Socrates

Cremonese 1 - Juventus 2: Initial reaction and random observations When the first day of November arrives every year, it’s also a day to celebrate at Juventus — it’s the Old Lady’s birthday, with the grand and most successful Italian club turning 128 years old in 2025. The catch this season is that Juve’s birthday comes on the same day in which Luciano Spalletti made his debut as the club’s new manager after Igor Tudor was fired at the beginning of the work week. ............ Less than two minutes into Spalletti’s first game, Juventus already found themselves in front against one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 season to date, newly-promoted Cremonese. It was the birthday boy Filip Kostic ending a goal drought that spanned two years and scoring one of the quickest goals away from home from a Juventus player since these types of things have been counted, according to Opta. Throw in the guy playing on the opposite wing of Kostic, Andrea Cambiaso, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal midway through the second half and Juventus doing some classic hang-on-for-dear-life survival to clinch the 2-1 win over Cremonese on Saturday night to give Spalletti the win in his debut and record back-to-back victories for just the second time this season. Of course, these two wins in the span of four days have come under two different managers, both of which coming after Tudor was fired on Monday. First it was Massimo Brambilla dropping in for a couple of days and keeping the seat warm for the more permanent manager, who ended up being Spalletti. Both Brambilla and Spalletti had all of one training session before coaching their respective debuts on the Juve sideline this week. One manager changed things up both tactically and lineup-wise — and you can probably guess which was which just considering each coach’s situation and how long they’re going to be running training sessions at Continassa the rest of this season. That, of course, was to be expected. Brambilla was the bridge to Spalletti, and the latter is somebody who will hopefully be around for a few years beyond the completion of the 2025-26 campaign. Was Spalletti’s debut perfect? Not by any stretch of the imagination. Nor should we have expected it to be simply because of why he’s here. This is a Juventus team that needs a lot of work, and it’s still a question of if somebody who’s even as experienced as Spalletti can be the one to get that done with this current roster. The first half was a much better overall showing than the second half from Juventus. Some of that had to do with the early goal allowing Juve to really try and go for it while knowing full well they were ahead. Some of it also had to do with some of the changes Spalletti made after the break that didn’t exactly work out well. (Attacking changes with a 2-0 lead? Knowing full well how this Juve team can protect a lead? Not so sure about that one, Luciano.) ............ Compared to how they looked all of six days earlier against a Lazio side that was basically daring them to score after taking the lead, it’s a step in the right direction to hopefully start to turn this season around. It’s not a big step, but it’s a step forward rather than what was happening under Tudor. And for a team that hadn’t won in nearly seven weeks, getting a pair of wins within the span of four days does feel a whole lot better than an eight-game winless run that ended up costing Tudor his job. RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS He may be 66 years old, but man, Spalletti can still absolutely rock a suit. That man has style in droves. Also, that nonchalant reaction to Kostic’s goal was pretty amusing. And casually strolling out of the tunnel right as the second half is kicking off? That’s also pretty amusing. Only somebody like Spalletti he has some cool to his managerial game can do that in his first game in charge at a new club. ............ Federico Gatti getting muscled out of a 50-50 challenge by a 38-year-old striker who has only been in Italy for a couple of months. Not a great look there, Cats. I mean, Jamie Vardy scoring against Juventus in the year 2025? Really now? But Vardy is Vardy and will forever be Vardy as long as he’s playing. ............ Speaking of strikers, Dusan Vlahovic … what the hell has gotten into you, my friend? Maybe he sees the January transfer window two months away and the window to negotiate with his next team approaching and he’s starting to ramp things up. It sure would be nice if he had played like this on a more consistent basis during his early days with Juventus. But hey, let’s just ride this change for the better as long as we can and maybe it turns into an extended run of good form. That sure would help Spalletti out as some of the other strikers not named Kenan Yildiz continue to struggle. ............ Guessing a lot of you didn’t have Teun Koopmeiners playing as part of Juve’s back three against Cremonese. I know I didn’t! But hey, it’s a surprise by Spalletti right out of the gate that seemed to work out quite well. I mean, he didn’t get toasted by Vardy like one of Juve’s natural central defenders did, so there’s that. I say that in jest, but it is true as well. Koopmeiners had much more to do defensively with this new role — which, by the way, I am not expecting to be a permanent one — but it also played to some of his strengths. That is something Spalletti talked about in his introductory press conference when it comes to Koopmeiners, and this was proof of that. Now we just gotta see if he can actually do it as a midfielder next time around. Andrea Cambiaso back???? That sure would be nice. Again, Kostic scoring a goal for Juventus in 2025 is just something I definitely did not have on my bingo card. Yet for the second straight game, he played pretty dang well — and that’s maybe one of the more pleasant developments to come out of these back-to-back wins no matter who the opposition is. ............ Not feeling completely depressed about the state of Juventus following a weekend fixture? Oh wow, I’ve missed this kind of feeling. Onward we go. Let’s put a winning streak together, Luciano. Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/33421/cremonese-juventus-2025-serie-a-matchday-10-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

Cremonese 1-2 Juventus – 3 things we learned from Spalletti’s first game in charge Luciano Spalletti got his Juventus career off to a winning start on Saturday night, with a 2-1 win against a plucky Cremonese side. There are easier first games than against a brave newly-promoted side who have already taken points from the likes of Atalanta, Milan and Como this season. However, Spalletti and his tactical gamble paid off, with his Bianconeri looking rejuvenated with fresh ideas and desire. ............ The biggest difference in how Juventus played this evening, compared to under the Tudor reign, was the fluidity of the formation. It would appear that gone are the days of the structured 3-5-2 and 3-4-2-1 and whilst Spalletti’s formational choices didn’t stray too far from the framework left by Tudor, there was an air of dynamism and fluidity that was not present during the Croatian’s time at the club. ............ The constant movement and fluidity in this tactic caused difficulties for Cremonese, especially in the first half. The Bianconeri team took turns to press and cover for one another, with the wide players pressing hard in the first instance, before dropping off and allowing their midfield cover to push forward instead. ............ One of Igor Tudor’s main problems at Juventus this season, before he was replaced by Spalletti, was his conundrum in attack. Whilst the likes of Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao have proved dangerous on the flanks, Tudor was unable to get it right with his centre-forwards. ............ David has just one goal in nine Serie A appearances this season. Meanwhile, Openda, who has played roughly 200 less minutes in the league, is goalless. Tudor’s rigid structure meant he struggled to get the best out of his forwards and Dusan Vlahovic’s inconsistent form has been cause for yet more selection headaches this campaign. However, tonight Spalletti started both Openda and Vlahovic together, with the Belgian given more license to alternate between a more central role and pushing down the flank. A couple of times the former Leipzig man did well to burst to the byline and put a good ball in for Vlahovic or one of the other Bianconeri players lingering in the box. Openda’s versatility could lead to him becoming a major asset for Spalletti but it is not clear how the return of Kenan Yildiz will impact this – and whether or not Spalletti will favour selection consistency or fluid rotation. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/cremonese-1-2-juventus-3-things-we-learned/

Spalletti: ‘Juventus intention to create extra man in midfield’ Luciano Spalletti reveals what he expected from the Juventus tactical surprises against Cremonese and warns ‘the pressure can weigh on some players.’ ............ He kept the 3-5-2 formation overall, but with Teun Koopmeiners in central defence as a very deep-lying playmaker. The wide men proved decisive, as Filip Kostic opened the scoring within 85 seconds, then Andrea Cambiaso added the second after the break, and they held on after a late Jamie Vardy goal for Cremonese. ............ “After two minutes, everyone could tell where he was playing,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia of Koopmeiners. “I expected him to be in a position where he could do more damage, because we rarely managed to move it from right to left, and vice versa. The intention was for Thuram to push forward a bit, for Koopmeiners to enter into that space, so we’d have an extra man in midfield. That’s because Cremonese’s only real danger man is Vardy. “I saw a good performance in terms of communication and focus, because Koopmeiners was more of a defender than anyone else when it came to ensuring organisation and calling the line on the counter-attack. It was necessary, because Cremonese are so dangerous with that ball over the top for the champion that is Vardy, which we saw with the goal he scored.” ............ “We already started to let them in towards half-time, then after the break, so there are obviously areas where we need to improve,” agreed Spalletti. “There are many areas that require improvement, and quickly. There is potential visible in some of these players, I trust them, but the Juventus level puts pressure on them too. Talking to the club owners yesterday, they asked if I needed anything. “It seems from the outside that it’s a great thing with Juventus having everything available, and it’s even more remarkable from the inside, you’ve seen nothing. That puts pressure on, it makes you realise the level, and it can weigh on some players, so they need time.” ............ “It is what I have always done. We need this contact with the squad, we want to give joy to those who love the team and this sport. You need to create a rapport with the players, that is how I have always worked, and I hope it does this time, seeing as it didn’t really work with the Nazionale,” he concluded. “It is through that friendship, understanding, and those bonds that the whole team can grow together.” ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-juventus-intention-create-extra-man/

Kostic on ‘amazing’ Juventus birthday gift as Vlahovic warning on ‘bad habits’ Filip Kostic admits it is ‘amazing’ to score his first Juventus goal in over two years on his birthday, while Dusan Vlahovic warns they need to ‘get rid of some bad habits’ now Luciano Spalletti is here. ............ This evening the team made its debut under Spalletti after just one training session, picking up a 2-1 victory away to a Cremonese side that had lost only one match this term. ............ Kostic opened the scoring within 85 seconds, not scoring since March 2023 in Serie A, then Andrea Cambiaso doubled their lead. “The feeling is so nice, I’m so happy for scoring, but even happier because we won the game. It’s so important for us and we need to continue like this,” Kostic said. “It has been a very difficult period, but I always believed, I always worked hard, the team helped me a lot too. I am just happy because the last two games I got to start, today is my birthday, and also the birthday of Juventus, so this is amazing.” Today is also the 118th anniversary of the foundation of the Turin-based club. Spalletti did not shy away from tactical experimentation, launching Teun Koopmeiners in the back three as a very deep-lying playmaker. ............ However, Juventus seemed to back off in the second half and allow Cremonese back into the game, which they almost did with Jamie Vardy scoring a late goal. “I wouldn’t say we had the wrong approach, in the second half, it’s that we have some bad habits we need to get rid of,” Vlahovic said. “We sat too deep for no reason, we should’ve continued pressing them and scoring more goals, which we wasted. Cremonese deserve congratulations too, as they made it very tough and refused to give in. Tomorrow we will analyse the game, see what we got wrong, and then prepare for the next match.” ............ “It depends on the coach, I am ready to give my all for the team in any system, then it is up to the coach how we play,” concluded the striker. Juventus now must prepare for a crucial Champions League clash with Sporting CP on Tuesday, then the Derby della Mole against city rivals Torino next weekend. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/kostic-amazing-juventus-birthday-gift-vlahovic/

Juventus beat Cremonese 2-1 in Spalletti’s first match Juventus secured a 2-1 victory over Cremonese in Luciano Spalletti’s first match as their manager this evening, setting a positive tone for the new era at the club. Expectations were high ahead of the fixture, and Juve responded with a confident performance from the outset. Cremonese, known for their potential to create upsets, presented a genuine challenge, with dangerous attacking options that required vigilance from the Bianconeri. ............ Filip Kostic opened the scoring in just the second minute, marking his second consecutive start with a goal. This early strike provided exactly the kind of start Juventus supporters had hoped for, and it established momentum for the remainder of the first half. ............ After the interval, Juventus maintained their structure and resilience, successfully containing Cremonese’s attacks before doubling their advantage through Andrea Cambiaso against the run of play. Spalletti’s influence was evident in the team’s shape, balance and confidence, demonstrating that the players had quickly adapted to the new manager’s approach. The Bianconeri appeared well-prepared and physically ready to execute Spalletti’s game plan, blending defensive solidity with attacking intent. ............ Cremonese continued to press and eventually reduced the deficit through Jamie Vardy, introducing a measure of tension late in the game. Despite the goal, Juventus remained composed, denying the visitors further opportunities and controlling the closing stages effectively. The 2-1 win not only secured three points but also provided an encouraging start to Spalletti’s tenure, suggesting that Juventus are already adapting positively to his methods. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-beat-cremonese-2-1-in-spallettis-first-match/

Cremonese 1-2 Juventus | Player Ratings: Cambiaso & Kostic steal the show for Spalletti Juventus defeated Cremonese 2-1 on Saturday evening, in Luciano Spalletti’s first match as head coach of the Bianconeri. Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Andrea Cambiaso. ............ Cremonese 1-2 Juventus – Player Ratings Cremonese: Audero 6; Terracciano 5 (Johnsen 6.5), Baschirotto 5.5, Bianchetti 5.5, Barbieri 5.5; Payero 6; Bondo 6 (Sarmiento 6), Vandeputte 6, Mussolini 5.5 (Faye 6); Bonazzoli 5.5 (Vazquez 6), Vardy 7 Best Cremonese player: Jamie Vardy ............ Lowest Cremonese rating: Filippo Terracciano ............ Coach: Davide Nicola 6 ............ Juventus: Di Gregorio 6; Kalulu 6.5, Gatti 5.5, Koopmeiners 6; Cambiaso 7.5, Locatelli 6.5, Thuram 6 (Adzic N/A), Kostic 7.5 (Joao Mario 6); McKennie 6 (Rugani N/A), Vlahovic 6.5 (David N/A), Openda 6 (Conceicao 6.5) ............ Best Juventus player: Andrea Cambiaso – Could have been Kostic, with both wing-backs in fine form this evening. The press on their Cremonese counterparts was relentless all game and both were in fine creative form, creating chances and both finding the scoresheet. Cambiaso was slightly better in terms of his chance creation so gets the nod. Lowest Juventus rating: Federico Gatti – Pushed into the centre of the back three to accommodate an unusual Koopmeiners position, the defender played fairly well but unfortunately was to blame for Vardy’s consolation goal. Coach: Spalletti 7 – It takes a lot of bravery for a coach to gamble on his tactics after just one training session in charge but the experienced coach did exactly that. His dynamic and fluid set up allowed the Bianconeri to suffocate the hosts for a fair portion of the game and Bianconeri fans should be excited for what their new coach can bring. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/cremonese-1-2-juventus-player-ratings-cambiaso-kostic-steal-the-show-for-spalletti/

Serie A | Cremonese 1-2 Juventus: Experimental Spalletti win on debut Luciano Spalletti surprised with tactical experiments on his Juventus debut, but it proved effective with a 2-1 victory away to Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese decided by Filip Kostic and Andrea Cambiaso. ............ After just one training session, he transformed them with Teun Koopmeiners in the centre of a three-man defence. The hosts were unbeaten in three and coming off a midweek 2-0 victory away to Genoa, which put them in eighth place. ............ It took just 85 seconds to get the first goal of the Spalletti era, as Lois Openda’s back-heel flick was meant to be for Dusan Vlahovic, who was surrounded by defenders, but the lucky ricochet off Jari Vandeputte found Kostic undisturbed to sweep home at the back post. It was the perfect way to celebrate his 33rd birthday, with his first Serie A goal since March 2023 against Inter. Vlahovic surged forward and stung Emil Audero’s gloves from a tricky angle, but it was nearly 2-0 on 26 minutes when Manuel Locatelli’s daisy-cutter from the edge of the area was palmed into the base of the far post. ............ Openda hit the side-netting from a tight angle and drilled just wide of the near post, while Locatelli blasted over from the edge of the area. Cremonese stepped up the pressure after the restart with a series of corners, and Michele Di Gregorio made a tricky save on the Jari Vandeputte scorcher, but it wouldn’t have counted as Jamie Vardy pulled it out of play in the build-up. ............ Just as Cremonese were pushing hard for the equaliser, Juventus doubled their lead. Francisco Conceicao pulled back from the right by-line, Federico Baschirotto prevented Vlahovic from tapping in, but only pushed it back to Cambiaso to blast in off the underside of the bar from 12 yards, despite the Audero save. However, it wasn’t over, as Dennis Johnsen pumped a long ball over the top, Vardy won the physical tussle with Federico Gatti and surged forward to beat Di Gregorio with an angled drive into the far bottom corner to set up the tense finale. Cremonese 1-2 Juventus Kostic 2 (J), Cambiaso 68 (J), Vardy 83 (C) ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-cremonese-1-2-juventus-spalletti-debut/

Ma é Spalletti o é Allegri?

Escono i dirigenti della Juventus prima della fine.

Gatti pollo

No questo lo chiamano El Chiacheron

ANDREA CAMBIASO 0-2

Ci stiamo ammosciando

Certamente

Gioca bene al fianco di un centravanti. Facile no, Igor?

McKennie ma lo capisci il dialetto toscano?

Alla prossima gioca in porta

Koopmeiners alla Calafiori anche se non gioca al centro della difesa.

Buon compleanno Juventus e anche Kostic compie gli anni oggi.

FILIP KOSTIC 0-1

Cremonese vs Juventus: Preview and Prediction Cremonese have enjoyed an impressive start to life in Serie A under new manager Davide Nicola, but things get tricky this weekend against Juventus. The newly-promoted side have already accumulated 14 points from their opening nine games, which places them right below their next opponents. Cremonese are on a three-game unbeaten run at the moment, which involves two draws and a win over Genoa, which came last weekend. The big talking point recently was Jamie Vardy’s first Serie A goal, which secured a draw against Atalanta. ............ Speaking of shaky form, Juventus are not in the best of runs at the moment, and the club have changed managers midway through the season for three years running. The most successful club in the land are once again a victim of their own decision-making, as the board hopes their latest change will bear the fruits of success. Last season saw Thiago Motta make way for Igor Tudor, and while the Croat got a permanent contract in the summer, he too was dismissed earlier this week. In his place, interim coach Massimo Brambilla secured a much-needed victory in midweek, as Dusan Vlahovic’s goal proved enough against Udinese. Since then, Juventus have appointed former Italy and Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti at the helm, hoping to arrest the rot in which the Bianconeri went eight games without a win across all competitions. Spalletti has a big task at hand to revive the season on all fronts, and his first task at the Juventus boss would be to stabilise the league campaign with a win over Cremonese. Team News & Tactics Cremonese ............ Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Audero; Bianchetti, Baschirotto, Terraciano; Barbieri, Payero, Bondo, Vandeputte, Mussolini; Bonazzoli, Vardy Juventus All eyes will be on Luciano Spalletti and what he does with the Juventus squad, considering the former Napoli coach has developed a reputation for being an attack-minded, fluid coach. There are doubts over Khephren Thuram following his withdrawal from the squad for the Udinese game, and Weston McKennie will be the ideal choice to take over his place in the midfield. Defensive duo Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal are the absentees in the squad alongside long-term injury victim Arkadiusz Milik. For now, Spalletti might not take the handbrake off and change the present system, meaning a back three will be in effect for the visit to Cremonese. Similarly, Manuel Locatelli and McKennie will take the midfield spots, while Kenan Yildiz and Lois Openda will occupy the space behind striker Vlahovic. Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Cambiaso, Locatelli, McKennie, Kostic; Yildiz, Openda; Vlahovic Key Stats Cremonese are undefeated in nine of their last ten matches in Serie A. Cremonese are unbeaten in their last three games in Serie A. Juventus have only one victory in their last nine games across all competitions Juventus last lost to Cremonese only once in their history, and it came back in 1923. Player to Watch Dusan Vlahovic ............ Vlahovic has so far managed to get ahead in the race for being Juventus’s starting no.9 ahead of others. Luciano Spalletti must find a way to get the best out of the Serbian. For now, the Bianconeri supporters will look up to Vlahovic to get the goals in this team, and the trip to Cremonese will be a good chance for the Serb to answer a few critics. Prediction Cremonese 1-2 Juventus Cremonese boss Davide Nicola will hope to carry forward their recent momentum into a game of big importance, and they are in with a chance to inflict more damage on Juventus. However, the hosts are not expected to get a win or even a draw, given the gulf in the gap in quality between the two teams. Meanwhile, the presence of Luciano Spalletti in the Juventus dugout will be a source of motivation for the players, who will want to impress the new manager. Hence, the bigger possibility is for a Juventus win, although they are in with the chance to concede at some stage of this game. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/11/01/cremonese-vs-juventus-preview-and-prediction/

Spalletti praises Tudor for his handling of the Juventus team Luciano Spalletti has expressed his gratitude to his predecessor, Igor Tudor, acknowledging the solid foundation left behind for him to build upon. The managerial change comes at a crucial moment for the Bianconeri, who decided to part ways with Tudor following a disappointing run of eight matches without a win, the last three of which ended in defeat. ............ Despite the team’s recent struggles, Spalletti has shown respect for Tudor’s work and has chosen to emphasise the positives rather than dwell on past results. Spalletti remarked, “Today, the desire to bring the club back to the top is more important. I respect the work Tudor has done; he’s a wonderful person, an exemplary professional. I’ll find a well-trained team, including from a mental standpoint. Now we have to work hard to achieve the club’s ambitions. I’m happy to be here, and I thank Comolli for his kind words.” This statement reflects Spalletti’s appreciation for the structure and discipline already instilled within the squad. He made it clear that while improvement is necessary, the groundwork laid by Tudor provides a platform from which he can move forward effectively. His measured and professional tone during his unveiling suggests he aims to create continuity rather than drastic disruption. ............ Juve’s most recent victory under an interim manager offered a glimmer of hope after a difficult spell, and now all eyes are on Spalletti as he prepares for his debut match against Cremonese this weekend. Known for his tactical acumen and calm authority, he is expected to restore both confidence and consistency to the side. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/spalletti-praises-tudor-for-his-handling-of-the-juventus-team/

Journalist warns Juventus about what to expect from Cremonese Juventus are preparing for a challenging Serie A encounter against Cremonese this weekend, a fixture that marks the beginning of Luciano Spalletti’s tenure as the club’s new manager. The Bianconeri have endured a turbulent season, one that has fallen short of their high expectations despite significant effort from both players and staff. As they enter a new era under Spalletti, there is cautious optimism that his arrival will provide renewed focus, discipline, and direction. This match represents an important first test for the Italian tactician, who will be eager to make an immediate impact. ............ For Spalletti, this opening fixture offers an opportunity to assess his players and set the tone for what he hopes will be a successful period in charge. Although it will take several weeks for him to fully understand his squad and implement his preferred tactical approach, the expectations remain high from the outset. Juventus supporters will demand a victory to signal the start of a new chapter and to regain momentum after a disappointing run of form. The Bianconeri will be expected to approach the match with renewed energy and motivation, as players look to impress their new manager. Every position in the starting lineup will be closely scrutinised, with Spalletti seeking to identify the combinations and individuals he can rely upon going forward. However, the manager and his team have been warned not to underestimate Cremonese’s fighting spirit. ............ Football analyst Ivan Ghigi has offered a word of caution regarding the challenge Juventus will face. He stated: “Cremonese has proven to be a compact team, ready to fight. This doesn’t guarantee a positive result against Juventus, but we can be sure that no matter how the match pans out, we’ll see a combative team on the pitch.” Ghigi’s comments underline the determination and structure that have defined Cremonese’s performances this season. While Juventus possess the superior squad on paper, complacency could prove costly against an opponent capable of frustrating stronger sides. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/journalist-warns-juventus-about-what-to-expect-from-cremonese/