Barzagli

by Lars Aabjerg Pedersen

Big Andrea had a bit of a wobbly beginning to the season after being the rock at the back for both Juventus and Gli Azzurri in their very successful 2011/12 campaigns. Doubts were even being raised as to whether Lucio should overtake his position, but before these became more than whispers, Barzagli got his mojo and superior calm back, leaving him a certain fixture on the team sheet once more. One of the unsung heroes of this Juve team, I always like to bang the drum for this tremendous titan of tackling and perfect prefect of positioning. Also, it’s worth noting that despite those early games where he was a bit out of sorts, Andrea tops the JuventiKnows player rating average for defenders so far.
 

Pagelle Average Rating: 6.6    Matches Played: 23

Leonardo Bonucci

by Adam Digby

Gone are the errors which so blighted Bonucci’s two previous seasons as the 25 year old defender develops the kind of consistency demanded by Antonio Conte. He is the clear leader of the defensive line, constantly talking and coordinating his team-mates from his role in the centre of the back three while adding a greater intelligence to his passing game so often incorrectly criticised for its wastefulness which even a cursory glance at the statistics dispells. Added a vital Champions League goal against Shakhtar Donetsk to balance out the embarrassing dive against Palermo.

Pagelle Average Rating: 6.4     Matches Played: 23

Giorgio Chiellini

by John Cascarano

It seems quite fitting that if Barzagli captures the highest average score thus far, Giorgio Chiellini trails just behind by the thinnest of margins, -0.1. While it is Andrea who epitomizes consistency and flawlessness in positioning, it is Keyser Giorgio who provides the muscle for what it is holistically the most well-rounded and successful back line in Italy.

The converted left back picked up right where he ended last season, striking fear into the heart of strikers all over the peninsula and now Europe as well, whilst challenging Thiago Silva as Serie A’s most talented central defender. Now that the Brazilian has hopped the bandwagon to France, the single biggest thing stopping Chiellini from taking that mantle are the injuries which have been plaguing him since last summer’s European Cup.

A fairly substantial injury layoff looks in his future at this point, and tifosi will welcome his return no matter how much more valuable playing time this could provide for the promising Luca Marrone.

Pagelle Average Rating: 6.5     Matches Played: 19

Lucio

by Aaron Giambattista

Ah, Lucio. The former Inter defender signed a 2-year contract with Juventus much to the displeasure of most Juventus fans, who did not want the Brazilian. After a few months, neither did Antonio Conte, apparently, as he fell behind Marrone and Caceres in the pecking order. Looked horrendous in the summer, but played a decent game against Napoli in the Supercoppa, played a good game against Chievo and unremarkable performances against Nordsjaelland in the Champion’s League. And that was all she wrote.

Pagelle Average Rating: 6.0
Matches Played: 3

Luca Marrone

by Lars Aabjerg Pedersen

It has been an interesting few months for young “Mr. Brown” since he learned that he was to stay in the first team squad rather than being loaned out as is the usual Modus Operandi regarding young developing players. Having been shown a lot of faith by Conte already last season, staying on, Luca looked set to be one of few alternatives to the “P” in the MVP midfield triumvirate.

As it turned out though, a couple of early, impressive performances as a ball distributing central defender (“the Bonucci role”) combined with Paul Pogba’s emergence on the scene as first choice midfield reserve seems to have convinced Conte that Marrone’s immediate future lies as vice-Bonucci. He has done very well when called upon in this capacity so far, and while some would like to see him get more playing time, there is definitely also a case to be made that he is exactly where he should be right now; learning and winning with the Best.

Pagelle Average Rating: 6.4
Matches Played: 6