JUVENTUS SEASON 2025-2026

[Socrates 9499]

Three Juventus keys to victory vs Napoli on Spalletti’s return to Stadio Maradona

 

 

Whenever Napoli and Juventus share the same pitch, the fans can anticipate a heated battle between two rivals who embody Italy’s two extremes.

 

And yet, Sunday’s contest will be a truly special edition of this fixture thanks to Luciano Spalletti’s first return to the Stadio Maradona since leading the Partenopei to their third Scudetto title in 2023.

 

Although it remains unclear who the fans will receive him, the 66-year-old has expressed his excitement about the occasion regardless of the nature welcome. ............

 

So, let’s take a closer look at three tactical manoeuvres that could help the Old Lady prevail in hostile territory.

Lay Low

In Rasmus Hojlund, Noah Lang and David Neres, Napoli arguably boast the fastest attacking trio in Serie A. ............

 

Pierre Kalulu, Lloyd Kelly and Teun Koopmeiners won’t be able to cope with their speed in the sprint.

 

Hence, Spalletti would be better off adopting a low defensive block, and avoiding leaving spaces at the back for his pacey opponnets to exploit.

Pack the Midfield

Napoli’s midfield has been pared down to the bone, with four key players (De Bruyne, Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka and Gilmour) out with injuries. Hence, Conte will reportedly field Eljif Elmas and Scott McTominay in a makeshift double-pivot.

 

For his part, Spalletti could also deploy two midfielders in Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram (or Fabio Miretti).

 

Nevertheless, bringing in wide players like Weston McKennie and Andrea Cambiaso to the middle of the park would add a numerical advantage. ............

Individual Brilliance

With the two formations mirroring one another, this contest could eventually be decided by a piece of individual skill.

 

Luckily for Juventus, they do indeed have the right men for the job, starting with the in-form Kenan Yildiz, a world-class talent who is able to produce a piece of magic at any given moment.

 

Francisco Conceicao can also forge something out with his speed and trickery, but keep an eye on Edon Zhegrova, the dribbling demon who is beginning to endear himself to the Bianconeri faithful despite his lack of minutes. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/three-juventus-keys-to-victory-vs-napoli-on-spallettis-return-to-stadio-maradona/

[Socrates 9499]

[Socrates 9499]

Juventus team bus bombarded by rocks ahead of Napoli clash 

 

 

Juventus made an unusual decision in order to avoid crowd trouble ahead of their trip to Napoli this evening, but still saw their bus windows smashed as rocks were thrown. ............

 

This is the first time that coach Luciano Spalletti has returned to the Stadio Maradona as an opponent following the Scudetto triumph of 2023.

 

With that in mind, he knows the atmosphere well and took steps to avoid potential problems, such as the familiar routine of fans setting off fireworks all night outside the team hotel to stop opposition players getting a good sleep. ............

 

Nonetheless, there was still trouble for the Juventus players, as the team bus was pelted with rocks on the road to the Stadio Maradona, and some windows were smashed.

 

The most important thing is that nobody was hurt by the incident, but it confirms the dangers of this fixture amid a bitter rivalry.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-team-bus-bombarded-by-rocks-napoli/

 

Modificato Domenica alle 22:21 da Socrates

[Socrates 9499]

Serie A | Napoli 2-1 Juventus: Hero Hojlund ruins Spalletti return

 

 

A brace from Rasmus Hojlund allowed Napoli to beat Juventus 2-1 and inflict the first defeat for their former boss Luciano Spalletti, despite the Kenan Yildiz temporary equaliser.

 

This was the first time Luciano Spalletti had visited the Stadio Maradona since winning the Scudetto in 2023, but also the first time ever he had faced Antonio Conte. ............

 

Neres got away from Juan Cabal again and beyond Teun Koopmeiners to pull back from the by-line, where Rasmus Hojlund got there in front of Lloyd Kelly to toe-poke in from six yards across Michele Di Gregorio. It was his first goal in two months. ............

 

Kenan Yildiz twice got down the left to pull back, once with Francisco Conceicao blasting off target, then McTominay got back for the crucial interception as McKennie was ready to tap in from six yards. ............

 

With an xG of just 0.04 in the first half, Spalletti introduced striker Jonathan David for the struggling Juan Cabal. ............

 

McTominay’s free kick was drilled inches wide, but it was Juventus who equalised with their first real chance of the game. Kenan Yildiz went on the counter and completed a give and go with McKennie down the right, sweeping a snooker shot across Vanja Milinkovic-Savic into the far bottom corner from a tricky angle. It was the first shot on target from the Old Lady. ............

 

However, Napoli restored their advantage when McKennie tried to clear a Neres cross at the back post, but instead accidentally knocked it down as an assist for Hojlund to nod in from four yards. ............

 

Spalletti had been unbeaten since taking the Juventus job, overseeing four wins and three draws in all competition, but his return to the Stadio Maradona was a painful one, as Edon Zhegrova’s finish in stoppages was straight at Milinkovic-Savic.

 

 

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-napoli-2-1-juventus-hojlund-spalletti/

[Socrates 9499]

Serie A | Napoli 2-1 Juventus | Player Ratings – Hojlund dominates shaky Juve defence

 

 

Napoli defeated Juventus 2-1 in Naples this evening as Antonio Conte’s side kept the Bianconeri very quiet to serve Luciano Spalletti his first defeat as head coach. ............

Napoli 2-1 Juventus – Player Ratings – Hojlund takes the cake

Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic 5.5; Beukema 6, Rrahmani 6.5, Buongiorno 6; Di Lorenzo 6, Elmas 6, McTominay 6.5, Olivera 6 (Spinazzola 6), Neres 7.5 (Politano N/A), Hojlund 8, Lang 6 (Vergara N/A)

 

Best Napoli player: Rasmus Hojlund – ............

 

Lowest Napoli rating: Vanja Milinković-Savić – ............

 

Coach: Antonio Conte 7 – ............

 

Juventus: Di Gregorio 5.5; Kalulu 5.5, Kelly 5, Koopmeiners 5.5; Cabal 5 (David 6), Locatelli 6, Thuram 6 (Zhegrova N/A), Cambiaso 5.5 (Kostic 5.5); Conceicao 5.5 (Miretti 6), McKennie 5.5; Yildiz 7 (Openda 6)

 

Best Juventus player: Kenan Yildiz – Did well for his goal, making a good run and then poking it past Milinkovic-Savic. Looked a bit lost at times when he started the game at centre-forward but settled more after David was brought on.

 

Lowest Juventus rating: Juan Cabal – Could’ve been Kelly, could’ve been Kalulu or McKennie for their disastrous defending in Napoli’s second – but the Colombian wing-back was really poor before being taken off at half-time.

 

Coach: Luciano Spalletti 5.5 – At the end of the day was simply outmatched by Conte, with Spalletti’s Juventus unable to truly work their way into the game. The counter-attack for the goal was a nice dynamic player-led moment and the coach’s tactics had little positives to offer – other than what would’ve been a clever point if Hojlund had not scored his late winner.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/napoli-1-0-juventus-player-ratings-hojlund/

[Socrates 9499]

Napoli 2-1 Juventus: Spalletti suffers first defeat on his Maradona return

 

 

Juventus will return to Turin empty-handed as Luciano Spalletti failed to beat Napoli on his return to the Stadio Maradona.

 

The Juventus manager opted to field Kenan Yildiz as a false 9, supported by Francisco Conceicao and Weston McKennie, leaving Jonathan David and Lois Openda on the bench. Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram linked up in midfield, while Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal operated on the flanks. ............

 

Napoli were the far better side from the get-go, firing an early warning through McTominay, whose header whistled past the post.

The home side then took a deserved lead in the sixth minute, when Neres skipped past Teun Koopmeiners before feeding Hojlund at the mouth of the goal. The Dane evaded Lloyd Kelly to poach it home. ............

 

As the minutes progressed, it became agonisingly obvious that Conte had the upper hand in the tactical battle, as Spalletti’s men were struggling to build from the back, while the long-ball option was equally sterile, especially in the absence of a battering ram upfront. ............

 

After the break, Napoli kept pushing for the second, but it was Juventus who forked out an equaliser almost out of nowhere with their first real chance of the game. A sublime team play culminated with McKennie providing the assist for Yildiz, whose precise shot found the bottom corner from an acute angle, leaving Sinisa Milinkovic-Savic.

 

However, the Bianconeri allowed their hosts to retake the lead with a gift of a goal. Neres tried to find Lang with a cross to the back post. McKennie was able to beat the Dutch winger to be ball, but his woeful ‘clearance’ caused more damage than good, as it allowed Hojlund to nod the ball home from close range.

 

Juve’s reaction was almost non-existent, especially since Yildiz and Conceicao were already hooked. Edon Zhegrova had an inviting opportunity in the final minute, but it was too central to trouble the goalkeeper.

 

The Bianconeri remain seventh in the standings, but they’re drifting alarmingly away from the Top Four spots.

Napoli 2-1 Juventus

Goals: 7′, 77′ Hojlund (N), 58′ Yildiz (J)

 

Napoli (3-4-3) : Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, McTominay, Elmas, Olivera (69′ Spinazzola); Neres (79′ Politano), Hojlund, Lang (85′ Vergara).

 

Juventus (3-5-2):  Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso (71′ Kostic), McKennie, Thuram (81′ Zhegrova), Locatelli, Cabal (46′ David); Conceicao (74′ Miretti), Yildiz (74′ Openda).

 

Yellow cards: Buongiorno 33′ (N), Kalulu 52′ (J), Beukema 70′ (N).

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/napoli-2-1-juventus-spalletti-suffers-first-defeat-on-his-maradona-return/

[Socrates 9499]

Spalletti: ‘Juventus were passengers, Napoli made us chase them’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti admits Juventus were ‘passengers’ in the defeat to Napoli, but explains what went wrong with his audacious tactical decisions for the starting XI.

 

This was Spalletti’s first defeat since taking the Juventus bench from Igor Tudor, ending his run of four wins and three draws. ............

 

“It’s true, Napoli pushed harder from the start, we were too timid moving the ball around, then lost it cheaply, so they made us run after them,” Spalletti said.

 

“They are in good shape, so if you don’t keep the ball, they make you run all over the pitch with their strength and quality.” ............

 

The Bianconeri coach surprised everyone by dealing with the Dusan Vlahovic injury by leaving both Jonathan David and Lois Openda on the bench, starting Kenan Yildiz in a False 9 role. ............

 

“I feel Yildiz and Conceicao can do those roles, as they pass the ball around well. Locatelli sat a bit too deep and didn’t maintain the position I wanted in midfield, then the two forwards had little mobility and we kept getting bogged down in the middle. We didn’t pass it around quickly or make the numerical advantage count in midfield,” noted Spalletti. ............

 

“We did better in the second half, as we went man for man, but still suffered with the pace and quality of the Napoli counter-attack. So yes, we went man for man, but then they did well to create problems.

 

“After the equaliser, we took control of the match, but again we were too obvious, too predictable, didn’t force through the situation as a team. We didn’t try to do something extra, so we clearly need some progress and quickly, otherwise it becomes difficult.

 

“We’ve done some good things, but we have reached a stage where we need to analyse the situation.” ............

 

“We can do better than we did today, as we gifted an incredible number of passes. If you don’t control the game, you end up being the passenger for the others making decisions for you.” ............

 

“Napoli block to create space and we kept falling for it every time. We needed more communication, we made it also a bit easy for them to put the crosses in, these are all decisions that are made in the moment.” ............

 

“Of course, when the fans sing these songs that I know off by heart, it is spectacular, an atmosphere that only the Stadio Maradona can provide.”

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-juventus-passengers-napoli-chase/

 

Modificato Lunedì alle 09:55 da Socrates

[Socrates 9499]

Locatelli: ‘Juventus are better than this’ after sliding to 7th place

 

 

Manuel Locatelli insists Juventus ‘are better than this’ after the 2-1 defeat to Napoli left them languishing in seventh place. ‘We made mistakes we should not be making.’

 

The Bianconeri barely created any scoring opportunities at the Stadio Diego Maradona, as the Kenan Yildiz angled drive was their first shot on target. ............

 

That was only a temporary equaliser after the Rasmus Hojlund opener, and the Dane added a second nodding in the mistaken Weston McKennie knockdown. ............

 

“The coach had asked us to keep the ball and pass it around to create superiority in the midfield, but they pressed us well and we made mistakes that we should not be making,” Locatelli said.

 

“We certainly need to do better than this.” ............

 

They are also now just three points clear of Sassuolo and Cremonese, still behind Como in seventh place. ............

 

“We are well aware of the position that we are in and that we must do better, because we are better than this,” added Locatelli.

 

“We’ve got to pick up points, at the end of the day, words count for very little. It’s about results.” ............

 

“With the responsibility that a captain ought to have. I must try to set the example and explain why we lost today, even if what ultimately counts is what happens on the pitch.”

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/locatelli-juventus-better-than-this-7th-place/

[Socrates 9499]

Napoli 2 - Juventus 1: Initial reaction and random observations

 

 

So much of the early days of the Luciano Spalletti era at Juventus has felt like one or two steps forward and then just as many steps back over the course of the next subsequent fixtures. They’ve done some good, but there’s been just as much frustration and equally poor themes that have continued over from the last couple of managers.

 

That was the case once again on Sunday night in Naples.

 

As much as it felt like Napoli could have been prime for the taking when Kenan Yildiz did his latest bit of brilliance to level things up 15 minutes into the second half, Juventus’ issues of bring able to take full advantage of their improved second half came to the fore. Juve weren’t able to a Napoli squad that looked to be wobbling a little bit, only to see Antoni Conte’s side go back ahead through Rasmus Højlund 12 minutes from time and go top of the table with a 2-1 win over Juventus, their fifth win over the Bianconeri in their last seven meetings.

 

It was a brutal night for Luciano Spalletti, too, as he made his first appearance at the Maradona — and, surprisingly, first-ever managerial meeting against Conte — since leading Napoli to the Scudetto 2 1/2 years ago. And, after making some quite interesting lineup choices that most notably had Yildiz playing as a false 9 of sorts that resulted in a first-half performance to forget, it proved to be a return to Naples that resulted in Juve’s first loss under Spalletti since he became manager in late-October.

 

The thing is, it’s going to actually be hard to forget what Juventus did in the first half.

 

Especially when you consider that before Weston McKennie inadvertently headed the ball right into the path of Højlund on the go-ahead goal, things were actually improving.

 

But when you have a first half that felt like it resulted in absolutely nothing and Napoli score almost immediately after Yildiz is subbed off, then it’s hard not to look at the manager and wonder what the heck he was thinking both before and during this big-time matchup against the reigning champions. ............

 

It’s all become very familiar. Just too familiar these last couple of years.

 

In this game, though, it’s hard not to start with the two hinge points of the game:

 

• What Spalletti chose to do to begin the game.
• How this matchup was there for the taking when Yildiz tied things up in the 59th minute.

 

When it comes to the second point, it might be hard to believe, but it’s true: Juventus were very much in it because they had just tied things up and were looking as good as they had all night. Napoli had fumbled away more than a couple of scoring chances and Michele Di Gregorio had made a couple of really good saves to keep the home side from adding another goal from their name, so it was really a case of feeling fortunate they were in the position they were to even have a chance of winning. And, you know, making Napoli pay for only putting away one of those scoring chances they had up until Yildiz’s brilliant game-tying goal. ............

 

It was not great — and a total mistake Spalletti to go the way he did with his starting lineup. Which, in a way, is completely ironic because you see how deep Yildiz dropped to start the movement that resulted in the game-tying goal and that’s probably what Spalletti thought might happen more often. Unfortunately, what Spalletti envisioned didn’t translate onto the field. It didn’t take long to figure that out, either.

 

It all added up to another disappointing result on a matchday in which Juventus should have done more. Napoli left a door open and instead of going through it, Juve allowed the defending champions to slam it shut.

 

This is the story of the last couple of years — and why Juve are sitting in seventh place in Serie A a couple of weeks before Christmas.

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Come for the starting lineups, get and stay for La Spallettata.
• Teams with a better record away from home than Juventus this season: Sassuolo, Cremonese, Udinese and Como. They have the 10th-best record away from home this season — that’s the definition of just completely mid.
• Juventus finished with five shots against Napoli.
• Juventus finished with two shots on goal against Napoli.
• Rasmus Højlund had more shots on goal himself (3) than Juventus did as a team (2).
• Napoli had nine shots and an xG of 1.59.
• Juventus had five shots and xG of 0.24. ............

• We’ve officially moved into the “Kenan do something cool and save us” portion of the season.
• Juventus’ only shot in the opening 25 minutes was an off-balance long-distance shot from Yildiz that was nowhere near the goal. That’s not a good thing.
• Same thing goes for Juventus’ second and only other shot in the first half, this one from Francisco Conceição. That’s how much of a struggle it was over the course of the opening 45 minutes in the attacking third.
• Jonathan David touched the ball once in his first 15 minutes on the field. Yikes, man.
• Going to Loïs Openda before Edon Zhegrova was a choice and one that I didn’t agree with at all. You take off Yildiz, you bring on somebody like Zhegrova who can actually hurt a defense right now. Openda is not a very good option off the bench and that is not breaking news with how his season has gone.
• Also a choice: Going with four attacking players on the field in the closing minutes and none of them are named Yildiz. That’s not good. ............
• Another pretty bad night for Juan Cabal since his return from injury.
• I’m starting to wonder if Juve have any options at fullback/wingback who are actually somewhat solid defensively. Because their current options who play there just ain’t getting it done.
• Well, at least McKennie’s assist to Yildiz was a good one.
• Teun Koopmeiners on Napoli’s opening goal … not great.
• Lloyd Kelly on Napoli’s opening goal after Koopmeiners got burned … not good. ............
• Juventus were 0-for-8 on crosses. That’s always a good thing when Filip Kostic is on the field.
• A clear sign of how ineffective Juve were in the final third for a large portion of this game: No player in bianconero finished with more than one key pass against Napoli. ............

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/34484/napoli-juventus-2025-serie-a-matchday-14-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

 

Modificato Lunedì alle 14:20 da Socrates

[Socrates 9499]

Spalletti explains Yildiz substitution: “I replaced him with Openda who cost €50m”

 

 

Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti had several dubious decisions to explain following his team’s 1-2 defeat to Napoli, especially the Kenan Yildiz substitution. ............

 

Spalletti opted to start with Yildiz as a false 9, supported by Francisco Conceicao, but the manoeuvre didn’t work, so he brought in Jonathan David at the interval.

 

After returning to his original role as a Number 10, the young Turk’s impact was immediately felt. But after the equaliser, Spalletti decided to hook him for Lois Openda, a decision that benefited Napoli rather than Juventus. ............

 

“I wanted them (Yildiz and Conceicao) to play between their three defenders, using an extra midfielder to manage the man-to-man pressing,” said Spalletti in his post-match press conference. ............

 

“Yildiz, as a central forward, always had an opponent behind him and wasn’t able to express himself at his best. We also weren’t good at putting him in the ideal conditions.”

 

“Last week, you argued that I should rest Kenan. Openda came on in the 75th minute. He’s a player we paid €45-50 million to sign.

 

“Yildiz isn’t injured, but he needs to do more; he can give us a lot more. He scored, but the team needs a bit more momentum, and he can do more, too.” ............

 

Spalletti was also asked about Teun Koopmeiners, who was once again fielded as a left centre-back, but struggled to cope with David Neres’ pace.

 

“Yes, it was a forced choice. With three defenders out for months, there are no alternatives.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/luciano-spalletti-kenan-yildiz-lois-openda-juventus-napoli/

[Socrates 9499]

Marchisio ‘surprised’ but two Spalletti mistakes in Napoli vs Juventus

 

 

Juventus legend Claudio Marchisio felt that Luciano Spalletti committed a couple of blunders in Sunday’s defeat to Napoli.

 

After replacing Igor Tudor in late October, the 66-year-old found mild success in his first seven matches, registering four wins and three draws.

 

But as fate would have it, his first defeat as a Juventus manager ensued on his return to the Stadio Maradona. ............

 

For his part, Marchisio felt that Juve’s limitations were exposed by their Southern rivals, while noting that Spalletti has little trust in Jonathan David, whom he initially kept on the bench in favour of fielding Yildiz as a false 9.

 

“Napoli’s intensity exposed Juventus’ shortcomings,” argued the retired midfielder in his post-match appearance.

 

“When Napoli raised the tempo, Juve couldn’t create anything. They only found opportunities to play when Napoli were a bit slow.

 

“The feeling is that Spalletti doesn’t trust David, who also came on poorly.” ............

 

“I was also surprised by the decision to put Cabal in the starting lineup with Koopmeiners; he could have put McKennie or Cambiaso there, who could have given the Dutchman a greater boost with Neres.

 

“All the dangerous chances came from that flank.” ............

 

Finally, Marchisio insisted that Yildiz’s substitution was rather premature.

 

“I wouldn’t have taken Yildiz off the pitch. At most, I would have moved him to another role.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/marchisio-surprised-but-two-spalletti-mistakes-in-napoli-vs-juventus/

 

Modificato Lunedì alle 14:42 da Socrates

[Socrates 9499]

'He still loves Napoli': Spalletti’s decisions infuriated Juventus fans and led to inevitable defeat

 

 

 

The main match of Serie A of Mtachday 14 between Napoli and Juventus. ............

 

But it wasn’t only the supporters of the Neapolitan giants who were angry. Juventus fans also criticised Spalletti for several decisions that, in their view, led to the inevitable defeat.

 

Of course, very few appreciated the initial change of formation. Instead of Spalletti’s traditional 4-3-3, everyone saw a 3-5-2. Online, this was even compared to fear of Napoli. ............

 

Juventus only started playing once the system was switched back to the more familiar 4-3-3, which brought the equaliser to 1-1. The hero of the moment was Kenan Yildiz. ............

 

 

However, just a few minutes later the coach again pushed Juventus fans to tear him apart on social media – he took the Turkish youngster off and returned to the 3-5-2. ............

 

Nothing good came from it: the team lost balance, and the Dane converted another great chance and became the hero of the match.

 

Juventus supporters didn’t even try to hide their emotions:

 

“You could say he still ‘loves’ Napoli.” ............

 

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Read more -> https://tribuna.com/en/blogs/he-still-loves-napoli-spallettis-decisions-infuriated-juvent/

[Socrates 9499]

Juventus duo won’t recover in time for Champions League clash vs Pafos

 

 

Juventus were hoping for a timely boost at the back ahead of their next Champions League fixture, but Gleison Bremer and Daniele Rugani remain out.

 

Since his arrival at the club, Luciano Spalletti has been operating with a depleted backline. In recent weeks, he regained the services of Lloyd Kelly and Juan Cabal, but lost Federico Gatti to a meniscus injury. ............

 

The good news for Spalletti is that Bremer and Rugani have been making progress in training in recent days. The Brazilian suffered a setback after hurting his knee in late September, while the Italian veteran picked up a knock last month.

 

But neither one will be available for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Pafos. The duo should instead return for the weekend trip to Bologna or the following Serie A showdown against Roma. ............

 

Therefore, Spalletti will have no other option but to confirm Teun Koopmeiners alongside Kelly and the ever-present Pierre Kalulu in the three-backline, unless he decides to drop the formation altogether and unleash a 4-3-3 system. ............

 

Juventus are facing another must-win Champions League contest, as they have only assembled six points from the first five matchdays of the group stage.

 

On paper, the Old Lady should be able to sweep aside the Cypriot champions. And yet, the two sides are currently on par in points. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/bremer-rugani-juventus-pafos-champions-league/

[Socrates 9499]

Yildiz reacts after disappointing Napoli 2-1 Juventus defeat: ‘We need your support’

 

 

Kenan Yildiz has begged the Juventus supporters to stick with the team following their disappointing 2-1 defeat away against reigning Serie A champions Napoli on Sunday evening. ............

 

This result means that the Old Lady have only won two of their five Serie A matches since Spalletti took over at the end of October, which came against Cremonese and Cagliari. They were held to draws by Fiorentina and Torino and have now lost in Spalletti’s first ‘big test’ in the league. ............

 

“We couldn’t get the result we wanted yesterday, but we are working hard to get better,” the 20-year-old wrote. “During the process we need your support and we thank you for that.”

 

Despite the fact that Juventus currently find themselves in seventh place in the Serie A standings, this has been an increasingly impressive individual campaign from Yildiz, who is now up to five league goals for the season plus another in the Champions League. He also has a further five assists to his name across all competitions this term. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/yildiz-reacts-after-napoli-2-1-juventus-loss/

[Socrates 9499]

Spalletti & Conte post-match exchange summarise Napoli vs Juventus

 

 

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti admitted Napoli were the better side on Sunday in his small talk with his counterpart, Antonio Conte.

 

The two Italians are some of the most accomplished managers in the current era. However, they had never crossed paths in an official contest before this weekend’s clash at the Stadio Maradona. ............

 

On Sunday, Conte had the last laugh, beating his former employers by two goals to one thanks to Rasmus Hojlund’s brace.

 

In addition to the disappointing result, Spalletti was also chastised by the media for his team’s shambolic display, and his baffling decisions, whether in the starting lineup or during the course of the match.

 

As per custom, the two managers shared a brief exchange at the final whistle, and the cameras were able to catch what Spalletti had told his opposite number.

 

“Congratulations. Boy, did you (Napoli) run hard!” said the Juventus boss. ............

 

This lighthearted comment entailed a genuine admission from Spalletti, who conceded that his side wasn’t able to cope with Napoli’s superior pace.

 

The Bianconeri were hoping to capitalise on Napoli’s midfield crisis by loading the middle of the park and creating a numerical advantage, but they were second to almost every ball. ............

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/spalletti-conte-post-match-exchange-summarise-napoli-vs-juventus/

[Socrates 9499]

Preview: Juventus vs Pafos FC - prediction, team news, lineups

 

 

Locked together on six points, both Juventus and Pafos FC are fighting to avoid Champions League elimination before the clubs clash on Wednesday evening. ............

Match preview

Finally getting off the mark after five matches, Juventus beat Bodo/Glimt in a thrilling climax to their last Champions League outing, essentially keeping alive dreams of reaching the knockout phase. ............

 

Previously, they had followed two dramatic draws - 4-4 against Borussia Dortmund and 2-2 versus Villarreal - with defeat to Real Madrid, before sharing the spoils with Sporting Lisbon.

 

Despite a downturn in fortunes over the past few years, Juventus have still lost just two of their last 11 home games in Europe - and two of their last three fixtures will be held in Turin.

 

Before hosting Benfica and visiting Monaco in January, the Bianconeri must seek a vital victory over Pafos.

 

However, heading into Wednesday's game, new boss Luciano Spalletti will be concerned about his team's defensive frailties: Juventus have conceded in every Champions League match this season - and in eight straight since January - at an average of two goals per game.

 

In Sunday's Serie A showdown with reigning champions Napoli, Spalletti's side were carved open again, as they left his former home at Stadio Maradona empty-handed.

 

Despite Turkish talisman Kenan Yildiz getting them back into the contest during a tense second half, Juve were ultimately beaten 2-1, leaving them a distant seventh in Italy's top flight. ............

 

 

Juventus Champions League form:

D D L D W

Juventus form (all competitions):

D D W W W L

 

Pafos FC Champions League form:

D L D W D

Pafos FC form (all competitions):

W D W D W W

---

Team News

 

As Dusan Vlahovic has been ruled out of action until next year, either Lois Openda or Canada star David could lead Juve's attack - albeit Yildiz was tried as a false nine in Naples.

 

Aside from his strike against Napoli, seven of the latter's eight Serie A goal involvements this season have come on home turf, at the Allianz Stadium.

 

In addition to top scorer Vlahovic, Spalletti is also without centre-backs Federico Gatti, Daniele Rugani and Bremer, so Teun Koopmeiners is set to continue in an unfamiliar defensive role. ............

 

 

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; David

 

Pafos FC possible starting lineup:

Michael; Bruno, Luiz, Luckassen, Goldar; Sunjic, Pepe; Jaja, Dragomir, Orsic; Anderson

 

We say: Juventus 1-1 Pafos FC

Since reaching their last Champions League final in 2017, fallen giants Juventus have experienced some humbling moments in Europe, and they may be hit by another blow to their battered pride on Wednesday.

 

Not only are Pafos in fine recent form, but the Cypriot side have proven tough to beat in this league phase, conceding no goals on the road so far.

.

Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/champions-league/preview/juventus-vs-pafos-prediction-team-news-lineups_587391.html

[Socrates 9499]

Capello criticises Spalletti over Yildiz claims: ‘Hard to say’

 

 

Fabio Capello feels it’s ‘hard’ to ask more from Kenan Yildiz and says that even if Luciano Spalletti was trying to motivate the squad, he should have delivered his criticism behind closed doors. ............

 

“Spalletti has just arrived, he’s trying to do things, bring ideas and give the team more personality,” Capello said.

 

“In the match against Napoli, maybe he was a bit intimidated by Conte’s side and, knowing the strength of their midfield, he decided to play without a centre-forward. It didn’t work well.

 

“Napoli are a team with quality, and when they defend, they do it with a lot of men, with compactness and without leaving much space,” Capello continued.

 

“Spalletti is trying to find some solutions, and after three consecutive positive results, he wanted to pick up points. That’s how I see it. But you could see the difference between the two teams.” ............

 

“Yildiz is one of those players you have to leave free. Of course, he has to get back into possession when you lose the ball, but then he needs the license to invent things,” he said.

 

“Players with quality and creativity have to be allowed to express themselves. It wasn’t the right context, against such a sharp and determined team, which actually positively impressed me.

 

“The ball moves slowly and rarely vertically, that’s something not easy to fix because it’s been going on since last year. That means it’s a problem of players’ characteristics.

 

“The ball moves quickly when you have players with technique and vision, who aren’t afraid of trying a vertical pass. Thuram is a player who carries the ball, Locatelli sees the play, he could also play vertically, but perhaps there aren’t movements in that direction because his teammates prefer to receive the pass at their feet. The only one who asked for the ball in behind got injured, and that was Vlahovic.” ............

 

“I think that was something to be discussed internally when reviewing the match with the players; there was no need to say it to the media,” concluded the ex-coach.

 

“I think we all ask more of our players, but right now it’s hard to say that about Yildiz. He was probably trying to motivate them, but even sort of guilt trip towards Locatelli seemed a bit too much to me.” ............

.

Read more -> https://football-italia.net/capello-criticises-spalletti-over-yildiz-claims-hard-to-say/

[Socrates 9499]

Pafos sporting director sends a message to Juventus

 

 

Juventus face Pafos in the Champions League this week, and it would be unwise for them to underestimate the Cypriot club, a team that has grown rapidly in stature in recent years. Pafos strengthened their squad in the summer with the eye-catching signing of David Luiz, a move that surprised many and marked the club as a side willing to make bold decisions as they prepared for the league phase of the competition. Their rise to the forefront of Cypriot football has been driven by strategic planning and ambitious investment from their owners, who have prioritised long-term progress rather than short-term fixes. ............

 

Part of this evolution has involved significant changes behind the scenes. The appointment of former Udinese director Cristiano Giaretta has been central to their restructuring. He has overseen wide-ranging improvements that have shaped Pafos into a club capable of challenging established European sides. Under his guidance, they have become more organised, more ambitious and more confident, qualities that pose a potential threat to Juventus. The Bianconeri will enter the match knowing the importance of avoiding any complacency and will be aware that Pafos have already shown they can compete against strong opposition. ............

 

Giaretta expressed his optimism ahead of the meeting, highlighting the team’s resilience and European form. He said: “So far, only Bayern have managed to beat us. After the draw, I would have been content with the excitement of playing at the Allianz Stadium, but now we have a new goal: to get to the final matchday with Slavia Prague still in contention for the playoffs. It will be difficult because after Juventus we will face Chelsea, but it is no longer impossible.” ............

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pafos-sporting-director-sends-a-message-to-juventus/

[Socrates 9499]

Spalletti: ‘I did damage to Juventus, Kenan Yildiz like Kvaratskhelia’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti admits he ‘did damage’ to the Juventus players with bad choices against Napoli, compares Kenan Yildiz to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and warns Jonathan David ahead of the Pafos game.

 

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin on Wednesday at 20.00 GMT. ............

 

They are also feeling the pressure in the Champions League after just one win, three draws and a defeat. ............

 

“Pafos are a tough team, they have many Brazilian players in the squad who can play good football. They were only embarrassed by Bayern Munich, and had some top opponents in the tournament,” said Spalletti in his press conference.

 

“In physical terms, they are very rugged, eager to go into individual duels, they use their hands and push, so it’s going to be a battle for every ball.

 

“I was impressed with their organisation on set plays, as three of their goals were from dead ball situations, and the players supporting the striker are excellent.

 

“We must be wary of their counter-attacks, because they try to intimidate you, then if you break that first press, they sit very deep. We mustn’t lose cheap balls, make sure the preventative marking is all prepared to avoid dangerous situations.” ............

 

“The numbers are not what we want right now, both in terms of results and individuals. I have more experience of the players at my disposal now, and that is fundamental,” noted Spalletti.

 

“I saw that some things improved. We are not as good at keeping these things going regularly in a match situation, so we’ve got to do them more often.

 

“I saw some good moves from our forwards. It was a great goal that we scored at the weekend, so that means you’ve got it in your DNA. It is essential that we convince ourselves we can do it more often.” ............

 

“I have the same intentions and certainty as when I accepted the Juventus job. I see them improve in training, and the more I see these players, the more I get angry and am at the same time relaxed. They keep me on a rollercoaster, really.

 

“You see some things and believe at last, they’ve got it and will repeat it more often, but instead it gets cancelled out and we start from scratch.

 

“However, I will not change based on a result, I will keep trying to understand and explain for what will come in future.” ............

 

“I consider Thuram to be a top player who did well at the weekend, using his physicality in a slightly different way to usual. He needs to improve his running off the field, as it can create spaces for his teammates. He has some good moments and some less good, but it was not a bad performance against Napoli.” ............

 

“We await Bremer and Rugani with open arms, they will be on the bench tomorrow, I cannot say if they’ll play or not, as they have at most 10-15 minutes in their legs and we can’t over-do it. We’ll see what happens going forward and how they do.” ............

 

“Perhaps people misunderstood me, but I am convinced there is great potential within Yildiz that you have not yet seen, so I intended to say that. He is giving his all, and growing game by game, but his margin of improvement is incredible.

 

“It’s kind of the same things I said about Kvara when I first had to deal with him, saying he could become a super top player. If you were at all our training sessions, you’d realise what I mean about his potential and what we see.

 

“Just the goal he scored on Sunday was remarkable, running to the by-line and hooking it back from that angle with such delicacy. ............

 

“As for the strikers, I wanted to win the game! I wasn’t going to risk losing just to send a message! I chose that approach because I was convinced it was the right system for the game, but I didn’t get the result I wanted, and the responsibility is mine.

 

“The very first thing I said when analysing the match was that I didn’t put the team in the best condition to deliver. Those were my choices, I damaged you with them, is what I said. ............

 

“It was a painful lesson for me, so seeing as I should’ve predicted it wouldn’t work, I made it more difficult for them. In the second half, when we changed system, I saw a different energy and balance to the team. We had equalised and got the match on track, but then we conceded another goal and it all become more difficult.” ............

 

Spalletti had wanted the 4-3-3 when first coming to Juventus, so could he go back to that?

 

“Now I know the team a little better, although having all 22 players available in a training session is frankly rare with the fixture list so packed.

 

“We need to realise that football is moving away from these tactical system titles, as they vary in different moments. Almost all teams are aggressive, continually rotate positions and deform the old school systems, so it makes little difference. ............

 

“I too could do with 4-5 games in a row in charge of Real Madrid to show what a good coach I am. Is that what you think? It doesn’t work like that. If you go really strong for two weeks in training, I’ll give you 10 minutes on the pitch. The more consistent you are in training and the match, the more I give you regular time.

 

“It doesn’t work like that, players thinking they need 4-5 games in a row to prove themselves. You can’t just come to training one day well, one day less, and say you need 4-5 games. It doesn’t work like that.

 

“So if you write this all down and explain it to the players, you’re doing me a favour,” concluded Spalletti.

.

Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-did-damage-to-juventus-kenan-yildiz/

Modificato Martedì alle 21:22 da Socrates

[Socrates 9499]

Juventus vs Pafos FC: Preview and Prediction

 

 

 

Locked together on six points after five matchdays, Juventus and Pafos FC enter Wednesday’s Champions League clash knowing a defeat could prove fatal to their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds. The stakes are enormous: victory keeps the dream alive, while failure may leave either club outside the all-important top-24 playoff positions.

 

Juventus finally claimed their first Champions League win of the season last time out, edging Bodo/Glimt in dramatic fashion. A tense contest in northern Norway culminated in Jonathan David’s stoppage-time winner, rescuing the Bianconeri from a potentially disastrous result and moving them back inside the qualification zone.

 

Before that breakthrough, Juve had produced roller-coaster draws, 4-4 against Borussia Dortmund and 2-2 versus Villarreal, either side of defeat to Real Madrid and a 1-1 stalemate with Sporting Lisbon. Despite the turbulence surrounding the club in recent years, Juventus have maintained a strong European home record, losing only two of their last 11 continental fixtures in Turin.

 

With two more home games (against SL Benfica and AS Monaco) still to come, Wednesday’s meeting with Pafos represents a crucial opportunity to take control of their fate. However, Luciano Spalletti’s biggest concern is obvious: Juventus cannot keep the ball out of their net. They have conceded in all five Champions League matches this term, eight straight overall, at an average of two goals per game.

 

Their defensive vulnerability was on display again in Sunday’s Serie A showdown against Napoli, where despite a spirited second-half rally inspired by Kenan Yildiz, they suffered a 2-1 defeat that pushed them down to seventh in the league table. While Juventis arrive with pedigree and pressure, their Cypriot opponents Pafos FC travel with belief. ............

 

With both sides fighting to stay alive, and with Juventus under pressure to assert their superiority, Wednesday’s clash at the Allianz Stadium promises tension, urgency, and possibly another dramatic finish. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

Juventus

Juventus continue to grapple with a significant injury crisis, particularly in attack and central defence. Star striker Dusan Vlahovic has been ruled out until 2026, forcing Luciano Spalletti to improvise in the final third.

 

As a result, either Lois Openda or Canadian international Jonathan David is expected to lead the line on Wednesday, although Kenan Yildiz, who was deployed as a false nine against Napoli, remains an option. Yildiz’s home record is notable: seven of his eight Serie A goal involvements this season have come at the Allianz Stadium, highlighting his reliability in Turin.

 

The defensive situation is even more problematic. All three senior centre-backs, Federico Gatti, Daniele Rugani, and Bremer, are unavailable through injury. With no natural replacements at hand, Spalletti has again turned to Teun Koopmeiners, who will continue in an unfamiliar role on the right side of a makeshift back three. This patched-up defence increases the pressure on Juventus’s midfielders to protect the backline and control transitions.

 

Juventus are expected to line up in their familiar 3-4-2-1 system, albeit with several players operating outside their natural roles. In goal, Michele Di Gregorio returns as the first-choice goalkeeper. The back three consists of Pierre Kalulu on the right, Lloyd Kelly centrally, and Teun Koopmeiners on the left of defence.

 

Across midfield, Weston McKennie will operate at right wing-back, with Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram forming the central pairing, while Andrea Cambiaso fills the left wing-back role. In the two attacking midfield positions, Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz are expected to support Jonathan David, who leads the line as the lone striker.

 

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; David

Pafos FC

 ............

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Michail; Bruno, Luiz, Luckassen, Goldar; Sunjic, Pepe; Jaja, Dragomir, Orsic; Anderson

Key Stats

• Juventus have conceded in all five Champions League matches this season. The Bianconeri have allowed 10 goals, averaging two goals conceded per game.
• Pafos have lost only one of their 11 European fixtures this season. Across Champions League qualifiers and league-phase games, their only defeat came against Bayern Munich (5-1).
• Juventus are unbeaten in nine of their last 11 home games in European competition.
• Pafos scored in four of their last four Champions League matches.
• Kenan Yildiz has been directly involved in eight goals at home this season. All seven of his Serie A goal involvements and several strong UCL displays have come in Turin, making him Juventus’s most dangerous threat on home soil.

Player to Watch

Kenan Yildiz

Yildiz has rapidly become Juventus’s most influential attacking force under Luciano Spalletti, and Wednesday’s Champions League showdown offers another opportunity for the 18-year-old to assert his growing importance. Operating either as an attacking midfielder or as a fluid false nine, Yıldız brings a blend of close control, unpredictability, and fearlessness that Juventus desperately need in the final third, especially with Dusan Vlahovic sidelined.

 

At home, Yildiz has been nothing short of electric: all seven of his Serie A goal involvements this season have come at the Allianz Stadium, where he thrives in the familiar atmosphere and plays with visible confidence. His ability to drop between the lines, turn under pressure, and carry the ball directly at defenders makes him Juve’s primary creative spark.

 

Against a Pafos side that prefers compact defensive blocks, Yildiz’s tight-space dribbling and eye for incisive passes could prove decisive. With Jonathan David or Lois Openda expected to lead the line, the Turkish prodigy will have runners ahead of him, perfect for exploiting gaps in transition. If Juventus are to overcome their recent inconsistencies and secure a crucial three points, expect Yildiz to be at the centre of everything positive they produce.

Prediction

Juventus 2-0 Pafos FC

With both clubs level on points and desperate to avoid slipping out of the Champions League playoff positions, this clash carries enormous weight. However, Juventus enter the contest with clear advantages, superior individual quality, home-field momentum, and a far deeper well of big-match experience.

 

Pafos have shown admirable resilience throughout their debut European campaign, losing only once and drawing with AS Monaco in spirited fashion. But away from Cyprus, and especially against a side that dominates possession on home soil, the challenge becomes significantly steeper. Their defensive organisation keeps them competitive, but they concede too many chances under sustained pressure, something Juventus will be eager to exploit.

 

Luciano Spalletti’s men have defensive issues of their own, particularly with three centre-backs unavailable, yet Juve’s attacking options, Kenan Yildiz, Jonathan David, and the dynamic midfield pairing of Weston McKennie and Manuel Locatelli, should be enough to tilt the balance. The Bianconeri have also lost just two of their last 11 European home games, a record that strongly favours them in must-win situations.

 

Pafos may enjoy spells of stubborn resistance and could threaten on the counter, especially through Mislav Orsic and Jaja, but sustaining that for 90 minutes in Turin feels unlikely.

.

Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/12/09/juventus-vs-pafos-fc-preview-and-prediction/

[Socrates 9499]

Champions League Preview: Juventus vs. Pafos FC

 

 

When it comes to Juventus’ standing in the Champions League, there is not much of a difference in approach from Matchday 5 now onto Matchday 6. Just because they now have a win under their belt in Europe — which, again, is not necessarily you want to suddenly boast about in the first days of December — it won’t change the challenge that Luciano Spalletti’s squad still faces.

 

They knew the situation two weeks ago against Bodø/Glimt. And they certainly know it now.

 

It’s pretty much win or you’re going to make qualifying for the play-off round an incredibly tough possibility.

 

With three matchdays to go, Juve face a situation where they pretty much have to win every single one of them to be comfortable with their standing in the UCL league phase table. The first of those remaining three matchups comes Wednesday night, when one of the smallest clubs in the competition, Pafos FC of Cyprus, makes their way to Turin for a meeting of clubs who are both sitting on the cusp of either moving up a few more spots with a win or risk going into the final 180 minutes of the league phase teetering on the fence of qualifying for the play-off round or seeing an European run end next month. ............

 

After Tuesday night’s slate of games, this is how things look when it comes to the league phase table:

• 23rd place: Juventus — 6 points
• 24th place: Pafos — 6 points

Well, that’s not exactly a great situation to find yourself in — especially when you consider that the cutoff for the play-off round is, you guessed it, 24th place. (Ironically, the team to have just beaten Juventus over the weekend, Napoli, are sitting right above the Bianconeri in 22nd place. So, as you can imagine, things are going great in Europe for a couple of Italy’s biggest clubs. Then you have Atalanta in third and Inter Milan in fifth, so there’s also that.)

 

Juventus and Pafos have taken different paths to their total of six points. Juventus have had high-scoring draws before a comeback win on the frigid artificial turf in the Arctic Circle. Pafos, on the other hand, have played to a pair of scoreless draws in their first two away fixtures in the Champions League this season. ............

 

How much that good fortune continues for this club from Cyprus remains to be seen. But it’s a pretty simple fact that expecting Pafos to suddenly change what they’re doing against a Juventus side that has struggled to break down defensive approaches would probably be the wrong path to go down. This feels like the kind of matchup in which you know Juve will be the favorite, but also realize Spalletti’s squad will have to try and strike quick to avoid any late-game craziness at all costs.

 

That means a first half like Juventus showed in Naples just ain’t going to cut it. It really doesn’t matter if it’s against Pafos in the Champions League or even a relegation battler domestically, that kind of performance isn’t going to result in much of anything good happenings for Spalletti and Co. Heck, a first half like we saw against Bodø/Glimt won’t be good enough, either. (At least they figured it out for the most part in the second half, right?)

 

This will be Spalletti’s biggest test. Juve’s coming off a bad loss and needs to win in the Champions League. If the 12-point mark is what they need to hit to ensure that they are somewhere in the play-off round field, then a win over Pafos gives them a small room for error heading into the final two league phase fixtures. But anything less than a win against Pafos will make life even hard than it already is — and that’s the last thing this team needs during a time in which they still look like they’re trying to figure out what their new manager actually wants.

TEAM NEWS

• Dusan Vlahovic is out injured.
• Federico Gatti is out injured.
• HOWEVER … there was some good injury news to come out of Turin on Tuesday, with both Daniele Rugani and Gleison Bremer returning to training. Spalletti confirmed that both players will be called up to face Pafos, although both of them are almost certainly coming off the bench and nothing more than that.
• That means Juve’s starting defense will likely be the same trio it was over the weekend: Pierre Kalulu, Lloyd Kelly and Teun Koopmeiners.
• Spalletti also confirmed that Edon Zhegrova is set to make his first Juventus start on Wednesday night.
• Just what the domino effect of Zhegrova being in the starting lineup against Pafos remains to be seen. It could be as simple as him coming into the lineup for somebody like Francisco Conceição, or it could be a little more than just that. But considering how things went in the first half against Napoli over the weekend, Spalletti sticking with Kenan Yildiz as a false nine of sorts is probably extremely unlikely. ............
• • The last time Juventus faced a club from Cyprus was nearly half a century ago.
  • While they haven’t done a lot of winning at home in Europe of late, Juve also hasn’t lost much at the Allianz in continental competition, with just two losses in their last 11 fixtures in Turin.

  JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH

  Oh, you mean the guy who so many of us have wanted to see get more minutes is about to get more minutes? ............

   

  Edon Zhegrova is set to make his first start as a Juventus player on Wednesday night. It has maybe taken a little longer than some thought it would, but with the physical limitation he’s had since coming back from his lengthy injury absence, it’s a moment that will come a couple of weeks before Christmas.

   

  The question obviously becomes this: How much will Zhegrova be able to give Juventus in said first start? ............

   

  We just don’t know how many minutes Zhegrova will have in his legs. And for a team like Pafos that will almost certainly try and outlast Juventus rather than try and get on them quick — especially with the game being in Turin — just how long this first start will be remains a rather giant question mark no matter how exciting it might be to see him finally be included in the starting XI.

   

  To date, Zhegrova has played more than 25 minutes off the bench just twice with Juventus. The most minutes he’s played in a single game this season (28) has come with Kosovo rather than Juventus —and that was during the most recent international break. But since then, his three subsequent appearances with Juve have totaled all of about 25 minutes (plus some stoppage time thrown in). That’s not much, which makes you wonder where his legs are at physically more than anything else.

   

  He’s clearly not at 100% fitness yet. That’s obvious. It’s something that Igor Tudor said he didn’t want to push out of fear of seeing Zhegrova be forced to miss even more time than he already has. It’s something that you feel like Spalletti has continued to closely monitor since he became manager in late October, too.

   

  But, for now, getting a little more Zhegrova in our lives feels like the kind of spark Juventus need to try and get more of these days. It can’t always be Yildiz being the only threat in attack, and you know Zhegrova is going to be happy to take on the role of guy who also tries to destroy the opposing defense as much as he can.

  MATCH INFO

  When: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

  Where: Juventus Stadium Turin, Italy.

  Official kickoff time: 9 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe, 8 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 3 p.m. Eastern time, 2 p.m. Central time, 12 p.m. Pacific time.

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/34472/juventus-pafos-fc-2025-champions-league-league-phase-matchday-6-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

 

Modificato 14 ore fa da Socrates

[Socrates 9499]

[Socrates 9499]

Champions League: Juventus vs. Pafos – Probable line-ups

 

 

Edon Zhegrova is set to earn his full Juventus debut against Pafos in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, as Luciano Spalletti continues life without Dusan Vlahovic in attack. ............

 

Over in the Champions League, Juventus and Pafos sit level on points (six) after five matches, with the Bianconeri currently sitting in 23rd place ahead of kick-off and tonight’s opponents in 24th. ............

 

Jonathan David could come back into the starting line-up after being left out against Napoli, with Kenan Yildiz also in line to start. Pre-match reports suggest that Zhegrova could be given his full Bianconeri debut on the right flank, instead of Francisco Conceicao or Lois Openda.

 

This could also be an opportunity for the recently re-emerged Fabio Miretti to start in Central midfield.

 

Kick-off is due at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

 

Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Miretti, Cambiaso; Zhegrova, Yildiz; David.

Pafos (4-2-3-1): Michail; Bruno, Luckassen, David Luiz, Goldar; Sunjic, Pepe; Correia, Dragomir, Orsic; Anderson Silva. ............

.

Read more -> https://football-italia.net/ucl-juventus-vs-pafos-probable-line-ups/

[Socrates 9499]

Juventus vs Pafos – David Luiz labels Yildiz a ‘phenomenon’ and reveals Spalletti connection

 

 

David Luiz says Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is a “phenomenon” as the veteran defender prepares to face the Bianconeri with Cypriot side Pafos in the Champions League. ............

 

The Brazilian singled out Yildiz as the Juventus player who has impressed him most this season.

 

“Yildiz is a phenomenon. He has an incredible style, I love watching him.” ............

 

David Luiz revealed he has known Spalletti “for a long time”, praising the Italy coach’s obsessive attention to detail and tactical preparation.

 

“I know how much he loves football. He works tirelessly, spending hours studying opponents. He always looks for a plan to win inside the game.” ............

 

The defender insisted Pafos will not approach the match at the Allianz Stadium with a passive attitude, despite the gulf between the sides.

 

“We know our level, but we won’t go to Turin just to defend. Juventus are a great team, but it won’t be easy to beat us if we stay united, solid and brave.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-vs-pafos-david-luiz-labels-yildiz/

 

Modificato 12 ore fa da Socrates

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