Socrates

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WESTON MCKENNIE 1-1

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Assurdo stare ancora sullo 0-0

10 tiri della Juve in 20 minuti

Incredibile Locatelli

McKennie sputa la gomma da masticare. Sta per papparsi un Big Mac.

Kenan in gran spolvero stasera

Danilo si é tolto qualche sassolino dalle scarpe parlando della nuova e vecchia dirigenza.

McKennie zoppica. Dategli un hamburger che gli passa.

Lecce culone

Kenan fa girare la testa ai leccesi

L'abbraccio fra Danilo e Bremer. E il cuore batte piú forte.

Danilo protagonista ancora una volta all'Allianz

Juventus will have a special guest for their game against Lecce Juventus are set to face Lecce in the next few hours, and the match at the Allianz Stadium will include a notable moment beyond the action on the pitch. The club are determined to begin 2026 with a victory and maintain the positive momentum they built during the closing weeks of last year. Securing three points in this fixture is viewed as essential, as they aim to reinforce confidence and consistency moving forward. ............ The importance of starting the year with a win cannot be overstated. Juventus are eager to demonstrate that the improvements shown late last year were not temporary. Spalletti’s approach has helped establish a clearer identity within the squad, and the players are expected to respond positively as they look to build further momentum. The club’s hierarchy appears aligned with this vision, reinforcing the belief that continuity will be key to sustained progress. ............ Adding an emotional dimension to the evening, one of the club’s former players will be in attendance. Danilo will be present at the Allianz Stadium and will finally have the opportunity to bid farewell to the fans. He was removed from the squad and sold to Flamengo at this time last year, a departure that did not allow for a proper send-off. Juventus acknowledge Danilo’s contributions to the club’s success, contributions that earned him the captaincy during his time with the team. The report states that he has been invited to attend the match, allowing him to experience the atmosphere once more and receive recognition from the supporters. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-will-have-a-special-guest-for-their-game-against-lecce/

Serie A: Juventus vs. Lecce – probable line-ups Francisco Conceiçao is expected to return to the Juventus XI for a Serie A match against Francesco Camarda’s Lecce. It kicks off at 18:00 CET (17:00 GMT) at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. ............ Multiple sources claim that Lloyd Kelly will rest, making room for Teun Koopmeiners in central defence. Conceiçao returns from an injury and will start up front alongside Kenan Yildiz. Lois Openda is favourite over Jonathan David. ............ Juventus vs. Lecce – probable line-ups Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceiçao, Yildiz; Openda. Lecce (4-3-3): Falcone; Danilo Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Kaba, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Banda; Camarda. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-v-lecce-probable-line-ups-watch-on-tv/

Round 18: Juventus vs. Lecce match preview We knew once Juventus got through three straight games against clubs that are direct competition for the top four (and then some) in Serie A, the schedule was going to become a lot more favorable and a string of provincial clubs would arrive. Juventus closed out 2025 with an opponent very much in the relegation zone. They’ll begin 2026 with an opponent who is just outside the relegation zone — which comes after a season in which they finished just one table position from getting sent back to Serie B. As Lecce make their way to the Allianz Stadium for Saturday night’s matchup, it comes at a time where it’s not just the first fixture of 2026 — it’s also the beginning of a month of January that is packed with very winnable games as well as the chance to build some serious momentum before the Champions League comes back into focus in a couple of weeks. ............ “I expect continuity, perhaps adding something on the pitch that can give us even more strength,” Spalletti said during Friday’s pre-match press conference. “My team has what it takes to compete against anyone. We have an intense period ahead of us, with many games in quick succession.” That continuity basically boils down to Juventus extending their winning run beyond just Lecce. As we know, the fixtures against the provincial sides can be tricky, but they’re also going to be ones where Juve can rack up some points in quick succession the next two weeks. With things so tight at the top of the table between Juventus in fifth and Inter Milan in first before Matchday 18 got underway, there is the chance to both move up as others around them potentially drop points against tougher opposition but also take advantage of potential chaos in front of them. Over the next four matchdays, Juventus will face clubs who are currently 16th, ninth, 12th and 14th before they travel to the Principality to face Monaco on the penultimate round of the Champions League league phase. Not all of those are simple by any means — looking right at you, ninth-place Sassuolo — but they are all games in which Juventus should come away with three points and continue this winning run that Spalletti has cultivated following the loss to Napoli in southern Italy. ............ It’s not like Eusebio Di Francesco-managed teams are known for their defensive prowess. Or their tendency to sit back and try to just absorb pressure no matter where he is employed. Either way, Spalletti knows that his team needs to continue the late-2025 vibes into 2026. They need to keep winning. They need to keep building on what they’ve done since losing to Napoli. Because what’s waiting late in January besides two very important Champions League fixtures? Oh, right. It’s Napoli again. ............ But first, though, you need to take that first step against Lecce this weekend and begin this run of seven games in the month of January on a positive (and winning) note. TEAM NEWS Francisco Conceição returned to full training on New Year’s Day and will be available for selection after missing the final fixture of 2025 due to his minor hamstring injury picked up against Roma the week prior. ............ Spalletti did add that Juan Cabal will be back in the squad this weekend after dealing with some minor muscle fatigue over the last couple of weeks. Primavera prospect Destiny Elimoghale has been training with the senior squad recently, with Spalletti saying of the 16-year-old Italian winger: “He is somebody with characteristics that suggest he has a big future ahead of him. We need to help him grow in the right way, giving him the opportunity to learn at the right pace.” ............ The two big lineup decisions it appears Spalletti has to make ahead of facing Lecce is whether to go with Teun Koopmeiners or Lloyd Kelly on the left side of the three-man backline as well as the usual pick between Loïs Openda and Jonathan David in attack. Former Juventus captain Danilo is reportedly going to be in attendance for Saturday’s game. Danilo’s season with Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A won’t get underway until next weekend. JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH I’m going to go ahead and guess that I wasn’t the only one sitting around and thinking “Juventus have no other creative outlet other than Yildiz” during much of the first half of last weekend’s win over Lecce. That was because a small yet electric Portuguese winger was back home in Turin watching on TV. ............ As noted above, Spalletti said that Francisco Conceição has recovered and will be available to play against Lecce on Saturday. While Spalletti didn’t say so specifically, we can probably assume that he will be in the starting lineup considering the other options that are available to play opposite Yildiz in the other quasi-winger role behind the striker. (Please be able to play some more minutes this month, Edon, because that would be nice.) ............ We saw glimpses of that against Roma — and not just because Conceição ended up being the one who scored the opening goal to give Juve the lead two weeks ago. But Conceição being on the field just means that the opposing defense can’t commit the majority of their attention onto Yildiz as Pisa did with three and sometimes four bodies following the movement of Juventus’ talented No. 10. Combine that with smaller clubs likely to set up with a deepeer backline and you’ve got the need to have individuals break things down rather than rely solely on the movement of multiple players opening up spaces to operate since things are so congested. Sounds like a job Conceição can do, right? Yeah, seems like he can. And hopefully that happens this weekend so that things can be a little less stressful against Lecce in front of the hometown crowd in Turin compared to what things were like in Pisa seven days earlier. MATCH INFO When: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy. Official kickoff time: 6 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe, 5 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 12 p.m. Eastern time, 11 a.m. Central time, 9 a.m. Pacific time. Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/34996/juventus-lecce-2026-serie-a-matchday-18-match-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

Juventus vs US Lecce: Preview and Prediction Juventus step into the new year with momentum finally on their side, and Saturday’s clash with USC Lecce in Turin offers another opportunity to underline that resurgence. After months of inconsistency, the Bianconeri appear to have rediscovered their edge, and Lecce arrive at the Allianz Stadium knowing they face one of Serie A’s most in-form sides. A late surge at the end of 2025 has transformed the mood around Juventus. Victory over Pisa last weekend capped off a run that has seen them string together four straight wins across all competitions, a sequence that has reignited genuine belief in a title push. The gap to the summit now stands at just four points, with UEFA Champions League qualification firmly back in their sights. Much of that revival has been driven by efficiency rather than flair. Juventus have tightened up defensively under Luciano Spalletti, conceding just once during their recent winning run, while showing a newfound ruthlessness in decisive moments. Kenan Yildiz has once again emerged as the difference-maker, delivering when it matters most and continuing his development into a central figure of this side. His late strike last weekend underlined Juventus’s growing confidence in closing out matches, a trait they lacked earlier in the campaign. Spalletti’s impact has also been felt in big fixtures. Wins over direct rivals AS Roma and Bologna have given weight to their revival, and progress in the Coppa Italia has only reinforced the sense that this team is beginning to resemble a contender rather than a work in progress. History also leans in their favour: the Turin giants have not lost their opening league fixture of a calendar year in over a decade, and they traditionally start strongly after the winter break. ............ Team News & Tactics Juventus Juventus head into this fixture with a relatively stable squad, though Luciano Spalletti is still forced to manage a few key absences. Centre-backs Daniele Rugani and Federico Gatti remain unavailable, continuing to limit defensive rotation at the back. Up front, Dusan Vlahovic is also sidelined, depriving the Bianconeri of their most natural focal point in attack. On a more positive note, Francisco Conceicao is expected to return to the matchday squad after recovering from a minor setback, offering an additional option out wide if required. In Vlahovic’s absence, Lois Openda is expected to lead the line, having impressed with his movement and pressing in recent outings. The Belgian forward is likely to be supported by Kenan Yildiz, who continues to be Juventus’s creative heartbeat. The young Turk has already registered ten goal contributions this season, placing him among Serie A’s most productive attackers alongside Nico Paz and Lautaro Martinez. His ability to drift between the lines and carry the ball through pressure remains central to Juventus’s attacking structure. From a tactical standpoint, Spalletti is expected to retain his preferred 3-4-2-1 system, which has brought balance and defensive solidity in recent weeks. Michele Di Gregorio is set to start in goal, protected by a back three of Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, and Lloyd Kelly, a unit that blends physicality with ball progression. The wing-back roles should be occupied by Weston McKennie on the right and Andrea Cambiaso on the left, providing width and energy in transition. In midfield, Manuel Locatelli will anchor proceedings alongside Khephren Thuram, offering a mix of positional discipline and ball-carrying ability. Ahead of them, Teun Koopmeiners is expected to operate in a free central role, linking midfield to attack, while Yildiz drifts between the lines behind Openda. The shape allows Juventus to overload central areas while maintaining defensive security against Lecce, a balance that has underpinned their recent resurgence. Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Openda US Lecce ............ Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar, Gabriel, Gallo; Kaba, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Sottil; Stulic Key Stats Juventus are unbeaten in their last 16 Serie A home matches against Lecce, winning 15 of those encounters and scoring an average of over two goals per game in Turin during that span. Lecce have failed to score in six of their last ten league matches, the joint-worst attacking record in Serie A over that period. Juventus have conceded just one goal in their last five matches across all competitions. Kenan Yildiz has been directly involved in ten Serie A goals this season, making him Juventus’ most productive attacking player and one of the top contributors among players aged 20 or under in the league. Lecce have picked up only one point from their last four away fixtures, scoring just twice during that stretch. Player to Watch Lois Openda With Dusan Vlahovc sidelined, Lois Openda steps into the spotlight as Juventus’s primary attacking threat and this fixture presents a timely opportunity for the Belgian forward to assert himself. Quick, direct, and relentless in his movement, Openda offers a very different profile to the traditional No.9, thriving on space rather than physical duels. What makes him particularly dangerous against a side like Lecce is his ability to attack the channels and exploit gaps between centre-backs and full-backs. Juventus are likely to dominate possession, and Openda’s sharp off-the-ball runs could stretch Lecce’s defensive block, creating openings not just for himself but also for runners like Kenan Yildiz and Teun Koopmeiners arriving from deeper positions. Beyond his pace, Openda’s work rate out of possession has become increasingly valuable under Luciano Spalletti. His willingness to press from the front helps Juventus sustain pressure high up the pitch, often forcing hurried clearances or turnovers in advanced areas. Against a Lecce side expected to sit deep and defend compactly, that intensity could prove decisive. ............ Prediction Juventus 2-0 US Lecce Juventus enter this contest with clear momentum, greater squad depth, and a tactical structure that has begun to look increasingly settled under Luciano Spalletti. Their defensive solidity, combined with growing confidence in the final third, gives them a strong platform against a Lecce side that has struggled to create chances consistently, particularly away from home. Lecce are likely to defend deep and attempt to frustrate, but their limited attacking threat and absence of key personnel make sustaining resistance over 90 minutes difficult. Juventus’s ability to control possession, recycle pressure, and exploit wide areas should eventually tell. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2026/01/02/juventus-vs-lecce-preview-and-prediction-2/

Spalletti: ‘I don’t need’ signings or new Juventus contract in January Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti admits he doesn’t need new signings or a new contract this month: ‘ I only need to feel good about my work and about the people who collaborate with me on and off the pitch.’ ............ “I came here with clear agreements when I accepted Juventus. I don’t expect anything; I’m very happy with the players at my disposal,” Spalletti said. “Allow me to welcome Marco Ottolini; everyone knows him, and I have met him before. Everyone says he’s a good person and a top professional, so much so that a club like Juventus brought him back,” “He will take care of the transfer market. It’s a market of opportunities to eventually complete the squad. It’s not a topic I intend to spark myself. I’m happy with the players I have, and for now, I don’t need anything.” ............ “If I had needed something else to feel more secure with a longer contract, I would have addressed it from the start when I spoke with Comolli,” argued the Juventus boss. “I didn’t, and I’m fine in every aspect. “I only need to feel good about my work and about the people who collaborate with me on and off the pitch. I’ve found extremely professional people who respect the roles and the work that has to be done. We share the same objectives. The goal is to be in the Champions League, and we’re working in that direction. In June, we’ll make the best evaluations based on the work we’ve done, for the good of Juventus and Juventus fans.” ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-no-need-signings-juventus-contract/

Spalletti makes David-Openda admission, says ‘Conte is right’ about Juventus Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti feels Napoli’s Antonio Conte ‘is right’ when he says the Bianconeri have a better infrastructure and is delighted that Jonathan David and Lois Openda have ‘improved in every aspect.’ Spalletti spoke to reporters at a press conference on Friday, on the eve of a Serie A match against Lecce. ............ “Since we want to go and win the ball back, the striker covers a lot of ground because he also has to press the goalkeeper,” Spalletti noted. “The centre-forward has to attack the goalkeeper and then drop back below the defenders’ line. Tomorrow they’ll probably both play again, not together, but both of them. “They are different, and they complement each other. They may play a part of the match together. We work with them every day, trying to give some information about things you don’t always see in training, to complete them and believe we can still add something. I’ve found them improved in every aspect since we started working together, and I expect even better things.” ............ “I expect continuity and the same level of attention, perhaps adding something new that can give us strength. In modern football, it works like this,” Spalletti said. “They [the footballers] are the protagonists. The match won’t be easy, I know many people at Lecce, including Di Francesco, whom I worked with at Roma. I’ve played against him, and we are friends. He is a very modern coach who has always promoted proactive football. It will be an open match as they’ll come to press us.” ............ “Conte is right. From a technical point of view, I have nothing to envy about his team,” said the Juventus boss. “From a structural point of view, he’s right again. When I arrived at Juve, I found the wall of free kicks moving, whereas at Napoli it was static, so we are also ahead from a structural standpoint.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-openda-david-conte-right-juventus/