JUVENTUS SEASON 2025-2026

[Socrates 9655]

[Socrates 9655]

[Socrates 9655]

Serie A | Cagliari 1-0 Juventus: Spalletti shocked in Sardinia

 

 

Juventus suffered a shock defeat in Cagliari, surprised by the Luca Mazzitelli volley on a set play routine, for only the second loss under Luciano Spalletti.

 

The Bianconeri were on sparkling form after winning six of their last seven Serie A games including a 5-0 demolition of Cremonese. ............

 

The referee pointed to the spot on 15 minutes when Fabio Miretti went down in a coming together with Luca Mazzitelli, but changed his mind following the VAR review, as the Cagliari player had his foot in front and was kicked by the Juventus midfielder.

 

Miretti also attempted a lob from midfield, and forced a save from Elia Caprile on the Jonathan David lay-off, but Kenan Yildiz was booked for simulation after going down in the vicinity of Ze Pedro. ............

 

Caprile flew to palm an Andrea Cambiaso curler round the upright from the edge of the area, while Yildiz rode past three tackles to bend his finish just over the crossbar.

 

Miretti’s half-volley also prompted a one-handed Caprile save, but the ball had already gone out of play on the cross.

 

Instead, Cagliari scored completely against the run of play. It was an intelligent set play routine, as Gianluca Gaetano took the free kick low to find Luca Mazzitelli, who had peeled away from Pierre Kalulu ready to volley into the near bottom corner from 15 yards. ............

 

When the goalkeeper was beaten, he was rescued by the frame of the goal, as the Yildiz strike took a big deflection off Mina to thump the base of the upright.

 

The Bianconeri tried to the very end, but struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities.

 

Cagliari 1-0 Juventus

Mazzitelli 65 (C)

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-cagliari-1-0-juventus-spalletti-shock/

 

Modificato Sabato alle 22:57 da Socrates

[Socrates 9655]

Juventus fall to Cagliari despite dominating the game

 

 

Cagliari secured a narrow victory over Juventus with a single goal when both sides met this evening, in a result that the visitors may come to regret. Given that Cagliari had failed to win any of their previous three matches, this was widely seen as a fixture that Juventus were expected to win.

 

Juventus arrived in strong form and began the match with confidence, reflecting the momentum they have built over recent weeks. ............

 

As the game developed, it became clear that Cagliari would not be easy to break down. Juventus soon realised they would need to raise their level significantly to find a breakthrough. The home side remained compact and disciplined, forcing Juventus into difficult areas and limiting clear chances.

 

Aside from a penalty appeal that was reviewed but not awarded by VAR, Juventus struggled to create meaningful opportunities in the first half. There was a sense that they needed greater sharpness after the break, but the pattern of the game continued to frustrate them. ............

 

Just after the hour mark, Cagliari delivered the decisive moment. Luca Mazzitelli found the net to give the hosts the lead, stunning Juventus and shifting the momentum of the match. The goal demanded an immediate response from the Bianconeri, who pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

 

Juventus increased the pressure and committed more players forward, but Cagliari defended resolutely. The hosts put everything on the line to protect their slender advantage, surviving wave after wave of attacks. Time began to run out for Juventus, and frustration grew as chances failed to materialise. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-fall-to-cagliari-despite-dominating-the-game/

[Socrates 9655]

Player ratings: Cagliari 1-0 Juventus – Defensive resilience denies Bianconeri

 

 

Cagliari held firm to pick up a hard-fought 1-0 victory at home against Juventus, and have Luca Mazzitelli and their defensive unit to thank for the three points at the Unipol Domus on Saturday evening.

 

A single goal from Mazzitelli from a set-piece was enough for Cagliari to hold onto against the Bianconeri, who dominated in most statistics and had a penalty decision overturned during the first-half. ............

 

Cagliari: Caprile 6.5; Ze Pedro 6.5, Mina 6.5, Luperto 6.5; Palestra 6.5, Gaetano 6.5, Adopo 6, Mazzitelli 7, Obert 6; Kilicsoy 5 (Borrelli 6), S Esposito 5 (Idrissi 6).

 

Best Cagliari player: Luca Mazzitelli 7 –  ............

 

Coach: Fabio Pisacane 7 –  ............

 

Juventus: Perin 6; Kalulu 5.5, Bremer 6, Kelly 6, Cambiaso 5.5 (Conceicao 6); Locatelli 6 (Zhegrova 5), Koopmeiners 5; McKennie 5.5 (Thuram 6), Miretti 6 (Openda 5.5), Yildiz 6.5 (Adzic n/a); David 5.

 

Best Juventus player: Kenan Yildiz 6.5 – Another performance with glimpses of real quality from the Bianconeri gem, even if things didn’t end up falling for him or his teammates in the final third. He has the ability to take it past opponents in tight spaces and rustle up threatening shots out of nowhere. Eight completed dribbles for him tonight: No other player on the pitch completed more than one.

 

Coach: Luciano Spalletti – Juventus just couldn’t break down the Cagliari block. They spent most of the match in the opposition half, had a whopping 77.9% of possession, enjoyed a pass accuracy above 90%, but crucially, of their 17 shots, only four ended up on target. Frustrating to say the least.

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

[Socrates 9655]

Spalletti: ‘Juventus players must keep their roles, Cagliari sniffed an opportunity’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti said Juventus must ‘tip our hats’ to Cagliari following a 1-0 defeat, but also criticised his players for wandering out of their roles in a frenetic fightback.

 

The coach had suffered only one defeat in all competition since taking charge of the Old Lady, but after winning six of the last seven Serie A games, this was an entirely unexpected result.

 

They dominated possession in Sardinia, wasting scoring opportunities and punished by a set-play routine, Luca Mazzitelli volleying in the Gianluca Gaetano free kick with his back to goal.

 

Incredibly, Cagliari won with an xG of 0.16 compared to Juve’s 1.28. ............

 

“Cagliari deserved it, because they fought for every ball, closed up and tried to go on the counter. We were unable to be determined enough in preparing the situations, there are games that go like this, we move on,” Spalletti said.

 

“The substitutes got swept up in the frantic nature of the game. Zhegrova and Conceicao dropped back to get the ball in midfield rather than stay up there, so got too far away from the ‘hot’ areas of the pitch.

 

“Kalulu and Kelly then started pushing up the flanks, but no, they are defenders and needed to be defending. We can complain about that, players need to stay in their roles, but in general we played our game, suffocated every attempt at a counter-attack. It was destined to go like this, there’s no point crying over spilt milk. ............

 

“Yildiz was unlucky on two or three situations. I saw some moments where the ball had a different spin on it, bounced slightly harder than expected, it’s down to those tiny details in the end,” continued Spalletti.

 

“These things happen, you tip your hat to your opponents, who brought home a victory that perhaps they didn’t deserve, but sniffed out the opportunity and took it. Maybe next time we can learn from that and sniff out our chance too.”

 

It had been such a big opportunity for Juventus to put themselves in the Scudetto race, knowing they are set to face Champions of Italy Napoli next weekend.

 

Instead, they risk falling further behind the top four, especially if Roma get a result away to Torino tomorrow, and are now 10 points adrift of leaders Inter. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-juventus-players-must-keep-the-roles/

[Socrates 9655]

Juventus make unwanted Serie A history losing with 78 per cent possession

 

 

Juventus have made Serie A history by becoming the first team to lose a game with 78 per cent possession since the data has been collected in 2004.

 

The quite extraordinary statistic was presented by Opta following this evening’s 1-0 defeat to Cagliari at the Unipol Domus stadium.

 

The Bianconeri dominated the match, having 20 shots on goal to just three, 18 corners to one, and with an xG of 1.17 compared to just 0.2 for the Sardinians. ............

 

Nobody else had managed such an achievement since Opta began gathering data on Serie A matches in the 2004-05 campaign. ............

 

Cagliari won with the Luca Mazzitelli volley, which represented their only shot on target, whereas Juve failed to convert any of their five. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-make-unwanted-serie-a-history-losing/

[Socrates 9655]

Cagliari 1 - Juventus 0: Initial reaction and random observations

 

 

“Tonight is one of those classic fixtures that can be a trap,” Chiellini told Sky Italia.

 

Consider the trap having been fully fell into. It was just one of those nights — one of those just head-shaking kinds of nights.

 

Chiellini proved to be right on the money. The man knows ball! But you probably knew that already. Juventus, despite what felt like 95% possession — hell, it wasn’t that far off in actuality — and so many waves of attacking movements that made the Attack Momentum meter on Sofascore look like one-way traffic, coughed up three points against the 16th-place team in Serie A. You combine Juve’s complete inability to score on Saturday night and one Luca Mazzitelli half-volley completely out of nowhere and you get Cagliari picking up just their second win over Juventus in the last decade and a half with a 1-0 victory at the Unipol Domus in Sardinia. ............

 

Three points dropped. Three valuable points.

 

The loss means that Napoli — who beat Sassuolo 1-0 earlier in the day on Saturday — will come to Turin next weekend with a four-point edge over Juventus. It also means that Roma can jump back into fourth place if they are to get any sort of positive result against Torino on Sunday. Not exactly ideal no matter how you put it — especially when you consider the fact that Cagliari had been in a rough run of form over the last two months since Juventus played them last.

 

Except, Cagliari did exactly what they sought out to do. Juventus huffed and puffed and completely failed to blow the house down. Spalletti’s squad had 18 corners! EIGHTEEN! But the thing was, that Juve continue to be so ineffective from set pieces that having that many corners just seem to be mostly a waste of time and energy.

 

Did Cagliari defend well? Yes, of course. It’s not like Juve were dealing with the wide-open spaces that they were seeing when they steamrolled past Cremonese five days earlier.

 

But, at the same time, Saturday night’s struggles put a magnifying glass back on what this team still struggles to do in the final third. Whether it’s the lack of execution, the lack of variance, the lack of somebody opposite Kenan Yildiz who can consistently be a threat to break down an opposing defense or just the lack of a big and physical striker who can hurt you with the ball at his feet and in the air. ............

 

The trap game happened. They’re almost impossible to avoid — especially so when you know damn well what’s right around the corner on the schedule in a few days. It’s just about preventing them as much as you can no matter how much somebody like Chiellini or Spalletti continues to warn you about them.

 

Juventus didn’t do that on Saturday night. And they handed Cagliari one of their only wins in the last three months because of it.

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Juventus primavera won on Saturday. Juventus Next Gen won on Saturday. Juventus senior team … I guess I will just stop there because we know what hapened.
• Give Jean-Philippe Mateta and give him to me now. A striker who can do something in the air wold be really nice considering how useless all those crosses Juventus sent in against Cagliari and how they resulted in absolutely nothing.
• Juventus sending in 1,000 crosses against Cagliari and Filip Kostic didn’t even touch the field. Amazing.
• Sending in a ton of crosses to two strikers who aren’t all that great in the air. Seems like a mistake.
• Then again, with things so packed because Cagliari defended the middle of the field so well — yes, you’re allowed to say the opponent did something positive, it’s OK —
• Fabio Pisacane was in the squad the last time Cagliari beat Juventus, huh? Well he certainly looks good for somebody who’s almost 40 years old, that’s for sure. (Although guessing a relegation battle will wear on him a little bit however much longer he’s in a job with the club he play for until 2021.) ............
• I feel safe in saying that Elia Caprile is a very good goalkeeper and he probably won’t be playing at Cagliari next season. Dude is 24, only getting better and should be playing for a much bigger club in Serie A.
• A couple of those saves that Caprile made, especially the ones against Fabio Miretti and then Yildiz in the second half that skipped off the wet turf or a Cagliari player (or both), were just fantastic reflex stops. Guy is good.
• I can already feel it now. All of the good things said about Jonathan David the last couple of games just flying out the window like you’re in an airplane that is 30,000 feet above the ground. The funny thing is, it’s not like he was the sole reason why Juventus lost. Did he play well? No, but the swing from “He’s improving!” to “He’s back to being crap!” is wholeheartedly predictable.
• Eighteen corners. Twenty-one shots. An xG of just 1.32. That ain’t gonna cut it, man. ............
• Juventus’ defense on that free kick, though? Yeah, kinda sleepy.
• OK, so on the third or fourth look I guess I agree that it wasn’t a penalty on Miretti. In the moment, though, well that’s a completely different kind of reaction. I thought that was 100% a penalty at first.
• Speaking of 100% that was basically how much possession Juve had in the final 20-25 minutes.
• There’s throwing the kitchen sink at an opponent chasing the lead. Then there’s Luciano Spalletti out here and basically throwing on every single available attacking player for a good chunk of the second half against Cagliari. If only it had resulted in a goal or two, right? ............
• That Locatelli and Teun Koopmeiners double pivot just ain’t it. Just not working at all. ............
• It is rather unfortunate that two of Juventus’ most frustrating performances over the last two months have come against two of the worst teams in Serie A.
• Our guy Kenan looks tired.
• This would have been a great chance to get Kenan some rest ahead of the Champions League returning. Instead, there he is in the 03rd minute trying to will this team to a point after a disappointing performance. ............

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/35539/cagliari-juventus-2026-serie-a-matchday-21-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 9655]

Juventus player ratings vs Cagliari: One-man Yildiz show not enough in Sardinia

 

 

Juventus suffered their first loss of 2026 after failing to find the back of the net against their hosts Cagliari, who won the contest thanks to a single shot on target.

 

The Isolani adopted a low block and managed to absorb the visitors’ pressure before stunning them with a superb volley from Luca Mazzitelli that was worth three valuable points. ............

Juventus XI (4-2-3-1)

Mattia Perin – 5.5

Although the goal wasn’t necessarily his fault, as he didn’t have a good vision of the ball, this was Cagliari’s only shot on target.

Pierre Kalulu – 5.5

The Frenchman was slow to react to Mazzitelli’s movement on the goal. Didn’t provide much in the attacking phase.

Gleison Bremer – 6

 ............

Lloyd Kelly – 6

 ............

Andrea Cambiaso – 6

A mixed bag from the full-back, who made some important interventions at the back, but was also wasteful in possession at times.

Manuel Locatelli – 6

 ............

Teun Koopmeiners – 6

The Dutchman ran more than any other player on the pitch, but like Locatelli, didn’t provide the quality touch when in possession.

Weston McKennie – 5.5

 ............

Fabio Miretti – 6

It wasn’t a bad display from the young midfielder, who tested Elia Caprile on a few occasions, but it was still a slight step back compared to his previous outings.

Kenan Yildiz – 7

The Turkish star had a relatively quiet first half, considering his standards, but was almost unplayable after the break, dribbling past his markers almost at will. He only lacked the final touch, and perhaps some quality from those around him.

Jonathan David – 5

The Canadian’s two-match scoring run came to an end after failing to cause harm for Cagliari inside the box. He was at times bullied off the ball by the nasty Yerry Mina.

Substitutes

Edon Zhegrova – 5.5

The Kosovar found little success with his crosses and dribbles.

Lois Openda – 5

 ............

Khephren Thuram – N/A

Francisco Conceicao – N/A

Vasilije Adzic – N/A

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-cagliari-one-man-yildiz-show-not-enough-in-sardinia/

[Socrates 9655]

“That’s not right” – Spalletti wasn’t pleased with four Juventus players after Cagliari defeat

 

 

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti felt the team was unlucky against Cagliari, but he still wasn’t happy with the individual performances of some of his players. ............

 

After the contest, Spalletti admitted that Cagliari deserved to win considering all the effort they put in throughout the match, especially in the defensive phase.

 

“I can explain why Cagliari deserved it, because they fought for every ball, defended well and tried to break forward effectively,” said the 66-year-old in his post-match interview. ............

 

The Juventus manager brought in tricky wingers Edon Zhegrova and Francisco Conceicao in the second half, but neither was able to make the difference. The Tuscan thus criticised the duo’s displays, especially with their positioning.

 

“Even though they have the characteristics to operate in that kind of congestion, they get dragged into the frenzy and lose clarity.

 

“Conceicao was dropping back to play as a holding midfielder, Zhegrova was drifting away from the danger area, forcing Kalulu and Kelly to cover the flanks. That’s not right. They have to stay in dangerous zones and make the difference.” ............

 

“We played the game, kept the tempo high and suffocated every one of their attempts. It was just meant to go this way. Everyone has their head in their hands, but we did what the match required. We need to be better at exploiting a few more moments, like the free kick awarded for the goal.

 

“They were also a bit fortunate, but in football, these episodes go for you or against you. Maybe next time they’ll fall our way. We have to be sharp.

 

“Yildiz was then unlucky two or three times. I saw four or five moments where the ball just broke the wrong way. It becomes hard to criticise the players. Like the shot against Lecce: it hits the post, crosses the line and comes back to the goalkeeper.

 

“These things happen. You congratulate the opponents even if they probably didn’t deserve it. Let’s focus on adding something extra in the next match.” ............

 

Spalletti was then asked about Jonathan David and Lois Openda, who failed to inflict the damage inside the box.

 

“What did they lack? Certainly pace,” said the Juventus manager in his post-match press conference.

 

“With more pace, they would have carved out more space to shoot and create more.” ............

 

“Yildiz always shows the same level of quality. He did well and produced a very good performance, despite not being 100 per cent because of the flu.”

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/luciano-spalletti-four-juventus-players-cagliari-defeat/

[Socrates 9655]

Effective playing time in Cagliari vs. Juventus sparks Spalletti’s protest

 

 

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti complained about Cagliari wasting time during the Bianconeri’s 1-0 loss in Sardinia, with the effective playing time in the game barely exceeding 52 minutes. ............

 

Juventus coach Spalletti was unhappy with the attitude of Cagliari players in their Serie A encounter at the Unipol Domus on Saturday.

 

The Bianconeri dominated proceedings and had the best chances against the Rossoblu, but lost their second game under Spalletti due to a Luca Mazzitelli goal in the second half. ............

 

“[Referee] Massa tried to give more minutes of added time, but people started falling to the ground, and it’s something that has to be fixed,” Spalletti said.

 

“One has to play football and not waste time on every throw-in. That’s how five or six minutes passed by.

 

“They don’t want to play with actual playing time, but these things will only continue to grow.

 

“Massa actually added even more time because of stoppages, but it has to do with resting and slowing the pace of the match, taking whatever breaks you want to regain your composure,” concluded the Juventus coach.

 

“Ten players were constantly throwing themselves on the ground. Something needs to be done about it. First it’s a cramp, then a contact, then a kick that never even happened.” ............

 

As reported by Opta, out of the 98 minutes in the game, the effective playing time was just above 52 minutes. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/effective-playing-time-juventus-spalletti/

[Socrates 9655]

Juventus expected to make three changes to starting lineup against Benfica

 

 

Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti will tweak his starting lineup when hosting Benfica on Wednesday evening.

 

The Bianconeri failed to win any of their first four Champions League contests this season, but bounced back by beating Bodo/Glimt and Pafos in their last two outings. ............

 

Spalletti will be ready to ring the changes by reintroducing three regular starters back in the starting lineup.

 

After an underwhelming display this weekend, Mattia Perin will make way for Michele Di Gregorio. ............

 

Moreover, Khephren Thuram should resume his duties in the middle of the park. The Frenchman has seldom been rested this season, so he will naturally regain his automatic starting spot alongside his captain, Manuel Locatelli, dropping Teun Koopmeiners to the bench. ............

 

The third change could take place in attack, with Francisco Conceicao returning to the lineup after recovering from a slight knock. The Sporting Club youth product earned a brief cameo against Cagliari, and will be looking to prove his fitness ahead of his personal Derby against Benfica.

 

If the Portuguese winger gets the nod, Fabio Miretti would likely be relegated to the bench. ............

 

Juventus expected XI (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; David

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-expected-to-make-three-changes-to-starting-lineup-against-benfica/

[Socrates 9655]

Spalletti could drop Yildiz in Juventus vs Benfica clash

 

 

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti could unleash a surprising starting lineup against Benfica on Wednesday by dropping Kenan Yildiz to the bench.

 

The Bianconeri are currently preparing to host Jose Mourinho’s men in the penultimate matchday of the Champions League group stage. ............

 

The 66-year-old already made a partial rotation over the weekend against Cagliari, when he dropped Michele Di Gregorio and Khephren Thuram to the bench.

 

While many would argue that this decision backfired, with the Sardinians pulling off a shocking upset, Spalletti was overall pleased with the team’s dominant display. ............

 

Moreover, the Juventus manager is also taking into account the big Serie A showdown against Napoli on Sunday.

 

Therefore, Yildiz could start on the bench against Benfica, before returning to the starting lineup at the weekend for the battle against the Italian champions.

 

If the Turkish star doesn’t get the nod in midweek, Francisco Conceicao is the favourite to join Weston McKennie and Fabio Miretti, who would act as Jonathan David’s support crew in the 4-2-3-1 formation, while Thuram reconnects with Manuel Locatelli in the double pivot. ............

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

[Socrates 9655]

Napoli confirm two new injury blows as key duo set to miss Juventus clash

 

 

Napoli have been dealt two new injury blows, as Amir Rrahmani and Matteo Politano have been ruled out of the Juventus showdown. ............

 

Unfortunately for Conte, his long-time lieutenant Romelu Lukaku has been out of action since August, while his Belgian compatriot Kevin De Bruyne followed him to the treatment table in late October after suffering a high-grade tear.

 

Moreover, Alex Meret, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour have also been ruled out for several months, while others also had stints on the sidelines during the first half of the season.

 

Napoli can now add another two names to the injury list, as Rrahmani and Politano have sustained knocks during the club’s 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Saturday. ............

 

While the statement didn’t provide a timetable for their recoveries, Rramhani and Politano are certain to miss Tuesday’s Champions League contest against Copenhagen, as well as Sunday’s Serie A showdown against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, and the following European clash versus Chelsea next Wednesday. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/napoli-amir-rrahmani-matteo-politano-juventus-clash/

[Socrates 9655]

Preview: Juventus vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups

 

 

Juventus welcome Benfica to Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, aiming to secure a third Champions League victory in a row for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

 

However, Luciano Spalletti's team head into the penultimate fixture of the competition's league phase fresh off a shock Serie A defeat to struggling Cagliari, and also aware of their historical disadvantage in this fixture: the Old Lady have lost the last three meetings and seven of nine overall.

---

Match preview

It was meant to be business as usual for Juventus when Cagliari visited on Saturday, only for the Old Lady to fall to their first defeat against the Sardinians in almost six years.

 

The defeat, Spalletti's second in charge of the Turin giants, all but kills any outside chance they had of winning the Scudetto, with the Bianconeri now 10 points off the top in fifth.

 

Now aiming to bounce back in Europe after a seven-match unbeaten run, during which they won six, the experienced manager bids to secure an important victory to boost the Italian club's prospects of progressing automatically to the knockout rounds.

 

While the Old Lady enter the seventh matchday in 17th place on nine points — which guarantees a spot in the knockout phase playoffs — they have no reason not to desire more, given that Atletico Madrid in eighth are only three points ahead.

 

A positive ending to the league phase, however, is contingent on the two-time European champions winning on matchdays seven and eight and needing results in other games to go in their favour to seal an automatic spot in the competition's round of 16. ............

 

Juventus Champions League form:

• D
• D
• L
• D
• W
• W

Juventus form (all competitions):

• W
• W
• D
• W
• W
• L

Benfica Champions League form:

• L
• L
• L
• L
• W
• W

Benfica form (all competitions):

• W
• D
• W
• L
• L
• W

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Team News

With Spalletti's men not sustaining new injuries before the penultimate matchday, Daniele Rugani (calf) and Dusan Vlahovic (thigh) are the only absentees.

 

While the Old Lady have no players missing through suspension, Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal would miss next week's visit to Monaco if booked on Wednesday.

 

Without Vlahovic's three goals, the Bianconeri will rely on Jonathan David and Weston McKennie (both on two goals) to carry the can against the Eagles.

 

Kenan Yildiz has assisted in consecutive matchdays, bringing him to four overall in the competition, and the sensation could add to his overall goal contributions on matchday seven. ............

 

Juventus possible starting lineup:

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

 

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Trubin; Dedic, Otamendi, Araujo, Dahl; Barreiro, Aursnes; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

 

We say: Juventus 2-1 Benfica

The Old Lady will be desperate to prove that the shock Serie A loss at Cagliari was merely a temporary lapse.  

 

Despite Benfica's historical edge in this fixture, and Mourinho leading Spalletti 3-2 in their eight previous meetings (two draws), the Turin hosts are backed to finally turn the narrative in their favour by securing a narrow victory over the Portuguese giants.

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Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/champions-league/preview/juventus-vs-benfica-prediction-team-news-lineups_590224.html

[Socrates 9655]

Spalletti: ‘Juventus are strong, always expect something different from Mourinho’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti believes that Juventus are a ‘strong’ Champions League outfit, has discussed his future with the Bianconeri and has explained what to expect from Jose Mourinho and Benfica when they go head-to-head at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night.

 

Juventus are in 17th place in the Champions League table ahead of kick-off, with nine points to their name from their first six matches of 2025-26. Benfica are in 26th with six points, and need to make up ground if they are to qualify for the knock-out rounds. ............

 

“When you play against a team like Benfica, you’re not just playing any old team, but a piece of footballing history, an identity. Portuguese teams suck you into their rhythm and often it’s too late to realise it. I expect the players to be ready and to be able to express themselves with their own qualities.”

 

Spalletti was asked about his relationship with Mourinho, to which he replied: “When we first spoke at the start he’d say more than me, he always wins in that respect.

 

“We respect each other, appreciate one another and have spoken on the phone. It will be a pleasure to face him. The volume is always turned up a notch when Mourinho is involved, and for me, to be in the other dugout will be a source of pride.

 

“You always expect something different with Mourinho. It’s a direct clash and I expect Benfica to be aggressive. They will come to play the game. I’m convinced it will be a good game.” ............

 

“I expect to see the same things I see every day, they enjoy developing in training and I enjoy watching them.

 

“Portuguese teams are all quite similar, Sporting has something similar to Benfica and if you don’t make the right decisions, you risk being trapped and the game will resemble the one against Sporting.

 

“We are strong and we have a precise idea of how to play the game. The spotlight is more intense in Champions League matches and we hope to be worthy of that spotlight.”

 

And when asked what Benfica’s strengths are, Spalletti said: “It’s a team that can play against anyone. I have to use all my focus on what my team has to do. Their qualities involve keeping the ball on the ground and keeping a very high tempo. Portuguese football is one that everyone has always liked, because you have to make the ball travel as quickly as possible.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-juventus-strong-expect-different-mou/

[Socrates 9655]

Thuram: ‘Juventus changed me a lot, we are a strong team that creates chances’

 

 

Khephren Thuram has explained how moving to Juventus changed him as a player and as a person, has emphasized the importance of Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Benfica, but believes that it is too soon to start thinking about a potential World Cup appearance with France this summer. ............

 

“It’s an important game, and at Juventus, you always play to win. Tomorrow’s game is very important for me,” Thuram told the press when asked about Wednesday’s game against Benfica.

 

Thuram was also asked if his way of playing has had to change since the appointment of Spalletti as head coach, to which he replied: “My way of playing has changed a bit. The coach and staff are helping me understand that I can score goals and be an important player for the team.”

 

“It’s changed me a lot. Before coming to Juve, I was a lot younger, I came to train and didn’t think about much else. Now I realise that every day is important, every video, every moment, everything you do in your day-to-day life to help you become stronger. It’s a different way of life, giving everything to become stronger.” ............

 

He said: “I saw from the bench that we are a strong team that creates a lot of chances. After every game, we always think about the next one.”

 

“I try not to think about the World Cup too much. What you do now is more important. It’s important to grow as a player and with this team, win more games, then the national team will see.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thuram-juventus-changed-me-a-lot/

[Socrates 9655]

Juventus vs SL Benfica: Preview and Prediction

 

 

The playoff berth is a guarantee for Juventus if they can defeat upcoming opponents Benfica in Turin, but there are chances of a late collapse, too. The Bianconeri sit in 17th with nine points on board, although they are only two points off 24th-placed Napoli in the UEFA Champions League standings.

 

However, they are also three points behind eighth-placed Atletico Madrid, so anything seems to be possible in the final two games of the group phase. Juventus enter this clash fresh off a shock defeat to Serie A strugglers Cagliari, and now they are set to host Benfica, against whom their previous results do not show confidence.

 

The Italian giants have lost seven of their last nine games against Benfica, including defeats in the three most recent clashes, which will be a worrying stat for Luciano Spalletti to improve on Wednesday. The main aim is to consolidate a playoff berth, but if there is an opportunity, depending on the results of some of the teams in or around the top eight, then Juventus will certainly aim to finish in those automatic places.

 

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho returns to Italy with a four-game unbeaten sequence against Italian sides, which includes a win over Napoli earlier in the season in the UEFA Champions League. ............

Team News & Tactics

Juventus

Luciano Spalletti is set to be without Dusan Vlahovic and Daniele Rugani for this clash with SL Benfica. The former has been an important player for Juventus in the group phases, and they would have been somewhere else in the standings without the Serbian striker’s three goals so far.

 

However, Spalletti will rely on one of Jonathan David and Lois Openda to produce the goals up front, while Kenan Yildiz is certainly someone he will rely upon heavily. Spalletti will keep hold of a back four as his preferred shape, especially now that key man Gleison Bremer has returned from a long layoff and has been putting in key performances.

 

Lloyd Kelly could be preferred to start alongside the Brazilian, with Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso in the full-back roles. Manuel Locatelli and Kephren Thuram will assume the midfield roles, with Weston McKennie maybe preferred to operate further forward in more of an attacking midfield role. David might get the nod over Openda to lead the line with Yildiz and Francesco Conceicao in the wide areas.

 

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

SL Benfica

 ............

 

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Otamendi, Silva, Dahl; Barrenechea, Barreiro; Aursnes, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Key Stats

• Juventus have recorded only one victory over Benfica in nine meetings.
• Juventus have lost their last three games against Benfica.
• Jose Mourinho is on a four-game unbeaten run against Italian sides.
• Having failed to win any of their first four UEFA Champions League games this season (D3 L1), Juventus have now won their last two. They last won more consecutively between March and November 2021 (5).
• Benfica have won their last two UEFA Champions League games (both 2-0), having lost six in a row before this. They last won three consecutive European Cup games without conceding in the 1989/90 campaign (5).

Player to Watch

Kenan Yildiz

Luciano Spalletti has improved this Juventus side drastically, and certainly the game of one Yildiz, although the manager will want the Turkish star to take another big step forward. He has four goal contributions in the competition for Juventus, and certainly the biggest threat for Benfica to worry about.

 

With Juventus’s forwards misfiring this season, and their top scorer Dusan Vlahovic missing from action, the onus is on other stars, particularly Yildiz in this case. Hence, the fans and the manager will rely heavily on the Turkish wonderkid to put in a solid performance and get the team into the next round.

Prediction

Juventus 2-1 SL Benfica

Benfica have got their act together since the arrival of Jose Mourinho, especially at the back, where they have found a newfound defensive stability. That alone will give Benfica some hope of getting a positive result out of Turin, but their opponents are in a better vein of form.

 

Juventus under Luciano Spalletti are much more improved, and are in the kind of form that could see them see through this goal. While there is the element of improving their overall dreadful record against Benfica, the Bianconeri are likely to take three points in this clash in Turin.

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Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2026/01/21/juventus-vs-sl-benfica-preview-and-prediction-2/

[Socrates 9655]

Champions League Preview: Juventus vs. Benfica

 

 

It was nearly a year ago when Juventus and Benfica met on the final day of the new-look Champions League league phase, with a whole lot of people having one screen fixed on the game in front of them and another on the live table with everybody playing at the same time. Juve needed a win to get a much more favorable draw in the play-off round — which, as we all remember, didn’t happen and the European run came to an end shortly therafter.

 

While Wednesday night doesn’t mark the end of the league phase just yet, a familiar foe is coming back to Turin.

 

The penultimate fixture for Juventus of the UCL league phase sees Benfica and old “friend” Jose Mourinho roll into Turin with the Bianconeri on the cusp of potentially wrapping up a spot in the knockout phase. Sitting on nine point through their first six league phase fixtures, Juventus need to win one of their matchups against Benfica on Wednesday night or on the road against Monaco next week to sit in a good place when it comes to qualification for the play-off round.

 

If 11 points was the target for clubs at the bottom of the top 24 last season, then one more win would put Luciano Spalletti’s squad on 12 points. And if that win to put Juve on 12 points comes against Benfica, then it will make the final matchday of the league phase in the Principality just that much more interesting with how tightly packed things were entering this week’s action outside of the top couple of teams. ............

 

Saturday night’s loss to Cagliari was the kind of result and performance that Juventus certainly need to avoid repeating against Benfica and/or Monaco. They do that and they’re likely wrapping up their spot in the play-off round sooner rather than later. But Benfica, even with their struggles earlier on in the league phase that then saw Mourinho return to managing in Portugal, have taken advantage of their own European schedule getting a little more friendly just as Juventus have, beating Ajax and then stunning Napoli to get out of the Champions League cellar. They know that another loss could very well put a big dent in their remaining hopes to sneak into the play-off round, thus causing them to be even more on the front foot than Spalletti said he expects them to be.

 

Benfica also have a bit of history on their side against the Bianconeri, winning all of their last three meetings with Juventus in Europe.

“I expect to see the same things I see every day, they enjoy developing in training and I enjoy watching them,” Spalletti said during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “Portuguese teams are all quite similar, Sporting has something similar to Benfica and if you don’t make the right decisions, you risk being trapped and the game will resemble the one against Sporting. … We are strong and we have a precise idea of how to play the game. The spotlight is more intense in Champions League matches and we hope to be worthy of that spotlight.”

 

Juventus have been able to turn their Champions League campaign around with wins over Bodø/Glimt — you know, the team that just crushed Manchester City in the frigid Arctic Circle — and Pafos within a couple of weeks of each other. Now, it’s about getting a win that both puts them in the knockout round and then gets them a much better potential draw then what happened last season under Thiago Motta. ............

 

“We are on the right track because the team is curious and constantly looking for new ideas,” Spalletti said. “I always say that you have to improve your skills to score goals, to have the next pass already in mind before you receive the ball.”

 

For a team that just got shut out by one of the statistically worst teams in Serie A just over the weekend, Juventus will have to be a lot better to ensure that they come away with three points on Wednesday night.

TEAM NEWS

• During his pre-match press conference, Spalletti didn’t give too many hints — or any — when it came to any potential changes to his starting lineup when Juve face Benfica.
• There also weren’t many fitness updates regarding specific players, so it’s likely that the same players who were available over the weekend against Cagliari will be the same when Spalletti names his squad to face Benfica come Wednesday morning. ............
• • Juventus have not won three straight games in the Champions League since 2021.
  • Mourinho has won just one of his last six away fixtures against Juventus, with that lone win coming during his time with Manchester United in 2018.

  JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH

  A Portuguese squad is coming to Turin. Juventus just so happen to have a Portuguese player on the roster, and he could very well be returning to the starting lineup on Wednesday night.

   

  It still remains to be seen whether Conceição will actually be in the starting lineup considering what Spalletti had to say about his desire to not push him physically at the moment and just the simple fact that Fabio Miretti has been very good over the last few weeks while the diminutive Portuguese winger was out injured.

   

  But if Conceição does end up coming back into the squad from the opening whistle, it’s pretty safe to say that Juventus will need the good version of him if they want to have a good chance of actually beating Benfica for the first time in a few year ............

   

  Conceição, when on, can be the compliment to Kenan Yildiz’s incredible playmaking ability that Juventus desperately need. For as well as Miretti has played of late, Conceição is just a completely different kind of player — and that’s not breaking news by any means.

   

  So no matter if he’s in the starting lineup or an impact sub off the bench in the second half, Juventus need Conceição to be Conceição. You know, the one where he can make opposing defenses look silly whenever he’s got the ball at his feet. That one should come back more often. Surely Spalletti would like that — as would all of us.

  MATCH INFO

  When: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.

  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/35559/juventus-benfica-2026-champions-league-league-phase-matchday-7-lineups-team-news-live-online-streaming

Modificato 10 ore fa da Socrates

[Socrates 9655]

Juventus v Benfica match preview – A must win game for Spalletti

 

 

Juventus host Benfica in the Champions League just days after suffering a disappointing 1,0 defeat against Cagliari. That loss brought an abrupt end to a positive run of form and was a painful setback for the Bianconeri. However, there is little time for reflection, as European competition now demands an immediate response from a side eager to restore confidence and momentum. ............

 

The challenge, however, will be significant. Benfica arrive in Turin under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, a manager renowned for his tactical discipline and ability to frustrate opponents in high-pressure matches. His presence alone adds an extra layer of intrigue to the contest. Facing a former Inter Milan coach, Juventus fans are expected to make the atmosphere hostile, a factor that may only increase Mourinho’s motivation to secure a positive result on Juve’s home turf. ............

 

Juventus will also be mindful of their poor recent history against Benfica. The Portuguese side defeated them both home and away the last time the teams met, and they are unbeaten in their last seven encounters with the Italian giants. Even more striking is the fact that Juventus have not beaten Benfica in 33 years, a statistic that underlines the scale of the task ahead.

 

This context places added pressure on the current squad, but it also presents an opportunity. Matches of this nature often require an individual to rise above the collective struggle and deliver a decisive moment. It will be fascinating to see which Juventus player assumes that responsibility and leads the team through a difficult tactical battle. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-benfica-match-preview-a-must-win-game-for-spalletti/

[Socrates 9655]

[Socrates 9655]

[Socrates 9655]

[Socrates 9655]

[Socrates 9655]

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) ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/ucl-juventus-2-0-benfica-old-lady-champions/