Socrates

Fenerbahce insists on their own terms to send Youssef En-Nesyri to Juventus Juventus are exploring alternative attacking options in the January transfer window as negotiations for a primary target continue to stall. The club believes that reinforcing its forward line this month would significantly strengthen the squad and improve recent performances. With one pursuit proving complicated, attention has shifted towards another striker who could offer an immediate impact while fitting the club’s short-term objectives. ............ The Bianconeri initially focused their efforts on securing Jean-Philippe Mateta, but discussions have become increasingly difficult. Crystal Palace are reportedly demanding a fee that exceeds what Juventus is prepared to pay, leading to a deadlock between the two clubs. Although Mateta is keen on the move and has asked Palace to allow him to join Juventus, the Premier League side has not agreed to the proposed terms, leaving the transfer in doubt. As a result, Juventus have broadened its search and identified Youssef En-Nesyri as a viable alternative. The Moroccan forward is currently at Fenerbahce, and the Italian club sees him as a player capable of adding depth and quality to their attack. Juventus believe that adding a striker of this profile could make the squad stronger than it has been over the past few months. ............ Fenerbahce are open to allowing En-Nesyri to leave, but the terms of any deal are proving complex. The Turkish club would only sanction a loan move if Juventus agree to an obligation to make the transfer permanent at the end of the loan period. This condition mirrors some of the challenges Juventus are facing elsewhere in the market, where selling clubs are pushing for greater guarantees. En-Nesyri himself is receptive to the idea of joining Juventus and is waiting for the two clubs to reach an agreement. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/fenerbahce-insists-on-their-own-terms-to-send-youssef-en-nesyri-to-juventus/

Juventus consider next steps for Douglas Luiz as Forest deal unlikely Reports in Italy claim that Juventus are prepared to send Douglas Luiz out on a new loan deal, as the obligation to buy clause in his current deal with Nottingham Forest is unlikely to be triggered. ............ Nottingham Forest will be obliged to sign Douglas Luiz on a permanent basis if he plays for 45 minutes or more in 15 Premier League matches in 2025-26. ............ This seems increasingly unlikely to happen given that the Brazilian has made only eight league appearances from a possible 22 so far this season and has only played for 45 minutes or more in five of them. The former Aston Villa man has been named as an unused substitute for Forest’s last two matches in the Premier League. ............ Friday’s report claims that two Premier League clubs in Aston Villa and Chelsea could be keen on a deal for the 27-year-old midfielder, as well as Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-consider-next-steps-for-douglas-luiz/

Ciccio Graziani does not think Juventus will go far in the Champions League Juventus remain in contention for progress in the Champions League and could secure a place in the playoffs if they win their final league phase match in the competition. Their European campaign has been encouraging to observe, particularly given the difficulties they have faced in recent seasons. While the Old Lady did not begin this campaign strongly on the continental stage, they have shown resilience and managed to stay competitive. Their victory against Benfica highlighted clear improvements in their European form and suggested that the team is growing in confidence. ............ Despite the positive signs, Juventus are not considered among the favourites to win the Champions League this season. Even if they reach the round of 16, it would come as a surprise to many observers if they progressed as far as the quarterfinals. The overall quality and depth of some rival teams continue to place the Bianconeri at a disadvantage. ............ Former player Ciccio Graziani has offered a more cautious view of Juventus prospects in the Champions League, despite their recent win against Benfica. He said: ” Unfortunately, the teams ahead are superior; the five English teams have all qualified. Then there’s Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Real Madrid, teams that are stronger. So I say this with a bit of regret, but this Juventus won’t go far in Europe. Juventus also needs a bit of luck in that draw. I hope they can get some more success, but in the long run, you can’t expect this team to be competitive enough to go all the way.” . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-does-not-think-juventus-will-go-far-in-the-champions-league/

Un giornalista brasiliano, tale Jorge Nicola, che ha 400.000 followers su X, dá per fatto il passaggio del "nostro" Douglas Luiz in prestito al Chelsea. In inglese -> https://www.teamtalk.com/chelsea/douglas-luiz-blues-nottingham-forest-juventus

Chelsea to make SECOND January signing as journalist claims ‘deal is sealed’ Chelsea have secured the services of Douglas Luiz, who will have his loan deal at Nottingham Forest terminated, according to a Brazilian journalist, with the Blues having already signed a young left-back in the January transfer window. Luiz joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan deal from Juventus in the summer of 2025. Having starred for Aston Villa in England, the Brazil international midfielder was expected to become a major figure at the City Ground. However, the 27-year-old has failed to make the desired impact at Forest, with the midfielder making only 14 appearances for The Tricky Tress so far this season. ............ Jorge Nicola, who has almost 400,000 followers on X, wrote on the platform at 4:50pm on January 22: “Douglas Luiz will play on loan at Chelsea until mid-year. “People close to the midfielder guarantee that the deal is sealed.” During his time at Villa, Luiz scored 22 goals and gave 24 assists in 204 appearances. ............ Nicola is the only source at the moment who is claiming that Chelsea and Luiz have a deal in place. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed our report that Chelsea are interested in Luiz, but the Italian journalist has noted that nothing has been finalised yet. Romano wrote on X at 1:11am on January 23: “Chelsea are only interested in a loan deal for Douglas Luiz, no obligation to buy element compared to current Forest deal. ............ . Read more -> https://www.teamtalk.com/chelsea/douglas-luiz-blues-nottingham-forest-juventus

Perfetto per la Juve

Centonovanta centimetri d’altezza, la sua specialità è il colpo di testa. Con lui in campo a Cagliari, quante reti avrebbe potuto segnare la Juventus che ha battuto l’enormità di 18 calci d’angolo? Insomma, ci sarebbero tutti i presupposti per condurre in porto molte vittorie se a centro-area arrivassero così tanti spioventi. En Nesyri si fa tra l’altro apprezzare perché è un attaccante molto coraggioso, che va dentro, che non ha timore dello scontro fisico. E qui lo sorreggono due dati estremamente importanti: non sono certo casuali i 20 gol realizzati per via... aerea nella Liga spagnola (prima del quadriennio al Siviglia ha militato due stagioni nel Leganés e altrettante nel Málaga) fra il 2016 e il 2023. Nello stesso periodo, soltanto l’ex Pallone d’Oro Karim Benzema è stato appena più bravo di lui in questa specialità: 21 reti di testa il suo “score”. E giocando per il Real Madrid... Il suo nome si pronuncia in arabo “Iùssuf ‘N Nassìri” che, tradotto in italiano, suonerebbe un po’ come Giuseppe Il Vittorioso. Meglio di CR7 Ma la curiosità più interessante è che il “Dromedario di Fès”, questo il suo soprannome, ha cancellato addirittura un record pazzesco di Cristiano Ronaldo. È successo nel dicembre 2022 ai Mondiali in Qatar dove Youssef ha eliminato nei quarti il Portogallo di CR7 con un colpo di testa a quota... siderale: 2,78 metri d’elevazione (secondo le telemetrie del network beIN Sports) polverizzando il precedente primato planetario di salto in alto calcistico detenuto dal fuoriclasse di Madeira (2,56 metri) e realizzato in maglia Juve contro la Sampdoria il 18 dicembre 2019 a Genova. FONTE

Le Pagelle: Juventus vs. Benfica Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Benfica was a big game on a big stage, and Juventus eventually rose to the challenge. ............ MICHELE DI GREGORIO - 7. Made a huge save in the first half after a particularly awful giveaway right outside his box, and was able to marshal the defense well enough that even those mishaps—which were far too frequent for anyone’s liking—to a clean sheet against a team that was desperate for a result. PIERRE KALULU - 6. ............ BREMER - 6. ............ LLOYD KELLY - 6.5. Made perhaps the most important defensive intervention of the game when he beat Vangelis Pavlidis to a rebound, keeping the game scoreless at a critical moment. He tied Bremer for the team lead with seven clearances, and led the team with four tackles. ANDREA CAMBIASO - 6. ............ MANUEL LOCATELLI - 6. ............ KHÉPHREN THURAM - 7.5. Opened the scoring with a fantastic goal, marked by both persistence and skill. His powerful runs through the middle helped kick off more than a few attacks, and he completed 94.7 percent of his passes. WESTON McKENNIE - 7. His start on the right wing was a little slow, but he came to life in the second half when he moved inside, showing really impressive chemistry with Jonathan David. He made two key passes, and, of course, capped off a really well-run move with the second goal of the night. FABIO MIRETTI - 5. ............ KENAN YILDIZ - 6. Wasn’t the unholy terror he can be, but he still came darn close to opening the scoring in the first half, only to be denied by a good save from Anatoliy Turbin. He even blocked a shot. JONATHAN DAVID - 6.5. Missed what looked like a good opportunity on a header in the first half, but did some excellent work in the passing game, especially in the second half, where he really shone combining with McKennie. He shielded off his man just long enough to leave the ball for Thuram on the opener, and his final pass for McKennie’s strike was excellent. Did a lot of dirty work as opposed to the flashy stuff. SUBS FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 6. ............ LOÏS OPENDA - 5. ............ JUAN CABAL - 6. ............ FILIP KOSTIC - NR. ............ TEUN KOOPMEINERS - NR. ............ MANAGER ANALYSIS Luciano Spalletti can credit most of the issues in the first half to player mistakes, as Juve went completely pear-shaped trying to get out of the back for much of the latter parts of the period. ............ But he deserves credit for making the changes needed in the second half. Moving McKennie inside turned into a brilliant turn, as the American displayed fantastic chemistry with David and turned in a fantastic second half. If David is going to be the starter up top at the moment—and given Openda’s form it looked like will be for the foreseeable future—trying to play up that chemistry is a good idea. It would be even more interesting if Edon Zhegrova, whose chemistry with David is already firmly established given their days at Lille, were inserted into that equation. Another aspect of McKennie and David’s work together is that it saw Juve played a lot of attacks through the middle. This has been rare this year. Both Spalletti and Igor Tudor both spread the ball out to the wings a lot. But that has seen a lot of attacks bog down, especially in the absence of Dusan Vlahovic as a heading threat. In Spalletti’s pre-match press conference he seemed to realize that, talking about the need to “rip those spaces open” —the spaces being the penalty area. Hopefully after this game Spalletti drills down on it and starts to push the ball through the middle more. It seems like the more promising mode of attack, because it seems to be a lot more effective than their wing work right now. LOOKING AHEAD Juve have two more big games ahead. First comes a home game against Napoli, then a Wednesday against Monaco. ............ . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/35694/le-pagelle-juventus-benfica-player-ratings-manager-analysis-2026-uefa-champions-league-league-phase-matchday-7-final-score-result-vs-benfica

Juventus preparing January move for Sevilla full-back Juventus have set their sights on Sevilla full-back Juanlu Sanchez, as they aim to bolster their right flank before the end of January. After switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation, Luciano Spalletti has been exclusively relying on Pierre Kalulu in the right-back role. The Frenchman is originally a central defender, but he has been faring well in his wide role. ............ Last summer, Juventus signed Joao Mario from Porto, while sending his younger compatriot, Alberto Costa, in the opposite direction. The 26-year-old was supposed to be the answer for the club’s right-back dilemma, but he has hardly featured for the Bianconeri, either during Igor Tudor’s reign at the club or Spalletti’s. ............ Juventus have now monitoring Juanlu, identifying him as a potential solution for the right-back role. However, the Serie A giants aren’t willing to spend money this month, so it remains to be seen if Sevilla would be willing to offload the player on loan with an option to buy. The full-back then had his big breakthrough in the 2023/24 campaign, which earned him his senior debut with the Spanish national team in March 2024. He has since made four caps with La Furia Roja and has one international goal to his name. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-sevilla-january-juanlu-sanchez/

Juventus & Fenerbahce reach agreement over En-Nesyri deal Juventus and Fenerbahçe have reportedly reached an agreement in principle over a deal for Youssef En-Nesyri, with the final decision now resting with the player. Confirming reports from Italy, the two clubs have settled on the framework of a loan move that would see En-Nesyri join Juventus for the remainder of the season. The proposed package includes a €5m loan fee, a purchase option set at €19m, plus a further €3m in performance-related bonuses. ............ The agreement has been reached club-to-club with Fenerbahçe, but Juventus are still waiting for En-Nesyri to give his approval before moving forward. The Moroccan striker is currently assessing the proposal and weighing up his options, with sporting guarantees expected to play a key role in his decision. ............ The centre-forward has extensive experience in European competition and remains a regular for Morocco at international level. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/report-juventus-fenerbahce-agreement-en-nesyri/

Yildiz opens up: “Very happy at Juventus, I have a special rapport with Spalletti” Kenan Yildiz insists he’s delighted to play his football at Juventus, where he shares a solid bond with his manager as well as the fanbase. ............ He also received a new contract that elevated his yearly salary to circa €1.5 million. Nevertheless, this figure pales in comparison with some of the wages earned by some of the other top players around the globe. Therefore, Juventus are keen to adjust the situation by multiplying the Turkish international’s wages. While the two parties are currently negotiating a new deal, Yildiz revealed he is extremely happy to be part of this club. “I don’t want to talk about it (the renewal). I’m just focused on the pitch and what I have to do here,” said the 20-year-old in his interview. “I’m happy at Juventus, and that’s what matters now.” ............ “Spalletti said he loves me like a son. I feel very good at Juventus. This is my team. I have a special bond with the coach. “He’s a great person, he does so much for me, and I always try to give my all for him and the team.” ............ “The enthusiasm of the crowd is incredible. When I’m around the fans, I feel a tremendous emotion. “I see my jerseys in the crowd, I sign autographs, and I try to stop by when I can. They are very important to us and to me personally.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/kenan-yildiz-juventus-special-rapport-spalletti/

Torino, domenica 25 gennaio 2026 ore 18:00 Serie A - 3^ di ritorno JUVENTUS - NAPOLI Confronti ufficiali Campionato di Serie A 185 Giocate 159 84 Vittorie Juventus 71 55 Pareggi 49 46 Vittorie Napoli 39 281 Gol Juventus 229 212 Gol Napoli 179 Campionato di Serie A: precedenti in casa contro Napoli Giocate 79 Vittorie Juventus 48 (l'ultima il 08.12.2023, 1-0 ) Pareggi 22 (l'ultimo il 21.09.2024, 0-0 ) Vittorie Napoli 9 (l'ultima il 23.04.2023, 0-1 ) Gol Juventus 137 (media a gara 1,73) Gol Napoli 74 (media a gara 0,94) Ultimi confronti diretti (tutte le competizioni) Data Competizione Partita Ris. 07.04.2021 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 2-1 V 11.09.2021 Campionato Serie A Napoli-Juventus 2-1 S 06.01.2022 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 1-1 P 13.01.2023 Campionato Serie A Napoli-Juventus 5-1 S 23.04.2023 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 0-1 S 08.12.2023 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 1-0 V 03.03.2024 Campionato Serie A Napoli-Juventus 2-1 S 21.09.2024 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 0-0 P 25.01.2025 Campionato Serie A Napoli-Juventus 2-1 S 07.12.2025 Campionato Serie A Napoli-Juventus 2-1 S Giocate: 10 Vittorie: 2 Pareggi: 2 Sconfitte: 6 Gol fatti: 9 Gol subiti: 16 Le ultime partite in casa contro Napoli (tutte le competizioni) Data Competizione Partita Ris. 29.10.2016 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 2-1 V 28.02.2017 Coppa Italia Juventus-Napoli 3-1 V 22.04.2018 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 0-1 S 29.09.2018 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 3-1 V 31.08.2019 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 4-3 V 07.04.2021 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 2-1 V 06.01.2022 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 1-1 P 23.04.2023 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 0-1 S 08.12.2023 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 1-0 V 21.09.2024 Campionato Serie A Juventus-Napoli 0-0 P Giocate: 10 Vittorie: 6 Pareggi: 2 Sconfitte: 2 Gol fatti: 16 Gol subiti: 10 FONTE

Del Piero reacts to Spalletti slapping Openda: ‘A good relationship’ Alessandro Del Piero believes there is nothing much worth reading into after Luciano Spalletti slapped centre-forward Lois Openda on the touchline during Juventus’s 2-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League, instead suggesting that there must be a ‘good relationship’ in place for the coach to have done such a thing. Shortly after Weston McKennie had put Juventus two goals up in their Champions League league phase match against Benfica on Wednesday night, Spalletti was seen slapping centre-forward Openda as he warmed up on the touchline, supposedly telling him to ‘wake up’. Openda did not seem visibly upset by the incident, the opposite if anything, but Spalletti’s actions were a topic for discussion after full-time, in his post-match press conference. ............ Bianconeri legend Del Piero spoke at length about the performance his old side put in. “It was a tough game, but Juve are better than Benfica at converting chances,” Del Piero said. “I saw a strong and attentive team. They needed a lot of focus and some nastiness. We saw players doing well at recovering the ball, like McKennie for the second goal, but also from Locatelli who sacrificed himself three or four times to block shots inside the area. “Overall, it was a nice, convincing victory. They managed to hold on well and have earned an excellent position in the league standings.” ............ He said: “If a coach lets himself do something like that with one of his players, it means that there’s a good relationship. There’s a lot of communication. “Luciano is good at that, and it’s becoming increasingly important for young players today, who need a different style of communication. Maybe not like this, though,” he joked.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-del-piero-reacts-spalletti-slap/

What Juventus need to finish in Champions League top eight after 2-0 Benfica victory Juventus gave themselves a big boost in the race to finish in the top eight of the Champions League table with their 2-0 victory over Benfica on Wednesday night, but the Bianconeri still need favours from several sides in the final round of league phase fixtures if they are to qualify directly for the round of 16. ............ This result puts Juventus into 15th place in the league table. They have collected 12 points from their first seven matches of the competition this season: Three wins, three draws and one loss. ............ The final round of Champions League league phase fixtures will take place next week on Wednesday, January 28. Juventus will face Monaco away from home and must beat Sebastian Pocognoli’s side if they are to finish in the Champions League top eight first and foremost. ............ There are then 10 other fixtures that could impact Juventus’s chances of finishing in the top eight. The Bianconeri need at least six of these matches to go their way. So, Juventus need a victory over Monaco and for at least six of the following 10 events to take place: Liverpool lose to Qarabag Tottenham fail to beat Eintracht Frankfurt PSG vs. Newcastle ends in a draw Chelsea fail to beat Napoli Barcelona fail to beat Copenhagen Sporting CP fail to beat Athletic Club Manchester City fail to beat Galatasaray Atletico Madrid fail to beat Bodo/Glimt Atalanta fail to beat Union Saint-Gilloise Inter fail to beat Borussia Dortmund Read more -> https://football-italia.net/what-juventus-need-champions-league-top-eight/

Spalletti slaps Openda during Juventus 2-0 Benfica Luciano Spalletti drew attention to himself after his decision to slap centre-forward Lois Openda before bringing him on during Juventus’s 2-0 victory against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday night. ............ Despite their victory, and the fact that they have drawn level on points with rivals Inter, one of the biggest talking points of Juventus’s victory was Spalletti’s decision to slap Openda on the sidelines. ............ The incident occurred just after McKennie had doubled Juve’s advantage midway through the second half. While the players celebrated, the cameras stayed on the Juventus dugout, and showed Spalletti slapping Openda and telling him: ‘You have to wake up’, according to various outlets. ............ This was not the only touchline incident on Tuesday night that made headlines. Spalletti was also caught in confrontation with a supporter earlier on, telling the fan: ‘Listen, I only have fixe substitutions’ in response to frustrations regarding team selection. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-slaps-openda-juventus-2-0-benfica/

Spalletti explains argument with fan during Juventus 2-0 Benfica: ‘It was continuous’ Luciano Spalletti has explained why he decided to engage in an argument with a supporter during Juventus’s 2-0 Champions League victory against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Tuesday night: ‘It was continuous throughout the game’. ............ It was an all action affair for Spalletti, who made headlines for his touchline row with a supporter and for slapping striker Lois Openda on the sideline at the Allianz Stadium. ............ Spalletti assured reporters that there was nothing much worth reading into, but revealed what the supporter had said to draw a reaction. “To clarify, I only responded once. From the first minute, whenever anybody misplaced a ball it was: ‘Spalletti, take him off, Spalletti take him off’,” the Bianconeri head coach told the press. “It was continuous throughout the game. I told him ‘look, I only have five substitutions. It’s difficult if you carry on like this, I can’t change them all’. I turned around and told him I couldn’t take them all off. It was all very normal, without stepping out of line.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-fan-argument-juventus-2-0-benfica/

Juventus player ratings vs Benfica: Thuram & McKennie run riots Juventus secured their spot in the Champions League play-offs after beating their visitors Benfica by two unanswered in the penultimate matchday of the group stage. ............ Juventus XI (4-2-3-1) Michele Di Gregorio – 6.5 The Italian goalkeeper produced some important saves, especially in the first half, to earn his clean sheet. His services weren’t needed on the spot-kick thanks to Vangelis Pavlidis’ shocking slip. Pierre Kalulu – 6 ............ Gleison Bremer – 6 The Brazilian was enjoying a solid outing at the back, but gave away a penalty for clipping Leandro Barreiro with a late challenge. Lloyd Kelly – 6.5 Another dominant showing at the back from the Englishman, who made a timely interception to deny Pavlidis the chance to pounce on the rebound. His only blunder was giving away a needless free-kick in a dangerous area for pulling Gianluca Prestianni’s shirt. Andrea Cambiaso – 5.5 ............ Manuel Locatelli – 6.5 ............ Khephren Thuram – 7 The Frenchman’s outing was a slow burn, as his presence was hardly felt in the first half, but he scored the all-important opener with a daring run and a clever drive to the bottom corner. Weston McKennie – 7 The USMNT looked disoriented in the first half when he played as a right winger, but relished the opportunity to operate in a central role after the break. He finished off a lovely combination with David with a clinical touch. Fabio Miretti – 5.5 ............ Kenan Yildiz – 6 The Turkish star came close on a couple of occasions in the first half, but was kept quiet afterwards. Nevertheless, with the Benfica players closely marking him, his teammates had more room to manoeuvre. Jonathan David – 6.5 The Canadian frustrated the fans with his wayward header in the first half, but made up for it by producing a couple of assists. He did well to hold off Nicolas Otamendi on the opener and create a path for Thuram, and then put McKennie through on a goal with a simple, yet clever touch. Substitutes Francisco Conceicao – 6 Although he didn’t produce a marquee moment against his old rivals, the Sporting Club youth product helped Juventus stretch out the opposition’s backline with his menacing presence on the right wing. Lois Openda – 5.5 ............ Juan Cabal – 6 ............ Filip Kostic – N/A Teun Koopmeiners – N/A . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-benfica-thuram-mckennie-run-riots/

Juventus 2 - Benfica 0: Initial reaction and random observations ............ With Juventus’ strong second-half performance that included goals from Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie within 10 minutes of each other, the Bianconeri were able to right the wrongs of a tough opening 45 minutes and claim an incredibly valuable 2-0 win over Mourinho’s Benfica. It’s a win that mathematically secured Juventus a spot in the play-off round, with the small hopes of pushing for a spot in the top eight still there as they head into next week’s Champions League league phase finale against Monaco in the Principality. Could they really? I mean, there’s a lot that will have to go their way next Wednesday night, but there’s still a chance of it. That’s because there’s only one point separating Juventus in 15th place and Chelsea in eighth. Although, the obvious hurdle is the simple fact of there being six teams — including Atalanta and Inter Milan — in between where Juventus currently sit thanks to their win over Benfica. ............ But if Benfica can miss a penalty that poorly and do it in hilarious kind of fashion, then maybe we can think that good things can continue to happen as long as Juventus take care of business in Monaco. Either way, I feel like it’s pretty safe to say that Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti was able to right some of the wrongs as his team came out for the second half. The first one being bringing Francisco Conceição on right out of the break, giving Juve a much more consistent threat down the right wing. That allowed McKennie to shift to a role where he was able to play off Jonathan David much more than when he was out wide to star the game. And what do you know? Both of Juve’s goal resulted in some nice interplay between David and both Thuram and McKennie, giving Juventus a lead just as it looked like Benfica might be starting to kick into gear. Just like that, though, two goals in less than 10 minutes changed all that. ............ Through a good — not great — showing against Benfica, Juventus got the job done. They started out a huge three-game stretch domestically and in Europe with three vital points. That is something we weren’t saying before Spalletti arrived. And now? Well, it’s going better than how it was when the Champions League campaign first got underway. (Yes, even with the loss to Cagliari over the weekend.) Now they just need to keep it going rather than another slip-up like we saw a few days earlier. RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS That Vangelis Pavlidis penalty. What is there to say about it? ............ Can I say something in all-caps again real quick? I’ll take that as a yes. Here we go: RENEW WESTON McKENNIE’S CONTRACT AND DO IT NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. The camera on Spalletti on the sidelines worked overtime in this one. More of that, please. Oh that’s right! Enzo Barrenechea plays for Benfica now! Thanks for the reminder, everybody. Jonathan David touches through the first 18 minutes: 3. Di Gregorio touches through the first 18 minutes: 3. ............ Locatelli blocked five shots! On his own! He had 13 defensive actions, according to Sofascore. That’s a whole hell of a lot. He just worked his ass off against Benfica. Locatelli also had 69 touches. Chef’s kiss. That man got a really nice ovation as he was subbed off in the second half and deserved every bit of it. I love them and I don’t care what anybody else has to say about it!!! ............ Thuram doesn’t score that goal if not for the work that David did to shield his man from the ball just long enough for KT to get there with his run and do the rest. It’s that kind of stuff that David has been improving on over the last few weeks, and it’s his combination play with his teammates that are creating more scoring chances on the whole. Gleison, you know I love you, but please no more penalties no matter what the score is at the time. Got it? Good, good, good. Now just keep doing good things more often than bad things like you usually do. We started the month with Federico Chiesa being linked to Juventus as a potential vice-Yildiz and now we’re three weeks into January and Filip Kostic might be the vice-Yildiz option off the bench. Good times. Not Fabio Miretti’s best game. Nope, not even close. ............ Pierre Kalulu continues to play every single minute of every single game and he’s still so consistently good. But seriously, renew McKennie’s contract. Dude continues to score goals in the Champions League and it would be really said if he’s doing that same kind of thing somewhere other than Turin come next season. ............ Now we focus on Napoli. How did they do in the Champions League this week? (Sorry, couldn’t resist. It was right there for the taking … and I took it. You would have done the same.) Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/35664/juventus-benfica-2026-champions-league-league-phase-matchday-7-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

Spalletti: ‘Juventus tension was building, our radar must always be online’ Luciano Spalletti explained some of the ‘tension’ with Juventus fans during tonight’s 2-0 win over Benfica and where his team must improve. ‘Our radar must always be online.’ The Bianconeri took a while to break Jose Mourinho’s Benfica down in Turin, but thanked their midfielders Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie for finally finding a way through. ............ “At times I am a little afraid we won’t make it, but that’s just what I am like,” Spalletti said. “It was an important match, things get thrown in your direction if you don’t bring these results home, so there is a lot of tension that builds up. “We had started well, then it was balanced with us sitting a little too deep, we lost the ball a few times far too cheaply, and that added even more pressure on us that was unnecessary.” ............ “We had some difficulty too at the start of the second half, but then we got back to playing our football. Benfica had chances in the first half, but so did we with Miretti and McKennie. “It was in the balance, if they had converted that penalty late on then it could’ve been a tense finale, we could’ve avoided giving that spot-kick away, because you don’t have to go in for the tackle every time.” ............ “I expect to see a quicker reaction, a quicker prediction of when the opponents are going to come back at you, because that ferocity is part and parcel of modern football now. “We’ve got to have our radar always online, instead we lost the ball too often because we were frenetic, we made the ball ‘cough’ with our stuttering passes. “Benfica tried to attack us, these are things we’ve got to get used to if we want to play at a certain level, although I have to say I’ve seen definite improvements.” ............ “David knows how to play football,” replied Spalletti. “He might not have that determination and ferocity, in his view every match is the same, he has this nice boy aura, but maybe he needs a bit more experience to be more determined. That is where he has to improve. “Apart from the goal, the match is a box you need to fill with other things too, otherwise the opponents force you to scramble in defence. “Kenan Yildiz is the ‘alien’ of the team, the one who really stands above, but his defensive movements are not going to be the same as those of McKennie. Knowing how to do certain things and not others isn’t enough anymore, you have to complete your game and help the team. “David at times has to hold the ball up and work for the team, the same goes for Openda.” This result means Juve are on 12 points and in 15th place in the Champions League table, going into the final game away to Paul Pogba’s AS Monaco. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-juventus-tension-radar-must-online/

Thuram and Locatelli praise Spalletti: ‘Double joy’ as Juventus beat Benfica 2-0 Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli praise Luciano Spalletti after Juventus’ 2-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League: ‘He gives a lot of energy from the touchline.’ ............ Thuram scored the opening goal in the second half after a struggling Juventus performance in the opening 50 minutes. “I always try to do the best for my team. I scored, and when you do that, you surely feel a bit better. Today we won, and it was the most important thing,” the Frenchman said. ............ “It’s true that the situation at the beginning of the second half was a bit difficult, but we know that against these teams, a difficult moment always comes,” he said. “We must not concede and suffer together, and tonight we did it well.” “Spalletti gives a lot of energy from the touchline; we feel it, and it’s good when we are struggling,” Thuram said. “We feel well on the pitch, and it’s good to have a coach who conveys so much energy. “Juventus always want to go as far as possible in the Champions League. Are we in the play-off right? It’s fine.” ............ Manuel Locatelli also spoke to Prime Video Italia. “We played better in the second half, when we were mentally freer. We were good at staying in the game; we had to remain calm and not concede,” said the Bianconeri captain, who had received a standing ovation when he was subbed off late in the second half. “I’m glad about it, I’ve had difficult moments in these years, but I always given my heart,” he admitted. “Today, it was great to receive it from the fans of the team I love. It’s a double joy.” ............ “The coach immediately spoke to me, and I’ve made myself available. He’s a great coach who has a lot to give us. I had to be better in the year of the Euros,” Locatelli concluded. “Now I’m happy, I’m okay, and in the end, winning is the most important thing.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thuram-locatelli-spalletti-double-joy-juventus/

Juventus secure important Champions League win against Benfica Juventus secured a vital two-nil victory over Benfica in the Champions League this evening, a result they knew they had to achieve. The win keeps their hopes alive in the race for a place in the Champions League playoffs and restores confidence after a difficult domestic setback. ............ Juventus entered the contest fully aware that any further dropped points would severely damage their European ambitions. As a result, they began the match with real intensity and purpose, pressing high and committing numbers forward. Playing at the Allianz Stadium, the hosts looked determined to take early control of the game. However, they were met by a resilient Benfica side that had never previously lost to the Old Lady in a Champions League fixture. The Portuguese team defended with discipline and composure, frustrating Juventus despite sustained pressure. Kenan Yildiz and Fabio Miretti both came close to breaking the deadlock, with Miretti missing the clearest opportunity of the first half. ............ The second half brought a noticeable improvement from Juventus, who raised their tempo and sharpened their attacking play. Their persistence was rewarded before the hour mark when Khephren Thuram opened the scoring, providing the breakthrough the home side desperately needed. Momentum swung firmly in Juventus’ favour soon after, as Weston McKennie doubled their advantage. At that point, Benfica appeared vulnerable, and Juventus looked capable of adding further goals as confidence spread through the team. Despite this, Benfica offered a reminder of their threat by earning a penalty kick. The opportunity went unconverted. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-secure-important-champions-league-win-against-benfica/

Player Ratings: Juventus 2-0 Benfica – McKennie revives Old Lady Juventus player ratings vs. Benfica Di Gregorio 6.5 – ............ Kalulu 5.5 – Lost possession a couple of times in dangerous zones and won just two duels. A bit tired, probably, having played every minute under Spalletti. Bremer 5.5 – A resolute defending performance before giving away a needless penalty, which, luckily for Juventus, Pavlidis awkwardly missed. Kelly 6.5 – ............ Cambiaso 6 – ............ (70′ Cabal 5.5) Thuram 7 – Scored a vital goal for Juventus, who had been struggling for some time before his strike. The Frenchman also made 47 touches and recorded 95% passing accuracy. Locatelli 6.5 – Not as accurate as Thuram with the ball at his feet, but he was very solid defensively with four clearances and five blocked shots. (86′ Koopmeiners N/A) McKennie 7.5 – The USMNT international woke Juventus up in the second half. He had a big chance minutes before Thuram’s opening goal and then linked up with David to score the second of the night for the Bianconeri. Could have scored the second for himself as well, but hit the post after another excellent late run inside the box. MOTM. Miretti 5 – ............ (46′ Conceiçao 6). Yildiz 6 – Inspired Juventus’ attacks in the first half, even if, generally, he was not as dangerous as usual. (82′ Kostic N/A). David 6.5 – One might criticise him for a missed opportunity in the first half, but the Canadian was still involved in both Juventus goals, providing the assist for McKennie. (70′ Openda 6). Coach: Spalletti 7 – Bringing on Conceiçao at halftime and shifting McKennie into a central role proved to be a smart tactical adjustment. In the last two games, he won when he played badly and lost when he played well. Surely, he prefers nights like these even if his side struggled to cope with Benfica’s high press for big parts of the game. He even argued with a home fan during the match, but earned three vital points that keep hope for Round of 16 qualification alive. Benfica: Trubin 7; Dedic 6, Otamendi 5.5, Tomas Araujo 5.5, Dahl 5; Barreiro 6, Aursnes 5.5; Prestianni 5.5 (77′ Rego N/A), Sudakov 6.5 (69′ Barrenechea 6), Schjelderup 6 (69′ Ivanovic 5.5); Pavlidis 5. Coach: Mourinho 6. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/player-ratings-juventus-2-0-benfica-mckennie/

Chiellini: ‘Not always a pleasure to meet Mourinho, Juventus want a striker’ Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini jokes it is a pleasure to meet Benfica coach Jose Mourinho other than ‘during matches’ and confirms pursuit of a new striker in January. ............ “We were a bit unlucky in Cagliari, but before the game I had said it was a trap, and that was a message to see where we were after many good performances,” Chiellini said. ............ “After a difficult start, we got the victory away to Bodo/Glimt and have only now realised how difficult that was. Now we have the opportunity to get a result here so when we go to Monaco for the final game, it’s not life or death.” ............ “Jose was a great opponent and a great coach all over Europe, so it’s always a pleasure to meet him before and after matches, not so much during!” Juventus are reported to be seeking a new striker, so they have approached Crystal Palace for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Fenerbahce for Youssef En-Nesyri. Are there any updates from the club on those negotiations? “It’s difficult to improve a squad like this in January, we are evaluating options in an area where Dusan unfortunately had a serious injury. There is nothing on the verge of coming in, but there are two weeks to go, and if there is something to help the coach improve this squad, we won’t hold back.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/chiellini-pleasure-to-meet-mourinho-juventus/

Angry Spalletti argues with Juventus fan during Benfica clash: ‘Next time, stay home’ Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti argued with a Bianconeri fan during tonight’s home Champions League match against Benfica: ‘Next time, stay home.’ Juventus coach Spalletti argued with a fan who had been loudly criticising the team in the opening 50 minutes of a home Champions League match against Benfica. ............ The Portuguese side, coached by José Mourinho, probably had the best chances in the opening 45 minutes, prompting the Allianz Stadium to boo their own team at half-time. With Juventus still struggling early in the second half, Spalletti lost his composure and confronted a fan behind the dugout. ............ Alessandro Alciato claimed that Spalletti and the fan exchanged words before the coach said: “Next time, stay home.” Just a few minutes later, Juventus scored the opener through Khephren Thuram, and according to the same journalist, Spalletti celebrated the goal just in front of that Juventus fan. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/angry-spalletti-argues-juventus-fan-benfica/

UCL | Juventus 2-0 Benfica: Old Lady keep Champions League hope alive Juventus thanked midfielders Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie when beating Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, and a Vangelis Pavlidis penalty miss, to keep Champions League ambitions alive. The Bianconeri managed only three draws in the first four games of the Champions League, but were revitalised by back-to-back victories over Bodo/Glimt and Pafos. ............ Georgiy Sudakov tested Michele Di Gregorio on an early counter-attack, but Trubin had a much tougher one-handed save on the Kenan Yildiz right-foot curler from the edge of the box. Yildiz tried again from a similar position, this time flashing the finish just wide, but Juve made a mess playing out from the back, forcing Di Gregorio into another tricky save on Sudakov, with Lloyd Kelly lunging in to prevent Vangelis Pavlidis scoring on the rebound. ............ Jonathan David really should’ve done better just before half-time with a weak and off target header on Weston McKennie’s cross. ............ Francisco Conceicao replaced Miretti for the restart, but Di Gregorio rushed off his line to smother at the feet of Aursnes, then Pavlidis had his effort deflected just wide off Kelly, as the Bianconeri continued to give it away playing out from the back. McKennie forced a difficult save from Trubin with a first-time sweep of the boot on Pierre Kalulu’s low cross, but Juve finally broke the deadlock. Thuram gathered outside the area, combined with David to dribble just inside the box, and drilled low into the near bottom corner with the right boot. ............ They doubled their advantage just nine minutes later, as McKennie and David combined with a quick double one-two to break into the area, the American scoring for the third Champions League game in a row. ............ VAR spotted a Gleison Bremer foul on Barreiro in the final minutes, when he went to kick the bouncing ball and only caught the ankle. However, Pavlidis stepped up to take the penalty and slipped on the turf, sending the kick a long way wide. Juventus 2-0 Benfica Thuram 55 (J), McKennie 64 (J) Missed penalty: Pavlidis 81 (B) ............ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTKpsc5DYto . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/ucl-juventus-2-0-benfica-old-lady-champions/