Juventus Coach Max Allegri confirms Federico Bernardeschi could require surgery, while Gonzalo Higuain is unlikely to face Atalanta.

It kicks off tomorrow at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.

Bernardeschi sprained his knee and ankle during last week’s 1-0 win over Torino and was meant to undergo tests for ligament damage.

However, the leg is still so swollen that the examinations cannot give a definitive answer.

Juventus Coach Max Allegri confirms Federico Bernardeschi could require surgery, while Gonzalo Higuain is unlikely to face Atalanta.

It kicks off tomorrow at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.

Bernardeschi sprained his knee and ankle during last week’s 1-0 win over Torino and was meant to undergo tests for ligament damage.

However, the leg is still so swollen that the examinations cannot give a definitive answer.

“Bernardeschi will be revaluated in 20 days,” said Allegri in his Press conference.

“If by that time the conservative treatment has not had the desired effect, we’ll see if he needs an operation. Unfortunately, that is the situation with Federico.

“Higuain got this knock to the ankle last week, he hasn’t trained since and only worked separately from the squad, so it’s very unlikely he’ll be able to play tomorrow.

“Blaise Matuidi and Mario Mandzukic are available. Mattia De Sciglio has a problem with his adductor muscle and will be re-evaluated next week. Juan Cuadrado is working, but still a long way off his comeback.”

This leaves Juventus not only short-staffed for the Atalanta game in Serie A, but also nervous ahead of the Champions League trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Paulo Dybala has made his return to the fold after a thigh strain, but only as a substitute.

“I tried him out as a centre-forward yesterday, but I need to evaluate it, because we’ve got four games coming up: tomorrow, then Wednesday in the Coppa Italia, Saturday Lazio and the following Wednesday Tottenham.

“It’s unthinkable that Dybala could be ready after 40-45 days out to play 90 minutes in all three games. He played around half-a-hour against Torino, so it’s about finding the right fitness levels in a decisive moment of the season.

“Tomorrow we’ll certainly start Matuidi and Miralem Pjanic, then will decide between Stefano Sturaro, Claudio Marchisio or Rodrigo Bentancur.

“Gigi Buffon and Stephan Lichtsteiner start tomorrow, with either Daniele Rugani or Medhi Benatia.”

Juve beat Atalanta 1-0 in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final and Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are fresh from a heart-breaking Europa League exit to Borussia Dortmund.

“I compliment Atalanta on the way they faced that tournament. It’s a pity they went out, as did Napoli, because Italian sides should always try to go forward in Europe.

“They’ll be eager to make up for it straight away and on Wednesday, like us, they’ll be fired up to reach the Coppa Italia Final. Atalanta are a very physical side who play good football and it’s the first game in a very important run of fixtures.”

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