Socrates

Juventus 2 - Lecce 1: Initial reaction and random observations For much of the second half Saturday night, I was sitting in my recliner just hoping Juventus could score a third goal and basically put the nail in the coffin of any sort of grandiose Lecce comeback hopes ............ Unfortunately, Door No. 2 was there in the final minutes at the Allianz Stadium. The thoughts of “Don’t do this again, Juventus!” certainly flowing through your head or even popping up on your phone when a text comes in from a Juve friend. I had it happen. ............ Juventus saw their comfortable 2-0 halftime lead against Lecce turn into anything but that when the relegation battlers cut said Bianconeri advantage in half just a couple of minutes before stoppage time. The thoughts crept in, memories of what happened so many times under Thiago Motta returned in an instant, and the very potential of another “here we go again” moment came back to the fore. It was all there ... until it wasn’t. Juventus didn’t fully engage in another late-game blowup against Lecce, as Igor Tudor did what Motta’s squad couldn’t — record a win, this one of the 2-1 variety, rather than dropping points for a second time this season against one of the worst teams in Serie A that hasn’t won in 2 1⁄2 months. ............ Juventus were flat dominant in the first half Saturday night. It wasn’t just because Teun Koopmeiners scored a goal that was very reminiscent of what he did at Atalanta last season all of 96 seconds into the game. It wasn’t just because Kenan Yildiz capped off a beautiful passing combination to double Juventus’ lead 12 minutes before halftime. A lot of the good things that Juve did against Roma was the same against Lecce — they were direct, they pressured the opponent and won the ball back high up the field, they created some quality chances. It was all very positive. Plus, they did what they weren’t able to do against Roma last weekend: add onto their lead. With how well the first half went, you kinda figured another goal was on the way because Juve were playing a game in which it felt like Lecce really had no answer for. Sure, Lecce nearly tied the game moments after the Koopmeiners opener, but that’s about all they did of note during the opening 45 minutes. But that third Juventus goal never happened — and left the door open for potential late-game silliness. Juve weren’t as good as they were in the second half as they were to open the game. Be it a case of them going into cruise control or something else entirely, it’s hard to say. Lecce’s goal was one of the toughest shots of the night — it had an xG of 0.03 and needed to be hit perfectly to beat Michele Di Gregorio at the far post. But there was no reason for them to be a situation where they needed to hang on at the very end and sweat out this win. None. ............ All of this is to say that Juventus, with the win, are now in third place in the Serie A table, taking advantage of things being so tightly packed between third and eighth that getting three points can see you leapfrog a couple of teams just like that. Considering Atalanta and Bologna play each other in Sunday’s lunchtime fixture, it’s hard to say that Juve’s third-place standing will last for more than the next 15 or so hours. ............ It’s just another sign that Tudor’s doing what he was brought in to do — steady a very rocky ship and just pick up as many points as he can. That’s now seven points out of a possible nine in three games under Juve’s caretaker manager, so there’s not much more you could ask from somebody who was so clearly willing to help out a club he loves when it was needed. RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS Dusan Vlahovic may not be scoring any goals these days, but against Lecce he most certainly was setting things up for his teammates. That’s now three assists in three games for Vlahovic under Tudor. He’s now tied for the team lead in assists on the season. I can’t say that I had that on my bingo card when Juve hit mid-April, but here we are, my friends. ............ Speaking of guys who need to some good vibes to go their way, that goal right off the bat from Koopmeiners had to feel good. Like really, really good. Dude has had a tough season and you could just see that he was playing with some confidence and freedom again. That’s the version of Koopmeiners that Juventus signed last summer, and hopefully it’s the one that we see a few more times before the 2024-25 season comes to an end. The passing on the Yildiz goal. That’s the good stuff. Yildiz scoring goals is also pretty dang fun. He should keep doing that like he’s done in two of the first three games under Tudor. Two Yildiz goals, two wins for Juventus with Tudor. I like the sound of that. Through 30 minutes, Juventus had 67% of the possession. That’s less than last week at the same point in time of the proceedings. Slackers. Juventus had 69% possession in the first half. You know what that is. ............ Igor Tudor loves to quickly tossed the ball back to one of his players for an instant restart off the throw-in and it will never not make me laugh now. He’s a very intense guy on the sidelines — and you feel like that’s what this Juventus team needed at this delicate moment — and the way he wants to just get on with things after the ball goes out of play is fun. And also pretty entertaining since we’ve now seen it in every one of his games as manager. Khephren Thuram ... that boy good. Manuel Locatelli attempting a whopping 128 passes and completing 91% of them ... that’ll play. Yeah, that’ll do just fine. Keep that going, Manu. ............ In hindsight, he big did that early Di Gregorio save right at the near post end up being? Yeah, pretty important. Juventus won. They’re in third place for the next few hours. Good start to the weekend. Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/4/12/24406967/juventus-lecce-2025-serie-a-matchday-32-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

Locatelli sees new ‘energy’ at Juventus, while Kenan Yildiz has warning Manuel Locatelli says ‘the energy has changed’ at Juventus under Igor Tudor, while Kenan Yildiz warns ‘it is a must’ they qualify for the Champions League. The Bianconeri continued their positive streak with new coach Tudor, seeing off Genoa and Lecce, with the 1-1 draw away to Roma. Dusan Vlahovic failed to find the net, but he did provide the assists for both Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz in the first half, as Juve put together some well-worked team moves. ............ “We are happy for the win, it was hard late on when they pressed us, but we’re pleased,” Kenan Yildiz said. “It is important to go into the Champions League, it is a must, so we have to continue our work and give our best, as always.” ............ “The energy has changed, we approach games with a lot of positive energy and that is what we need to keep doing. We had the chances to kill the game off earlier and conceded an avoidable goal, but we’re on the right track,” Locatelli said. “I saw it as more of a physical issue than anything else, as towards the end we lost sharpness and made avoidable mistakes. However, we brought home three fundamental points for us.” ............ “The Champions League spot is our objective, we must do everything to achieve it and win every game we have remaining.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/locatelli-see-new-energy-juventus-kenan-yildiz/

Tudor reveals he asked Juventus players for tactical ‘preference’ Igor Tudor reveals he asked his Juventus players where they prefer to play and ‘went with their sensations’ as well as bringing his own very different approach to Thiago Motta. ............ This evening saw two well-worked early goals with Dusan Vlahovic providing the assists for both Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz, but a late Federico Baschirotto header on a free kick made it a surprisingly nervy finale in Turin. “We could’ve killed it off earlier, the last 10 minutes were bad. Khephren Thuram gave the ball away, then we conceded that goal and the lads got anxious,” Tudor said. “I don’t want people to think we’re unhappy with the result, we should take it as a lesson to be learned, also from the players who came off the bench. They need to give something more. “It was a good performance overall for 87 minutes, the first half very good, then some tension set in when they scored, but it’s fine. We go forward.” ............ “Koop needed a goal, he had a good game, I saw his legs and his mind working better today. He is on the right track,” said the coach. “Dusan sacrificed himself for the team, he had chances that he usually puts away, but it’s fine, he provided two assists for his teammates.” ............ “Psychologically it was a bad moment, as they went out of the Champions League and Coppa Italia, were coming off two really heavy defeats, so that’s obvious. Physically, every coach demands different things from his players, training sessions work well for some styles of football and not others,” explained the coach. “For the football I like, clearly there is a very particular physical preparation that is required, as I like more pace and covering the width of the field. You can win in many different ways, we each have our own, and naturally we train based on the style we’re after.” ............ When Andrea Cambiaso came off the bench, he was placed on the right flank, with Tim Weah going to the left. “Timothy prefers to play on the left, while Andrea I think actually does better on the right. It is how they feel most at ease, so I asked them and went with their sensations.” ............ “It was a lovely goal, that I can say, and we had two or three training sessions on how to develop those moves. It is important for me to work on these concepts that the players can enjoy, then it is up to them to bring their quality to the game.” ............ Considering the improvement, is Tudor thinking beyond the end of this season and to potentially extending his contract? “I always answer the same way, I am very happy to be on the Juventus bench, I take it one day at a time and that is all.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/tudor-asked-juventus-players-tactical-prefer/

Serie A | Juventus 2-1 Lecce: Koopmeiners back on track too Juventus got back to winning ways with Dusan Vlahovic providing assists for the well-worked Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz goals, beating Lecce 2-1. ............ It took barely 100 seconds to break the deadlock, as Dusan Vlahovic weighted his through ball perfectly for Koopmeiners, who got down the left to drill in the left-foot angled drive from eight yards. It was the ideal way to celebrate his return to the starting XI. Lecce responded immediately, as Nikola Krstovic’s daisy-cutter from distance bounced off the upright, with Michele Di Gregorio also ready on the rebound. ............ The second Juventus goal was a wonderful team move. Khephren Thuram surged forward, completed a give and go with Kenan Yildiz, then Vlahovic laid it off for the Turkish talent to sweep into the far bottom corner with the inside of the right boot from the edge of the area. Nico Gonzalez saw his chest and volley go wide on the Locatelli dinked pass, then Falcone got down for a crucial one-handed save on Lloyd Kelly’s angled drive, doing enough to stop Vlahovic turning in the rebound. ............ Andrea Cambiaso came off the bench and forced a very difficult one-handed Falcone save with his left-foot scorcher from outside the box. Di Gregorio had to come flying off his line to deny Ante Rebic after a Thuram error gifted the Lecce chance late on. The visitors got one back to set up a tense finale in Turin, as Thorir Helgason whipped a free kick into the box for the acrobatic Federico Baschirotto header, which looped in beyond Di Gregorio’s fingertips. It became surprisingly nervy, with Helgason just failing to get control of the Konan N’Dri pull-back from the by-line. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-juventus-2-1-lecce-koopmeiners-back/

Dominant Juventus sees off Lecce despite late scare from the visitors Juventus secured a vital 2-1 victory over Lecce this evening, keeping their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League very much alive. In a tightly contested Serie A campaign, results such as this are crucial, especially against opponents they were previously unable to beat. Having been held to a draw by Lecce in the reverse fixture, the Bianconeri were well aware that this was a match they needed to win. ............ Juventus signalled their intent from the outset, with an early breakthrough setting the tone. Within the opening two minutes, Teun Koopmeiners opened the scoring, bringing the Allianz Stadium to life and offering the perfect start for the hosts. However, Lecce, known for their unpredictability and resilience, almost responded immediately, coming close to levelling the score. Despite this, Juventus remained dominant and continued to press forward, looking to extend their lead. ............ It was evident that the team had begun to fully embrace Igor Tudor’s tactical philosophy. The cohesion and urgency in their play suggested a renewed sense of belief under the new manager. That momentum was rewarded when Kenan Yildiz found the net to double the advantage. The young attacker, thriving under Tudor’s leadership, added another impressive moment to his growing highlight reel. ............ Despite their control, a third goal proved elusive, and Juventus were made to stay alert until the final whistle. Lecce managed to reduce the deficit through a set-piece, with Federico Baschirotto scoring from one of their few clear opportunities. The goal arrived too late to change the outcome, but it served as a reminder that concentration must be maintained throughout. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/dominant-juventus-sees-off-lecce-despite-late-scare-from-the-visitors/

KENAN YILDIZ 2-0

TEUN KOOPMEINERS 1-0

McKennie among 13 players named in illegal gambling probe United States midfielder Weston McKennie is among 13 soccer players being investigated for illegal online betting in Italy, according to widespread media reports. A new investigation by Milan prosecutors stems from evidence given by Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli in 2023. Both then served lengthy bans, ruling them out for most of last season, after agreeing to plea bargains that also included therapy for a gambling addiction. ............ The duo are also named in the new investigation, along with Fagioli's then-Juventus teammate McKennie and nine other current or former Serie A players, as well as Leeds defender Junior Firpo. There is no evidence that the other players ever gambled on soccer matches but their names emerged from depositions given by Tonali and Fagioli and analysis of their devices. ............ The players are being investigated for using illegal platforms for online poker and betting on other sports. As such they do not risk a ban but instead a maximum fine of 250 euros ($284) from Italian authorities. ............ . Read more -> https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/44644944/usa-weston-mckennie-players-italy-illegal-gambling-investigation

Juventus vs. Lecce match preview Igor Tudor’s first two games as Juventus’ caretaker manager has seen him face a much-improved Genoa side before squaring off against one of Serie A’s most in-form clubs in Claudio Ranieri’s Roma. It was very much not a simple task to try and undertake — and that’s even before you consider what happened in the couple of games before he stepped in for Thiago Motta. But over the next couple of weeks, Tudor has, in theory, a very soft spot in the schedule where he and Juventus can rack up some valuable points. ............ The first of those opponents of that ilk Juventus will face comes Saturday night against a Lecce side that sits in 17th place entering Matchday 32, all of two points above the drop zone and very much not in the kind of form that says that won’t find themselves in an even more precarious situation a few weeks from now if that continues. ............ While Juventus face a relegation battler in the form of Lecce, here’s what else is going on around the battle for the top four this weekend: Fourth-place Bologna face third-place Atalanta Sixth-place Lazio face seventh-place Roma Just like we said last weekend, those are two games that Juventus are very much a potential beneficiary of depending on how their own result goes. Juve’s draw with Roma was offset by Bologna’s draw with Napoli 24 hours later, so that stayed the same. But, as we know, a win in Rome could have meant pulling even with Atalanta in third on points and having fourth place all to themselves. ............ The race for the top four is going to dominate the conversation over these final seven games of the 2024-25 season. From third place to eighth place, there’s only a six-point margin. Any sort of slip-up and you’re at risk of losing at least a spot or two in the table because of how tightly packed things currently are. That means these next three games for Juventus, starting with Lecce’s visit to Turin on Saturday night, are just so incredibly important to try and maximize. Tudor knows it. That’s why he’s rolling out the line that Juve are approaching each of these final seven matchdays like they’re a final. It’s another step in the mindset reset that he’s had to undertake as part of trying to get Juventus back on track enough to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League next season. ............ Lecce, on top of being in 17th place and just above the relegation zone, are in pretty rough form. They’re winless in their last eight games, with five losses in their last six games. Their only draw over that six-game span came in last weekend’s big relegation six-pointer against Venezia. They haven’t won a game since Jan. 31 when they beat Parma — who Juve face two Mondays from now — at the Tardini. On paper, that is a game that Juventus should win basically every single time it’s on the schedule. But, as we know, that’s not what happened the last time these two teams played back on the first day of December. And that’s before that, while struggling mightily at the moment, Lecce are fighting for their Serie A lives over the next six weeks — and that always has the potential for an interesting kind of night. ............ TEAM NEWS The biggest piece of injury news coming out of Tudor’s pre-match press conference was that of the status of Khephren Thuram, who appears to have picked up some sort of muscle discomfort in training and is now a question mark for Saturday’s game. Tudor didn’t completely rule out the 24-year-old Frenchman, with a decision to come in the hours before facing Lecce. Somebody who will definitely miss out on facing Lecce who are new to the injury list are Samuel Mbangula and Mattia Perin, who Tudor said he hopes to have back for the April 21 trip to Parma. ............ Three Juve players are a yellow card away from having to serve a one-game suspension: Thuram, Andrea Cambiaso and Timothy Weah. JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH In the two games under Tudor, we’ve seen some good things and some potentially discouraging things that still linger from the days of Thiago Motta. It’s been a little bit of both, and that can be boiled down to how some players have performed under their new manager as well. ............ Kenan Yildiz was the star of the show against Genoa, helping Tudor kick off his time as Juventus manager in a winning kind of way. Against Roma, though? Not so much, with the 19-year-old starlet unable to replicate that same kind of performance from a week earlier. ............ Lecce’s got one of the worst goal differential figures in Serie A at minus-28. They’ve allowed 23 goals in their 15 games away from home so far this season. They’ve only recorded three shutouts away from home this season, with the most recent one coming in a scoreless draw against last-place Monza. This is the long way of saying that seeing Yildiz cook against Lecce is something that is certainly possible with the defense he will be going up against and something Juve needs to see happen as we continue to see Dusan Vlahovic struggle to do positive things in front of goal. ............ MATCH INFO When: Saturday, April 12, 2025. Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy. Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, 11:45 a.m. Pacific time. ............ . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/4/12/24402782/juventus-lecce-2025-serie-a-matchday-32-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

There is at least one loanee that Igor Tudor wants Juventus to keep Juventus currently have several players on loan within their squad, though not all have found favour under the guidance of new manager Igor Tudor. The coach has opted to move away from relying on certain individuals who played key roles during Thiago Motta’s tenure. In doing so, Tudor is focusing exclusively on players who he believes are capable of thriving within his tactical system. ............ However, this situation does not necessarily mean that all of Juventus’ loan agreements will be discontinued. While many of the loanees have yet to prove their worth to the current manager, there remains a window of opportunity for those who have made a strong impression. ............ One such player is Renato Veiga. Although his current loan deal does not include a purchase option, Juventus are reportedly eager to retain his services. The Portuguese midfielder has started both matches under Tudor thus far, and the manager is said to be keen on continuing to work with him, provided he remains in charge next season. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/there-is-at-least-one-loanee-that-igor-tudor-wants-juventus-to-keep/

Juventus and Arkadiusz Milik will end their relationship in the summer Juventus and Arkadiusz Milik have reportedly reached an agreement to part ways at the end of the season, following a campaign marred entirely by injury for the Polish striker. This development comes after a disappointing year in which Milik failed to make a single appearance for the Bianconeri due to persistent fitness issues, ultimately forcing both parties to reevaluate their future together. ............ Juventus, under the assumption that Milik would recover in time for the start of the 2024/25 season, opted against signing a backup striker during the summer transfer window. This decision left them with limited attacking options, relying heavily on Dusan Vlahovic to lead the line. ............ Both Juventus and Milik have now accepted that a parting of ways would be in the best interest of everyone involved. Although his current contract runs until the summer of 2026, an agreement is expected to be reached that will facilitate his departure from the Allianz Stadium once the current campaign concludes. ............ From Juventus’ perspective, keeping an injured player with no guarantees of a return to fitness simply doesn’t make sense, as for Milik, the striker may look for a fresh start elsewhere, perhaps in a less physically demanding league or at a club willing to give him the time and resources to complete his recovery properly. The Polish forward still has a few years left in his career, and if he can overcome his fitness woes, he could yet make a valuable contribution elsewhere. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-and-arkadiusz-milik-will-end-their-relationship-in-the-summer/

“You can see more” Tudor gives an update on how the players are doing Igor Tudor believes his players are much more confident now than when he first took over as manager of Juventus. The former midfielder has been helping the team in its bid to secure a top-four finish this season, and the players are aware that hard work is essential to achieve this goal. Although Tudor has only been in charge for a few weeks, he has already noticed a significant shift in the players’ attitudes. They appear to be fully buying into his ideas and, as the season continues, are showing more enjoyment in their performances. ............ Tudor understands that for his team to succeed, they must fully embrace his philosophy. If the players continue to struggle with his ideas, it will be difficult for them to secure victories. ............ Juventus’ next match is against Lecce in Turin, and it is a game that the team is expected to win. Speaking about his team’s progress, Tudor reflected on the improvements he has seen since taking charge. He said: “The group is doing well, it’s been a bit of a short week, but the lads have worked well. We’ll play on Saturday on the back of a solid and serious performance [against Roma]. You can see more confidence and the enjoyment of doing things right.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/you-can-see-more-tudor-gives-an-update-on-how-the-players-are-doing/

Juventus will revolutionise their attack when the season ends Juventus are preparing for a significant overhaul in the summer, and their forward line looks set to be at the heart of it. After another inconsistent season marked by managerial changes, the club appears ready to reshape the squad to fit Igor Tudor’s vision and to correct some long-standing issues—chief among them being the misfiring attack. Dusan Vlahovic, once seen as the future of Juve’s frontline, has struggled for consistent form. His contract situation hasn’t helped matters either. With no breakthrough in renewal talks and the club reluctant to meet his high wage demands, the writing seems to be on the wall. ............ Randal Kolo Muani’s situation is even more precarious. Brought in with high expectations, he has failed to live up to the billing, particularly in terms of goal return. With PSG reportedly interested in bringing him back, his exit seems just as likely as Vlahovic’s. ............ The club needs forwards who can both press effectively in Tudor’s system and deliver consistent goal output. Whether the answer lies in experienced names like Romelu Lukaku—who has been loosely linked—or promising young strikers like Jonathan David or Joshua Zirkzee, Juventus must get this right if they want to challenge for major honours again next season. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-will-revolutionise-their-attack-when-the-season-ends/

Capello says Juventus’ players are not attached enough to the club’s shirt Fabio Capello believes that Juventus and AC Milan are facing the same underlying issue as both clubs continue to struggle this season. Historically, Juventus and Milan have been two of the most successful and dominant clubs in Italian football. However, both are now at risk of missing out on a spot in next season’s Champions League. ............ “At Milan and Juventus, there is no club behind them, there are managers who don’t have clear ideas. There is no thought, there is no unity: the most important choice is the players, if you can’t choose those who can wear the Milan or Juventus shirt, it means that you are not able to evaluate on a personal level before a technical one. The importance of a strong management? It is essential to understand the circumstances, the fans want to see a certain attachment to the shirt. Things that have not been seen at both Juve and Milan.” ............ For Juventus, Capello’s words highlight that wearing the club’s shirt should come with a sense of responsibility and pride, something that may be lacking in the current squad. Juventus is historically considered one of the most prestigious clubs in Italian football, and this legacy should be instilled in every player who pulls on the Bianconeri jersey. The current group, as Capello points out, seems to struggle to comprehend the weight of that responsibility, which is evident in their inconsistent performances on the pitch. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/capello-says-juventus-players-are-not-attached-enough-to-the-clubs-shirt/

Bremer is making progress as he target the Club World Cup Gleison Bremer is reportedly making encouraging progress in his recovery from the long-term injury that has kept him out for the majority of the current season. ............ Bremer is not expected to feature again this season, with the club maintaining a cautious approach towards his recovery. Juventus are well aware of the severity of the injury and have no intention of rushing his return. Instead, the priority remains on ensuring that he completes his rehabilitation properly and is in the best possible condition when he eventually resumes competitive football. ............ Bremer has stepped up his recovery, and his response to the latest stages of his rehabilitation has reportedly pleased the club. There is now some hope that he could return in time for the Club World Cup, although Juventus have not placed any public timeline on his comeback. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/bremer-is-making-progress-as-he-target-the-club-world-cup/

Juventus vs Lecce: Preview and Prediction Top four-chasing Juventus are set to host relegation-threatened Lecce, and Igor Tudor will want to keep the distance with Bologna. Igor Tudor did start his reign as Juventus boss with a narrow win over Genoa, but they stumbled in the new manager’s second game in charge, with US Lecce up next for them. The Bianconeri went to Stadio Olimpico to face Roma and came away with a point from the Italian capital. ............ Once they settled for a draw, Juventus were hoping for Bologna to drop points against Napoli, which is what happened on Monday. Hence, heading into the new matchday, the two teams are just a point apart, and the Bianconeri will at least target going ahead of their rival as Bologna will only play on Sunday and have a relatively tougher fixture at home to Atalanta. Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Lecce are hoping to extend their lead away from the danger zone at the weekend, although they face the tough prospect of getting something away from Turin. Marco Giampaolo’s side does have some challenging fixtures ahead as well as some that they can potentially put a fight in. ............ Team News & Tactics Juventus Igor Tudor will be sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Khephren Thuram, as the Frenchman missed training with a muscular issue. While the wider expectation is for him to start alongside Locatelli, Tudor might side with caution and keep him on the bench. In terms of the absentees, long-term casualties Arkadiusz Milik, Gleison Bremer, and Juan Cabal are joined by the likes of Federico Gatti and Samuel Mbangula on the sidelines. There is the idea of seeing Douglas Luiz play in midfield alongside Locatelli if Thuram misses out, although in Tudor’s system Teun Koopmeiners might be the better fit. There might be no place for Francisco Conceicao in this lineup, as Kenan Yildiz and Nico Gonzalez will occupy the positions in the advanced role behind striker Dusan Vlahovic. The Serb seems like Tudor’s preferred choice so far over Randal Kolo Muani in his short reign at Juventus thus far. Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah could occupy the wing-back roles, while Piere Kalulu, Renato Veiga, and Lloyd Kelly take the back three positions for Juventus against US Lecce. Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Veiga, Kelly; McKennie, Locatelli, Koopmeiners, Weah; Yildiz, Gonzalez; Vlahovic US Lecce ............ Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Banda; Krstovic Key Stats Juventus are undefeated in 35 of their last 38 matches in Serie A. Juventus are undefeated in their last nine matches against Lecce in all competitions. Juventus have kept four clean sheets in their last six league games at home. Lecce have failed to win their last eight matches in Serie A. Player to Watch Dusan Vlahovic Once again, there will be question marks about Vlahovic’s performances, as the striker has not scored in his last four Serie A outings. To his credit, he did provide the assist to kickstart Tudor’s reign against Genoa, but the manager will be looking at the Serbian as the team’s main source of goals. ............ Prediction Juventus 3-0 Lecce Lecce are struggling for relevance, having failed to win their last eight games in Serie A. For now, they are hanging by a thread outside the relegation zone, and it may take a loss or two to push them back into the bottom three. Juventus are the overwhelming favourites to take three points against Lecce, and Igor Tudor will be hoping this is the game where his team realises their attacking potential and free themselves from the handbrake. The Bianconeri have the players with firepower as they may come good for three goals at the very least on Saturday. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/04/12/juventus-vs-lecce-preview-and-prediction/

Auguri Mister (77)! Sempre nei nostri cuori!

Preview: Juventus vs. Lecce - prediction, team news, lineups Still lagging behind in the race for a top-four finish, fallen giants Juventus will welcome relegation-threatened Lecce to Turin on Saturday. Last week's draw in Rome left Juve with ground to make up, so maximum points are surely essential if they are to salvage Champions League qualification from a sub-par campaign. Match preview Despite putting in an impressive shift at Stadio Olimpico, Juventus had to settle for one point from their tussle with fellow top-four contenders Roma, having failed to preserve a lead earned by midfielder Manuel Locatelli. Named club captain by new coach Igor Tudor, Locatelli has now scored three of his last four league goals from outside the box - including last week's strike in the capital - but his latest mid-range strike was cancelled out just after half time. That leaves the Bianconeri a point shy of fourth-placed Bologna with only seven games to go, while both Rome clubs, Fiorentina and even ailing AC Milan are still in contention. As well as exiting Europe and the Coppa Italia before the latter stages, Juve have put a modest total of 56 points on the board in Serie A - their worst tally at this stage of any season for 14 years. After winning his first home fixture since arriving as interim manager - 1-0 against Genoa - Tudor now takes his team back to their Turin headquarters in search of more precious points. For all their failings, Juventus have won five of their last six league games at the Allianz Stadium - as many as throughout the previous 16 combined - and no team has kept more clean sheets on home turf in 2025. Having also lost only one - and won 13 - of 18 previous home games against Lecce in Serie A, history is firmly on their side too. ............ Team News While Khephren Thuram should overcome some muscular fatigue that has caused him to miss training, Juventus will again be without centre-back Federico Gatti, reserve goalkeeper Mattia Perin and young winger Samuel Mbangula due to injury. Igor Tudor could opt for one or two changes, but new skipper Manuel Locatelli is set to start in midfield. The Italy international has not only made the most successful passes in Serie A this season, he has also completed the third most line-breaking passes throughout Europe's top five leagues, only trailing Bundesliga stars Joshua Kimmich and Granit Xhaka. Dusan Vlahovic should spearhead a 3-4-2-1 formation, but Randal Kolo Muani could be brought in to either replace or support Juve's misfiring striker; neither has found the net since February. Meanwhile, Nikola Krstovic will be the visitors' focal point up front, having recently hit double figures in Serie A. ............ Juventus possible starting lineup: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Veiga, Kelly; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, McKennie; Gonzalez, Yildiz; Vlahovic Lecce possible starting lineup: Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Morente; Krstovic We say: Juventus 3-0 Lecce There have been distinct signs of improvement from Juventus since Thiago Motta was shown the door, with a more direct style getting more out of several underperforming players. With home advantage on their side, too, Juve can take care of business against a limited Lecce side, keeping them in the hunt for a Champions League return. . Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/preview/preview-juventus-vs-lecce-prediction-team-news-lineups_569932.html

Thiago Motta refused Cristiano Giuntoli’s tactical advice Juventus Football Director Cristiano Giuntoli had reportedly given Thiago Motta a piece of advice, which the latter dismissed. ............ Nevertheless, what started as a close-knit bond failed to stand the test of time and atrocious results. So towards the end of his days at the club, the 42-year-old tactician found himself increasingly exiled, with the management offering him little to no backing, whether in public or in private (as were told). ............ Since then, both men have categorically denied this repulsive tale, but it is widely believed that the relationship between the two was no longer ideal, especially in the days that preceded the coach’s sacking. ............ Giuntoli proposed a new tactical system, but Motta wasn’t interested. The club director felt that the squad at the manager’s disposal was capable of playing with three defenders, but the head coach insisted on his 4-2-3-1 formation until the bitter end. Hence, the fact that Igor Tudor has immediately adopted a 3-4-2-1 system perhaps wasn’t a coincidence after all. The Croatian has been deploying this formation since the start of his managerial career, which may have been one of the factors that influenced Giuntoli’s decision when choosing Motta’s replacement. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/report-thiago-motta-refused-cristiano-giuntoli-tactical-advice/