JUVENTUS SEASON 2025-2026

[Socrates 10078]

Conceicao: Juventus ‘stronger’ than Roma and Como, ‘Every team wants Bernardo’

 

 

Francisco Conceicao believes that Juventus are ‘stronger’ than Roma and Como as the three sides look set to do battle over one spot in the Serie A top four, and says that ‘every team’ would want to have his compatriot Bernardo Silva in their side: ‘He’s a great player’.

 

Conceicao sat down in front of the media for the pre-match press conference ahead of Juventus’s upcoming Serie A match away against Udinese.

 

Head coach Luciano Spalletti has made a habit of sending one of his senior players in to do the Serie A pre-match press conferences in recent weeks. ............

 

The month of February was one to forget for Juventus, who slipped to defeats against Atalanta, Inter, Galatasaray and Como across the Coppa Italia, Serie A and Champions League.

 

The defeats against Como and Galatasaray in the cups have ended any hopes of silverware for the Old Lady this season, and those against Inter and Como have made a top-four finish considerably more of a challenge. ............

 

“I think that the strength of the group is the basis for everything we do. We’ve shown that many times in the past,” Conceicao told the media during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

 

“During the week, we work on becoming stronger and we all have to improve individually, and that’s what we’ve done. We work on all the details that the coach wants to improve.

 

“We’re playing very well at the moment, but we have even more potential to show. Now we have to win to achieve our goals.”

 

On the upcoming opposition, Conceicao added: “Udinese are a strong team and even more so at home. We know that they’re particularly strong up front and strong in general, but we go to Udine wanting to win.” ............

 

“I know Bernardo Silva very well and he’s a great player,” said Conceicao. “Every team would like to have Bernardo in their side.”

 

“All teams are stronger when all the players are fit,” said Conceica. “Dusan is very strong and is missing from our team at the moment. He’s getting better and better and we hope that he comes back well from his injury.”

 

And on Spalletti, he said: “The coach has brought us a lot of things. We play well, we have the quality to do even better and prove it. You can see that the team plays with happiness, and plays well. We try to dominate the game and all the players like that, particularly those up front. We create a lot of chances but we have to do more and continue working hard to try and win in every game.”

 

Conceicao was also asked which of Juventus, Roma or Como he feels are the most likely to finish the 2025-26 season in the Serie A top four.

 

“I’d say Juve, I don’t care about which of the others make it. I care that we are there and that’s what we’re working for.

 

“We know we have the quality to stay (in the Champions League). We have to work hard and win the game tomorrow. We have to stay in the Champions League, we have the quality to do it.

 

“For me, we’re stronger, but we have to show it. We have to win to stay up there and we have to prove ourselves.” 

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/conceicao-juventus-stronger-than-roma-and-como/

Modificato March 14 da Socrates

[Socrates 10078]

Round 29: Udinese vs. Juventus match preview

 

 

For the first time, Juventus had a good weekend in Serie A a few days ago. Not just because they won their first league fixture since the first day of February, but also because they won and got a little bit of help from an unlikely source when things were looking like they were going to remain status quo after the first weekend of March.

 

And now as we work our way to mid-March and the first international break of 2026, Juventus has the chance to get even more help — and that is because those two teams directly in front of them will be lining up against one another a little less than 24 hours after the Bianconeri take the field in Udine.

 

Juventus are currently in sixth place entering the weekend. The catch is that they are just a point off Roma in fourth place. And Roma is just ahead of fifth-place Como only because of goal differential. That means with a Juventus win against Udinese on Saturday night a draw between Roma and Como all of 24 hours later and Luciano Spalletti’s squad is back in the driver’s seat with less than 10 league games to go in the 2025-26 season. It’s easy to write it all down on paper and imagine how good things can happen, but Juventus are in another position to win and then get some more help from some “friends” later on in the weekend.

 

That is if they take care of their own business, of course. ............

 

But to do so against a Udinese team that they’ve already beaten twice this season. You know what they say about trying to beat the same team three times in one season …

 

Ah, we won’t all into a bunch of clichés here, but those two games were both in Turin. This one, as you can probably figure out, will be at the Friuli — a place where Udinese has just five wins in 14 games so far this season. But as Roma can tell you, just because you see Udinese is very much mid-table both when playing on their home field and on the whole this season, that doesn’t mean it’s a simple three points to take back home.

 

And guess who has just as many wins in Serie A since the start of February?

 

Yeah, that’s the team that Juventus will be lining up against on Saturday night.

 

That’s more to do with how Juve’s played over these past few weeks rather than Udinese being some kind of force domestically since the last time these two teams met in the opening rounds of the Spalletti era in Turin. ............

 

Udinese has the potential to be a trap game regardless of Juventus having an entire week to rest up, get healthy-ish and prepare for one opponent rather than having the UCL Round of 16 dominating their thoughts. (If only, right?) Juve have dominated this matchup in recent years. They’ve won their last two visits to Udine by a combined score of 5-0. It’s the kind of game that can either be another step in what we all hope is the right direction heading into late March. Or it can be Juventus frustrating the hell out of us yet again since the beginning of February.

 

If Juventus can win in Udine and make it back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly two months, then they will hopefully get to enjoy their Sunday and watch Roma and Como square off. Put the pressure on those in front of you — that’s all we can ask right now. And you do that by winning.

TEAM NEWS

• Even though Spalletti didn’t hold a pre-match press conference on Friday, the big team news to come out of Continassa ahead of the team leaving for Udine is that Dusan Vlahovic will not be called up as he works his way back from adductor surgery.
• There is a good chance, as of this writing, that there a striker making a return from injury and being included in the traveling squad. That’s right — it’s Arek Milik, who could very well be part of the squad for Saturday night’s game. ............
• • Mattia Perin is expected to keep his starting spot in goal for Juventus in place of Michele Di Gregorio. Perin has started the last three games in all competitions, with Spalletti suggesting last week that he still has faith in both of his keepers regardless of all the outside noise that may be taking place.
  • Weston McKennie is once again a yellow card away from having to serve a one-game suspension. (Considering the big games that are awaiting Juventus after the international break, maybe he could get it out of the way now? Just an idea, not a suggestion. Or maybe it is.)

  JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH

  Starboy.

   

  Not just because we could do that literally every single time I sit down to write one of these pieces. But because Spalletti has given the Italian plenty of reasons to speculate when it comes to the setup he might go with thanks to his moves during the second half of last weekend’s win over Pisa.

   

  So, we ask the question a lot of people are probably asking (and one they couldn’t ask Lucio himself considering he didn’t have a pre-match press conference): Will Kenan Yildiz play as a false 9 or his usual spot on the left wing? ............

   

  But the very fact that nobody knows for sure where Yildiz is playing probably means the door is at least somewhat open to Spalletti playing Yildiz as a false 9 from the start. We remember the last time that happened a few months back and things didn’t exactly go all that well. (Even if Yildiz did score in that game to at least give his team a chance at picking up some points against the reigning Serie A champions.) ............

   

   

  The thing is, what Yildiz was able to do playing in a free-roaming kind of role like he did last weekend is at least an interesting thing for Spalletti to consider. It likely gets him closer to goal even though he could very well find less space to operate against a compact defense like Udinese could very well be. There’s some good in that, but there’s also some not-so-good as well. It’s really what Spalletti has to consider when deciding where to play Yildiz on Saturday night.

   

  There’s also this to consider: Are Juventus a better team with Yildiz up front as a false 9 or sticking with David in the starting lineup in his usual spot? These days, it’s hard to really know — and that’s a big part of the problem.

  MATCH INFO

  When: Saturday, March 14, 2026.

  Where: Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy.

  Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe, 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 3:45 p.m. Eastern time, 2:45 p.m. Central time, 12:45 p.m. Pacific time.

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/37115/udinese-juventus-2026-serie-a-matchday-29-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

[Socrates 10078]

Serie A: Udinese vs. Juventus – Probable line-ups

 

 

Juventus will have to do without Dusan Vlahovic for another week as Luciano Spalletti and his team prepare to take on Udinese away from home in Serie A on Saturday evening. ............

 

Spalletti’s side are locked in a battle for one of the positions in the top four, and currently find themselves in sixth place on 50 points, one shy of fourth position ahead of Saturday’s fixtures. ............

 

There had been hopes earlier this week that Vlahovic would be able to feature for the Old Lady after missing almost four months of action with an adductor injury. The Serbian has been in training last week, but it was confirmed on Friday that he would not be risked and is therefore not part of the matchday squad.

 

Mattia Perin is expected to keep hold of his place between the sticks, with Michele Di Gregorio still out of favour after a series of disappointing displays across this season.

 

Only Inter’s Lautaro Martinez has scored more goals in Serie A this season than Udinese striker Keinan Davis, who sits in joint-second in the league’s goalscoring charts along with an impressive list of names: Kenan Yildiz, Rafael Leao, Nico Paz, Rasmus Hojlund and Anastasios Douvikas, all of whom have nine so far. Davis is expected to start alongside Nicolo Zaniolo in attack on Saturday.

 

Kick-off is due at 19.45 GMT.

 

Udinese vs. Juventus: Probable line-ups

 

Udinese (3-5-2): Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Mlacic; Ezihibue, Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Atta, Kamara; Davis, Zaniolo.

 

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Perin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, McKennie, Boga; Yildiz. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-udinese-juventus-probable-line-ups/

Modificato March 14 da Socrates

[Socrates 10078]

[Socrates 10078]

Serie A | Udinese 0-1 Juventus: Boga gets Old Lady back on track

 

 

Jeremie Boga scored for the third Serie A match in a row to give Juventus a precious 1-0 victory away to Udinese, but a Francisco Conceicao goal was disallowed. ............

 

Boga got down the left to force a tricky save out of Maduka Okoye at the near post, then Francisco Conceicao scuffed the finish on the resulting short corner and had another attempt charged down by Thomas Kristensen. ............

 

Juventus took the lead when another long ball allowed Kenan Yildiz to spring the offside trap down the left, holding off Oier Zarraga to roll across for a Boga tap-in from six yards. It was his third goal in as many games. ............

 

Juve lost Khephren Thuram to injury and Udinese wasted an astonishing chance to equalise, as Keinan Davis rolled across from the left only for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp to stumble, unable to tap in from six yards. ............

 

Juventus thought they had doubled their lead on 70 minutes when Kenan Yildiz twisted and turned, threaded through for Francisco Conceicao, who took one touch before sweeping into the far bottom corner from 12 yards. However, Koopmeiners was offside and got out of the way to let the ball through, so the goal was disallowed following a VAR review. ............

 

Udinese 0-1 Juventus

Boga 38 (J)

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-udinese-0-1-juventus-boga-old-lady/

[Socrates 10078]

Serie A | Udinese 0-1 Juventus – Player Ratings as Boga saves the day

 

 

Juventus battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Udinese on Saturday evening, with a first half goal from Jeremie Boga all that separated the two sides. ............

Udinese 0-1 Juventus – Player Ratings

Udinese: Okoye 6.5; Ehizibue 6, Kabasele 5.5, Kristensen 6; Zarraga 5 (Mlacic N/A), Ekkelenkamp 5.5 (Miller 6), Karlstrom 5.5 (Piotrowski N/A), Atta 5.5, Kamara 6 (Arizala 6); Zaniolo 5, Davis 6

 

Best Udinese player: Maduka Okoye –  ............

 

Lowest Udinese rating: Nicolo Zaniolo –  ............

 

Coach: Kosta Runjaic 6 –  ............

 

Juventus: Perin 6; Kalulu 6, Bremer 6.5, Kelly 6, Cambiaso 6; Locatelli 6.5, Thuram 6 (Koopmeiners 6); Conceicao 6.5 (Miretti N/A), McKennie 6, Boga 7 (Gatti N/A); Yildiz 7

 

Best Juventus player: Jeremie Boga – Once again finding the back of the net, bringing him two goals off Jonathan David’s Serie A tally for the season, the Ivorian is proving to be an excellent winter addition. Created a number of good chances for his teammates too.

 

Lowest Juventus rating: Khephren Thuram – Had a difficult first half before having to come off early in the second period due to a knock. Was not involved a whole lot when he was on the pitch but he wasn’t atrocious.

 

Coach: Luciano Spalletti 6.5 – Will be happy with his team’s performance, and less so with the scoreline. Spalletti’s tactics overwhelmed the opposition but poor finishing of chances meant the match was a lot closer than the Italian coach may have liked.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-udinese-0-1-juventus-player-ratings-as-boga-saves-the-day/

[Socrates 10078]

Juventus secure important win at Udinese to keep top-four hopes alive

 

 

Juventus secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Udinese this evening, keeping their hopes of finishing in the top four alive and strengthening their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. The result represents an important step for the Bianconeri as they continue their push during the final weeks of the Serie A season.

 

The Bianconeri understand that maintaining a consistent run of victories is essential if they are to secure a place among the league’s leading teams. ............

 

While Juventus have often begun matches positively this season, converting those early moments of pressure into goals has sometimes proven difficult. On this occasion, however, they managed to find the breakthrough before the interval.

 

The decisive moment arrived in the 38th minute when Jeremie Boga scored to give Juventus a deserved lead. The goal rewarded the visitors for their attacking intent and allowed them to head into the break with a valuable advantage. ............

 

The team returned for the second half with the same focus and continued to control large portions of the game.

 

Francisco Conceicao appeared to double the lead shortly after the restart, but his effort was eventually ruled out for offside following a review. Although the goal did not stand, Juventus maintained their dominance and continued searching for a second goal to secure the result.

 

Despite creating further pressure, the Bianconeri were unable to extend their advantage. Nevertheless, their disciplined defending ensured that Udinese could not find an equaliser. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-secure-important-win-at-udinese-to-keep-top-four-hopes-alive/

[Socrates 10078]

Runjaic: ‘Juventus have world class players and Udinese cannot compete now’

 

 

Kosta Runjaic admits Udinese ‘were not able to compete on the same level’ with a practically full-strength Juventus. ‘They have world class players like Kenan Yildiz and Jeremie Boga.’

 

The Friulani suffered a 1-0 home defeat this evening, as Boga turned in the assist from Kenan Yildiz to beat Maduka Okoye, the goalkeeper having made several big saves. ............

 

Francisco Conceicao had also managed to find the net, but it was disallowed because Teun Koopmeiners was considered to be interfering with play in an offside position.

 

“Juventus played better, that is clear, we expected to have less possession, but were missing a little bit of quality at times. We also had chances, soccer is not just about playing better, but taking the chances,” Runjaic said. ............

 

“Juventus are a strong team, they have world class wide players like Yildiz and Conceicao, so right now we are not able to compete on the same level.” ............

 

“Juventus are a very versatile team, they are able to play short combinations, but also dangerous with deep balls from Locatelli, and one of those we didn’t defend well enough, so they scored the goal. It is not easy to protect a fantastic deep ball like that, they have players who are running deep and can receive with one touch.

 

“It’s not easy to find the balance, we did better in the second half, but that is just one of many elements.” ............

 

“It’s nothing new, Yildiz played many times as a winger, so it was just a matter of time. We were completely aware about this, but were also missing players like Zanoli, Bertola and Solet. It is not an excuse, but we were unable to perform with a full squad.

 

“On the other hand, Juve put all their quality out without any big injuries at the moment, so if it wasn’t Yildiz, then Conceicao would do something. We don’t need to look for micro-details, it’s not about this.”

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/runjaic-juventus-world-class-players-udinese/

Modificato March 14 da Socrates

[Socrates 10078]

Spalletti: ‘Boga’s new role surprising, Cambiaso versatility helps Juventus’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti was ‘surprised’ by Jeremie Boga’s new role for Juventus against Udinese and insists Andrea Cambiaso needs to ‘wander all over the pitch’ to be effective. ............

 

It was a tough slog at the Bluenergy Stadium, but Boga proved decisive with his third goal in as many Serie A games, this time turning in the Kenan Yildiz assist.

 

Francisco Conceicao had also put the ball in the net, though it was disallowed because Teun Koopmeiners was offside and interfering with play. ............

 

“The team did really well, maintaining that level of determination to close the game as soon as possible. We had also scored a second, but that’s fine, because we were up against a very strong opponent,” Spalletti said. ............

 

“I had never put Boga there, I always played him on the left, but he surprised me with the way he moved as a striker today,” confessed the coach.

 

“Yildiz I’ve said before doesn’t entirely enjoy being a centre-forward because he doesn’t yet have the art of dealing with a defender who is constantly on his tail. Starting from there I think creates problems for him.” ............

 

“The lads did well to put those balls over the top, because if you let Udinese defend inside their own half, you’re not getting through that blockade,” noted Spalletti.

 

“So rather than allow them to be comfortable in those physical situations, we preferred to put them on the back foot by forcing them to run back.” ............

 

“If Cambiaso doesn’t wander around all over the pitch, then I won’t pick him,” replied Spalletti to criticism from the Sky Sport Italia studio.

 

“These aren’t spaces, they are half-spaces, and you need players who can find them and drag others out of position. Being able to find those spaces where they open up is a quality that benefits the team.” ............

 

“When we see more of the ball, then we defend better. Possession isn’t just a superficial exercise, it is used to create chances, and that doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. You consolidate the dominance of the game, and then choose the moments when should take those risks. We were perfect in that today, not allowing Udinese many counter-attacks that we had to chase back,” replied Spalletti.

 

“This reflects the mentality, as tonight we played with the mentality of a strong team.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-bogas-new-role-surprising-cambiaso/

Modificato March 14 da Socrates

[Socrates 10078]

Udinese 0-1 Juventus – Bianconeri saviours Boga & Yildiz react to hard-fought win

 

 

Juventus ground out a crucial 1-0 victory at Udinese to move into fourth place in Serie A, with Jeremie Boga’s winning goal, his third in consecutive matches, proving the difference in a hard-fought contest that tested the Bianconeri’s resolve throughout.

 

Boga was the toast of the travelling support and spoke to Sky Sport afterwards with the relaxed confidence of a man in the form of his life.

 

Asked whether he had ever scored in three consecutive games before, the former Sassuolo and Nice winger laughed off the question.

 

“I don’t know, I don’t think so,” he said with a grin. ............

 

He credited Luciano Spalletti’s hands-on approach in training for his recent run of form. “He always speaks to me and asks me to improve. I work hard and my teammates have welcomed me brilliantly, I want to give 100% every match.” ............

 

“I had problems with consistency, but at Atalanta and Nice I learned a lot and grew as a player. Now I am happy to be here at Juventus and I hope to continue like this.” ............

 

“For me it is wonderful to play with someone of Yildiz' quality. He is a player I watch and learn from, people like him make me love football.”

 

Yildiz, meanwhile, was characteristically humble despite reaching the remarkable milestone of ten goals and ten assists for the season. “It is good, but everything is for the team,” Yildiz said.

 

“I have not set myself personal targets other than to keep doing more for the squad, the rest takes care of itself.” He did acknowledge, however, that his development this season has been significant.

 

“I think I have grown a lot mentally. I am happy with the path I am on, and I believe I can do even more.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/udinese-0-1-juventus-bianconeri-boga-yildiz/

[Socrates 10078]

Udinese 0 - Juventus 1: Initial reaction and random observations

 

 

We have reached the point in the 2025-26 season and chase for a spot in the top four where we don’t really care how Juventus win just as long as they collect all three points that are on the table on any given day.

 

A 4-0 win like we saw last weekend against Pisa? Great!

 

A 1-0 win that had you thinking Luciano Spalletti suddenly morphed into Max Allegri for the final 15 or 20 minutes and there was a little corto muso stuffed into Lucio’s rain jacket? Whatever works!

 

On Saturday night in Udine, we saw Juventus team that probably should have won by more than just the 1-0 scoreline suggested, but then shut up shop late to ensure that they would come away with three points in what was looked at as a must-win situation ahead of what’s to come 24 hours later. Juve got the three points thanks to Kenan Yildiz and Jérémie Boga teaming up for a wonderful quick-strike goal late in the first half and make it stand to lift the Bianconeri into fourth place ahead of Sunday night’s clash between the two teams that entered the weekend directly in front of them, Roma and Como. ............

 

We saw Spalletti roll with the move that he made in the second half of last weekend’s win over Pisa from the opening whistle with Yildiz as a false 9. It was nowhere near as effective, with the anticipated lack of space against a Udinese squad that was happy to cede possession to Juve resulting in things being hard to come by. But you know what good managers do? They realize they sometimes need to correct the mistakes of their original ways, and that is what Spalletti did.

 

The change: Yildiz back to the left wing, Boga into the free-roaming role as the false 9.

 

The result: Juventus changing for the better — which usually means Yildiz doing Yildiz things and absolutely cooking whoever the hell tries to stop him from being wonderful out on the left wing.

 

Just look at the goal itself as Exhibit A as to why this switch up from Spalletti paid off following the Yildiz as a false 9 decision to start the game didn’t exactly work as well as we hoped it would.

 

You get a great ball over the top from Lloyd Kelly. You get Yildiz running in space and creating things as he has done so many times this season already. You get Yildiz serving a great cross to Boga, who was the only one who had a chance at it because it was put on an absolute dime. It’s just that good — and that doesn’t happen unless Spalletti makes the switch a few minutes earlier to get Yildiz back into the position in which he excels.

 

It should have ended up being more than a 1-0 win. You can thank both the refereeing, the lack of a final end product outside of Boga’s third goal in as many games and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye making some quality saves to keep it at a one-goal advantage in favor of Spalletti’s squad. And that is why we saw Spalletti hunker down in the closing minutes to secure the three points — he knew how important this win was considering what’s on the schedule on Sunday. ............

 

And when you desperately need points like Juventus do these days, it doesn’t really matter how you get it.

 

They got the three points. They moved into fourth place. They put the pressure on Roma and Como for the next 24 hours. That is what this team needs to do. And now they get to sit back in their respective houses, eat a nice meal and watch Roma and Como hopefully play to a draw on Sunday night. Job done.

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Did you notice that Spalletti was wearing a jacket underneath his rain jacket? It made me laugh!
• Breaking news: Kenan Yildiz is pretty damn good.
• Just watching that young man do fun things is a treat. We are lucky he plays for Juventus.
• He officially had one assist. He should have three, but a multitude of reasons prevented that from happening. The guy is now level with Nico Paz in terms of goal contributions and showing why he is the clear-cut best player on this team. No wonder he looks exhausted when he comes off the field — he’s making so many things happen.
• Yildiz had six key passes against Udinese. That young man was doing things.
• Udinese had five key passes as a team on Saturday night. ............
• Speaking of the other one of those shoulda-been assists, you gotta love Serie A refereeing in 2026. It’s proving to be just as maddening as it was in 2025, 2024 and 2023. That should have been 2-0, the goal shoulda have stood and I’m having a hard time thinking otherwise.
• But hey, anything to go to VAR and screw Juventus out of something good, right?
• Spalletti says Chico Conceição’s goal should have stood. Good! I agree!
• Jérémie Boga xG in the first half: 1.21.
• Udinese team xG in the first half: 0.14.
• Boga is starting to look like a really incredible piece of business. A buy option of less than €5 million? Yeah, give me that every day of the week. Hell, pick up the buy option right now. He’s worth it. You aren’t getting somebody for that kind of price on the transfer market this summer. ............
• The last couple of starts, Perin has been solid. He hasn’t been tasked with much, obviously, but he’s done the job that is needed and Juventus haven’t allowed a goal in back-to-back goals. There have been close calls and better teams may well make Juve pay, but we’ll take every single shutout we can get at this point because that just means there’s a good chance the Bianconeri just won.
• Is Gleison Bremer hurt with some kind of minor yet nagging injury? Is he tired? Is it maybe a little bit of both? Either way, Bremer doesn’t look like the dominant defender that we’ve seen so many times before. There appear to be some cracks in his Brazilian armor. Hopefully the week in between games to close out the season help, but it still is hard to miss the massive wrap on his thigh and think it doesn’t have at least a little something to do with how he’s playing.
• Manuel Locatelli good. Manuel Locatelli really good. Some of the passes this man has been playing lately just aren’t ones he was maybe even attempting under previous managers. But Spalletti has this man absolutely flowing with confidence — and it’s showing with his play.
• A sign of where Spalletti’s faith is with his strikers: Yildiz as a false 9, Jonathan David coming on in the 92nd minute and Loïs Openda not even seeing the field once again. That says a lot right there. ............
• Pierre Kalulu’s crossing has been great this season. When did this man become prime Alex Sandro but on the right wing? I, for one, welcome this development.
• Lloyd Kelly dropping dangerous pass after dangerous pass over the top? Where do I sign up for more of this?
• Let us pray that Khephren Thuram coming off injured is a minor thing because we don’t need important players getting injured with two months to go in the season. If he does have to miss some time, at least there’s an international break coming up, right? (Yeah, I actually might be looking forward to an international break! Weirder things may actually happen.) ............

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/37236/udinese-juventus-2026-serie-a-matchday-29-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 10078]

Juventus player ratings vs Udinese: Generous Yildiz ran the show

 

 

Juventus temporarily jumped to fourth place in the Serie A standings after earning a slim yet crucial away victory over Udinese.

 

The visitors dominated the action at the Bluenergy Stadium, but only Jeremie Boga got on the scoresheet with a poacher’s goal. Francisco Conceicao thought he had doubled the Old Lady’s lead, but his strike was chalked off for an offside on Teun Koopmeiners following a VAR check. ............

Juventus XI (3-4-2-1)

Mattia Perin – 6.5

 ............

Pierre Kalulu – 6

 ............

Gleison Bremer – 7

The Brazilian found an opponent capable of matching his physical power in Keinan Davis, but managed to come out on top.

Lloyd Kelly – 6.5

The English defender put Boga through on goal with a lovely vertical play. Showed his shrewdness by committing a tactical foul on Nicolo Zaniolo late in the game, earning himself a yellow card.

Weston McKennie – 6.5

 ............

Manuel Locatelli – 7.5

A fantastic performance from the Juventus captain, who bossed the middle of the park and won back possession on countless occasions, including one that led to Conceicao’s disallowed goal. His through ball to Yildiz instigated the winner.

Andrea Cambiaso – 6.5

 ............

Francisco Conceicao – 7

The Portuguese winger gave Thomas Kristensen and Christian Kabasele nightmares with his pace and trickery. He was unfortunate to see his goal ruled out for an offside on Koopmeiners.

Jeremie Boga – 7.5

The Ivorian had a full debut to remember, especially after switching to the false 9 role. He made a timely run to place himself in the right spot to poach the winner. He also came close to scoring on a few other occasions while also creating some chances for his teammates.

Kenan Yildiz – 8

The Turkish star had a limited impact when leading the line, but almost immediately provided the assist for Boga’s winner after returning to his original role on the left wing.

He was able to dribble past his markers almost at will and provide his teammates with glorious chances that were wasted more often than not. The VAR intervention denied him a second assist.

Substitutes

Teun Koopmeiners – 5.5

The Dutchman squandered possession with a few poor passes, and his offside position cost Conceicao a well-deserved goal.

Fabio Miretti – 5.5

 ............

Federico Gatti – 6.5

 ............

Jonathan David – N/A

Filip Kostic – N/A

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-udinese-generous-yildiz-ran-the-show/

[Socrates 10078]

Spalletti explains why Conceicao’s goal was valid, identifies Yildiz weakness

 

 

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti was pleased with his team’s display against Udinese, but feels hard done by the officiating. ............

 

After the match, Spalletti was asked if his Juventus side has the upper hand over their two other Champions League hopefuls.

 

“Maybe you (the journalists) were among those who two games ago were saying we weren’t a top-level team,” said the 67-year-old in his post-match interview.

 

“Juventus are a top team when they play top-level football, when the players stay on their feet, when the team actually plays, and when under aggressive pressing, they find space instead of just clearing the ball. When they attack in depth along the line.

 

“Juventus are stronger when they play the way they did tonight. These are the performances that put us back on the plane of the most beautiful matches in football. If we play like this, we can board that plane. Otherwise, it becomes much more difficult.” ............

 

“The sporting directors did well. They were the ones who brought in Boga. He had been training on his own for a long time, and we had to get him back into condition.

 

“But because he’s a player with explosive, muscular pace, it didn’t take him long to regain form. Tonight, he did well both as a winger and as a centre-forward.

 

“I was pleased with his performance. I had never used him through the middle before, but he moved really well as a striker.” ............

 

“Kenan Yıldız, on the other hand, doesn’t feel completely comfortable in the middle. He still lacks that striker’s instinct of feeling the defender breathing down his neck.

 

“He needs to be able to choose what to do, see the ball and the opponent, then attack the space on his own and arrive there with momentum. But starting from that position caused him a few problems.” ............

 

“The match should have been finished with Conceicao’s goal, which, for me, is valid. The only point raised is his proximity to the goalkeeper, but the player isn’t standing still, and he’s moving in the opposite direction, while the goalkeeper can always see the ball.

 

“Otherwise, we go back to what was said against Lazio when our goal was disallowed. They said he was a bit close, but that proximity didn’t matter then.

 

“The goalkeeper didn’t complain, no one said anything. Against Lazio, that closeness didn’t matter. Tonight’s performance shouldn’t be questioned; it’s not right to put it in doubt after what the team produced.” ............

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/spalletti-explains-why-conceicaos-goal-was-valid-identifies-yildiz-weakness/

[Socrates 10078]

Le Pagelle: Udinese vs. Juventus

 

 

It was a must-win game on Saturday when Juventus visited Udinese. Well, they all feel like must wins in a race for the top four this late in the season, but this one more than most. With the two teams immediately ahead of them, Roma and Como, playing each other on Sunday, getting three points was vital to take advantage of a scenario in which one or both was certain to drop points.

 

After a mostly drab first half that saw Juve in control of an Udinese side that simply didn’t look like they wanted to come out to play, the Bianconeri finally got themselves in front after Luciano Spalletti made a quick position swap in his false nine setup. What followed for the next 50 minutes or so of game time saw Juve remain in command, but they couldn’t quite get themselves the goal that would put things away. ............

 

The final 1-0 scoreline wasn’t exactly representative of how the game went—but it was enough to put the pressure on the teams above them heading into their head-to-head showdown. ............

 

MATTIA PERIN - 6.  ............

PIERRE KALULU - 6.  ............

BREMER - 6.5.  ............

LLOYD KELLY - 7. Kept Zaniolo quiet for all but a few brief moments, but his showcase today was his passing game. He dropped a couple of beautiful balls beyond the defense for Jérémie Boga to chase down, taking full advantage of Udinese’s seeming inability to deal with those balls all night. Co-led the team with four tackles as well.

WESTON McKENNIE - 6.5.  ............

MANUEL LOCATELLI - 7.5. Dropped some excellent long passes, going nine for 12 overall in that category, and causing a ton of danger with them. He was also denied a goal by a pretty great save from Maduka Okoye.

KHÉPHREN THURAM - 5.5.  ............

ANDREA CAMBIASO - 6.  ............

FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 6.5. Unfairly deprived of a goal by a poor VAR decision, he also racked up a pair of key passes and actually looked up to see what was going on with his teammates more than usual. A performance to build on.

JÉRÉMIE BOGA - 8. Tormented Udinese’s defense, consistently piercing their line to latch on to long balls. He was on target with four of his five shots, and the run he made for his goal was perfect, staying just behind his marker to give Kenan Yildiz a perfect target for his pass.

KENAN YILDIZ - 8. Should’ve had three assists today but had to settle for one. He had more key passes (6) than Udinese did as a team (5), and led the team in dribbles as well with three. He was clearly unlocked by the decision to swap him and Boga late in the first half, a decision that gave him a bit more room to operate. I still maintain that Yildiz belongs in the middle of the field more so than out wide, but that should be as a trequartista, where he has a striker and runners from the midfield to spread the defense’s attention, as opposed to a false nine that’s going to be the first man on the defense’s list.

SUBS

TEUN KOOPMEINERS - 6.  ............

FABIO MIRETTI - NR.  ............

FEDERICO GATTI - NR.  ............

JONATHAN DAVID - NR.  ............

FILIP KOSTIC - NR.  ............

MANAGER ANALYSIS

Spalletti stayed with what had worked in Turin last week against Pisa, benching the scuffling David for a false-nine setup. As noted, the change he made late in the first half in swapping Yildiz and Boga worked wonders to give his No. 10 some space to orchestrate, and once he got that space, he did how Yildiz do.

 

It remains to be seen whether the room that Juve’s attackers had to get behind Udinese was a product of Udinese defending poorly—seeing that much room in behind a team that has no intention of attacking is rare—or if the false nine forced them into playing a little higher up because there was no traditional striker to fall into the box with. It’s definitely worth finding out, especially with Juve’s next two games being against more provincial sides. Of course, the imminent return of Dusan Vlahovic is going to have an impact on how much that false nine is played in the coming weeks, but it’s worth testing whether or not it becomes a consistent opportunity to generate offense. ............

.

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/37261/le-pagelle-juventus-udinese-player-ratings-manager-analysis-2026-serie-a-matchday-29-final-score-result-vs-udinese

[Socrates 10078]

Initial updates on Thuram’s condition following his injury in Udine

 

 

The Juventus fans were pleased with the vital win in Udine, but they’re simultaneously concerned about Khephren Thuram. ............

 

After the interval, Thuram was the first Juventus player to enter the field. It was later revealed that the Frenchman had to undergo an athletic test before deciding whether he could resume play.

 

The 24-year-old was given the green light to rejoin his teammates on the pitch, but he only lasted a couple of minutes before being forced to leave the pitch, with Koopmeiners taking his place. ............

 

Thuram suffered a knock in his left ankle due to a blow he received during the first half of the contest.

 

The source argues that his condition shouldn’t be serious; Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been allowed to return to the pitch after half-time.

 

Nevertheless, the midfielder is expected to undergo clinical tests at the J|Medical Centre either on Sunday or Monday morning to determine the extent of his injury. ............

 

If the Frenchman were to forfeit, Koopmeiners would be the main candidate to start alongside Manuel Locatelli in the double pivot, but the Dutchman’s exploits in Turin have been too few and far between. ............

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/updates-juventus-udinese-khephren-thuram/

[Socrates 10078]

Spalletti argues with Marocchi: “If Cambiaso listens to you, he won’t play”

 

 

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti had a post-match spat with a TV presenter regarding Andrea Cambiaso and his role on the pitch.

 

The Bianconeri earned a valuable victory over Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium on Saturday, thanks to Jeremie Boga’s winner. ............

 

During his post-match interview with Sky Sport Italia, former Juventus midfieder, Giancarlo Marocchi, wondered why Cambiaso kept slipping to the middle of the park despite playing a left wing-back.

 

“Cambiaso is always wandering all over the pitch. Does he cause more problems for the opponents or for the coach?” cheekily asked Marocchi.

 

“If he stops wandering around the pitch, he won’t play anymore. If he listens to you, he won’t play anymore. It’s better for him to roam around, because he’s good at playing like a midfielder.” ............

 

Weston McKennie started the contest as a right wing-back, but as usual, he was spotted all over the pitch.

 

The Texan even became a centre-forward at one stage during the second half prior to Jonathan David’s late introduction. ............

 

Moreover, Kenan Yildiz noticeably started as a false 9 in the absence of a genuine centre-forward. The Turkish star then returned to his accustomed role on the left wing, switching positions with Boga, in a manoeuvre that paid dividends, with both players collaborating to score the winner.

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/spalletti-juventus-marocchi-cambiaso-udinese/

[Socrates 10078]

Preview: Juventus vs Sassuolo - prediction, team news, lineups

 

 

 

Resuming their quest for a crucial top-four finish, Serie A giants Juventus will host mid-table Sassuolo on Saturday evening.

 

Despite posting back-to-back wins, Juve still sit outside the Champions League places, while their visitors have just suffered consecutive defeats.

---

Match preview

Only three points separate three teams competing for one place in next season's Champions League, with nine games of the Serie A season remaining - Juventus, Roma and Como.

 

Scudetto holders Napoli appear poised to join both Milan clubs at Europe's top table, leaving Juve in a scramble to secure their spot and avoid the financial costs of failure. 

 

The Bianconeri beat Udinese last week, thanks to a first-half strike from loan signing Jeremie Boga, while Como conquered Roma; that left the Lariani with a one-point lead over Juve. 

 

Now facing a home fixture against more mid-table opposition, Luciano Spalletti's side will seek a third straight victory over Sassuolo.

 

Following a 3-0 result in January's reverse fixture, Juventus have claimed maximum points from the last two meetings, scoring six goals without reply.

 

Already sitting fourth on the all-time list, another success would also see Spalletti become just the fourth coach to reach 300 Serie A wins - he has 299 from 579 top-flight matches so far. ............

 

Juventus Serie A form:

D L L D W W

Juventus form (all competitions):

L L W D W W

Sassuolo Serie A form:

L W W W L L

---

Team News

Only Emil Holm is unavailable for Juventus, as forward pair Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik are both back in the fold after spending several months on the sidelines.

 

Neither is yet fit enough to feature up front, so in-demand Jonathan David will start or Kenan Yildiz could continue as a false nine.

 

With his pass for Boga's goal against Udinese, the latter made it 10 goals and 10 assists for the season, when including the Club World Cup. ............

 

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Perin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Conceicao, McKennie, Boga; Yildiz

 

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:

Muric; Walukiewicz, Muharemovic, Idzes, Garcia; Kone, Matic, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente ............

 

We say: Juventus 2-1 Sassuolo

With just one competition to focus on - and some key players returning to fitness - Juventus now look strong candidates to snatch fourth place in Serie A. 

 

Though they always pose a threat, Sassuolo have relatively little to play for, so the home side should help their boss celebrate his 300th league win.

.

Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/preview/juventus-vs-sassuolo-prediction-team-news-lineups_594162.html

[Socrates 10078]

Juventus probable lineup vs Sassuolo: Boga vs David

 

 

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti won’t have too many selection dilemmas heading into Saturday’s match against Sassuolo, but he still has an interesting decision to make up front.

 

The Bianconeri are currently riding a two-match streak that has allowed them to overtake the free-falling Roma. However, they’re still trailing behind Como in the race for 4th place, albeit by a single point. ............

 

With the team only competing on one front at this stage of the season, Spalletti will certainly field his best available XI.

 

Mattia Perin will get the nod for a fifth straight time ahead of Michele Di Gregorio, who has now been relegated to the understudy role.

 

In the backline, Gleison Bremer and Lloyd Kelly should combine once more at the expense of Federico Gatti, who will start on the bench again.

 

Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso are the natural options for the full-back roles. ............

 

In the middle of the park, Teun Koopmeiners could be the favourite to start alongside Manuel Locatelli. However, this decision largely hinges on Khephren Thuram’s availability. ............

 

Weston McKennie should operate in a hybrid role once again, while Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao occupy the wing roles. ............

 

 

Jonathan David’s could return to the starting lineup, but we acknowledge Boga as the favourite to keep his place in the lineup at the Canadian’s expense.

 

Juventus Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Perin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Koopmeiners (Thuram); Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; Boga (David).

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-probable-lineup-vs-sassuolo-boga-vs-david/

[Socrates 10078]

Khephren Thuram rejoins his teammates in group training

 

 

Juventus have received an important injury boost ahead of the Sassuolo game, as Khephren Thuram is available once again.

 

The midfielder had picked up a knock in last Saturday’s win in Udine after sustaining a blow to the left ankle during the first half. ............

 

Luckily for Thuram, he managed to avoid a serious injury. Therefore, he returned to the training group earlier this week, although he was working separately from his teammates.

 

But according to several reports in the Italian press Thuram has rejoined his Juventus teammates in group training on Thursday. ............

 

This swift recovery suggests that, barring any late twists, the French international will be called up for Saturday’s game against Sassuolo.

 

However, it remains to be seen if he’ll be deemed fit enough to maintain his place in the first XI or instead start the contest on the bench. ............

 

While Thuram is expected to claim his spot in the matchday squad, Juventus fans are also hopeful of seeing Dusan Vlahovic make his long-awaited return to action. ............

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/khephren-thuram-juventus-group-training/

[Socrates 10078]

Six Sassuolo players in isolation before Juventus game due to ‘whooping cough’ outbreak

 

 

Sassuolo revealed on the eve of their Serie A clash with Juventus that they had notified Lega Serie A of a confirmed case of whooping cough in the squad, along with five additional team members showing ‘symptoms consistent with the disease.’

 

A whooping cough (pertussis) outbreak has hit the Sassuolo squad days before their Serie A match against Juventus. ............

 

The Neroverdi wrote in an official statement on Friday: “Sassuolo announce that, following several tests carried out in recent days, one case of whooping cough has been identified, along with five cases showing symptoms consistent with the disease within the team group.

 

“Individuals presenting symptoms are currently in isolation and have been under constant monitoring by the club’s medical staff for the past three days. ............

 

Sassuolo play away at Juventus on Saturday night, and according to Italian sources, including TMW, the game is not at risk of being postponed.

 

The identities of the Sassuolo player diagnosed with pertussis and those with symptoms remain unknown. ............

.

Read more -> https://football-italia.net/6-sassuolo-isolation-whooping-cough-juventus/

[Socrates 10078]

Juventus v Sassuolo match preview and prediction

 

 

Juventus welcome Sassuolo to the Allianz Stadium this weekend, hoping to secure another victory that moves them closer to their objective of finishing the season inside the top four.

 

The Bianconeri are currently competing alongside Como and AS Roma for the final Champions League position, with the race expected to go down to the closing stages of the campaign. Should Juventus manage to win all their remaining matches, they could potentially finish even higher in the standings, strengthening their position among Italy’s elite clubs.

 

A positive result in this fixture is therefore essential. Juventus are widely expected to overcome Sassuolo on home soil, not because their opponents lack quality, but because the margin for error has all but disappeared. Dropped points at the Allianz Stadium would significantly damage their ambitions, making consistency a necessity rather than a preference. ............

 

Sassuolo, however, arrive with its own motivations. With no immediate relegation concerns, they are free to approach the match with less pressure, a factor that could make them particularly dangerous. ............

 

Recent meetings between the sides suggest Juventus hold the upper hand. They have scored eight goals across their last three encounters with Sassuolo, including a convincing 3,0 victory in the reverse fixture in January. Most of those matches have ended in wins for the Old Lady, underlining their dominance in this particular matchup. ............

 

 

Prediction

Juventus 3-1 Sassuolo

.

Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-sassuolo-match-preview-and-prediction/

[Socrates 10078]

Juventus coach Spalletti provides Vlahovic update & claims: ‘I’m willing to listen to the club’ about renewal

 

 

Luciano Spalletti held his pre-match press conference ahead of Juventus’ Serie A clash with Sassuolo, addressing a number of pressing topics including Dusan Vlahovic’s potential return, his own contract situation and the race for Champions League qualification with eight games remaining.

 

On Vlahovic, Spalletti was deliberately coy, directing reporters to the official squad list for confirmation.

 

“There are a couple of players with some discomfort to assess, we will have the final picture by tomorrow morning,” he said. ............

 

“It seems like a correct moment for my renewal, there is less stress and the necessary time,” he said. “On my part there is complete availability to hear what the club wants to say to me.”

 

He was careful, however, not to discuss potential signings, joking that talking about players he might want to bring in while his own contract is unsigned would make him “feel like an idiot.” ............

 

“Pressure is a privilege that belongs only to those who have a history to honour,” he said. “Our fans travelled to Bodo, overcoming all the costs and difficulties just to be there. We owe them everything.” ............

 

“It is the moment, the episodic decisions inside a game, that decides things, not a profile. We are not inferior to Galatasaray. The red cards decided that tie, not the level of football.”

.

Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-coach-spalletti-renewal-vlahovic/

[Socrates 10078]

Juventus vs Sassuolo: Preview and Prediction

 

 

The Serie A has produced some tight top-four races over the last few years, and this season promises the same. Boosted by Como’s big win over AS Roma last weekend, which allowed Cesc Fàbregas’s side to climb into fourth spot, Juventus also did their job by defeating Udinese away from home, and they will aim to do a repeat act against Sassuolo this weekend.

 

A goal from loan signing Jeremy Boga proved enough to seal three points, as Juventus extended their winning run to two. With another game on the horizon, Luciano Spalletti will be aiming to become only the fourth manager in Serie A history to record 300 wins, and he will want that milestone against Sassuolo to help the Bianconeri boost their top-four chances. ............

Team News & Tactics

Juventus

Emil Holm is probably the only player completely ruled out of the weekend with an injury, and Luciano Spalletti was given a boost by Arkadiusz Milik and Dusan Vlahovic resuming training recently.

 

There are still doubts over whether the attacking duo are ready to play games, but they are an option if the manager does consider it. However, he might have a settled setup at the moment, one that has won back-to-back league games, and might lean towards selecting a similar side.

 

Gleison Bremer and Lloyd Kelly might continue in the central defensive roles, while Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso are pencilled in to start in the full-back roles. Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli are likely to continue their midfield partnership, while Francisco Conceicao, Weston McKennie and Boga will play behind the striker.

 

With options like Jonathan David and Lois Openda available, as well as the possibility of including Vlahovic, Spalletti might use Kenan Yildiz in a false-nine role.

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Perin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Conceicao, McKennie, Boga; Yıldız

Sassuolo

 ............

 

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz, Muharemovic, Idzes, Garcia; Thorstvedt, Kone, Matic; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente

Key Stats

• Juventus have won 11 of their last 13 home matches against Sassuolo in all competitions.
• Juventus have scored at least two goals in 16 of their last 18 matches against Sassuolo in all competitions.
• Sassuolo have secured only one of their four wins over Juventus in Turin.
• Sassuolo have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 visits to Juventus.

Player to Watch

Kenan Yildiz

After failing to win four games on the bounce, Juventus have hit a good vein of form, and it is no coincidence that Yildiz has been firing on all cylinders in those two victories. A goal and two assists in the wins over Pisa and Udinese have the Turkish star now leading the line ahead of other striker options. This game against Sassuolo could be another instance where he plays the false-nine role.

 

For Spalletti’s idea of a tactical evolution at Juventus, the form and attacking ideas that Yıldız brings to the pitch will be crucial. Another game where the Turkish international produces more numbers could see him nail down the No. 9 role for the remainder of the season, which makes this Sassuolo clash very important for the attacker.

Prediction

Juventus 2-0 Sassuolo

Sassuolo have not had a draw in their last 11 Serie A games, juggling between winning and losing in that period. However, that might not be the case in Turin, as they are either expected to cause an upset or lose here, with the prediction leaning more towards the latter.

 

Juventus are building momentum, and back-to-back victories in the league are helping them push for a top-four place. With the pressure truly on Luciano Spalletti to secure a third win on the bounce, Juventus are well equipped to deliver when they host Sassuolo in Turin and could even keep a clean sheet in the process.

.

Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2026/03/21/juventus-vs-sassuolo-preview-and-prediction-2/

Modificato 14 ore fa da Socrates

[Socrates 10078]

Round 30: Juventus vs. Sassuolo match preview

 

 

It is the time in the schedule in which I can roll out the line I usually do this time of the year: Everybody, we are down to the amount of fixtures that we can count with just our two fingers and nothing more is needed. And just like last season, unfortunately, Juventus are in a position in which they are needing help to achieve the one seasonal goal that is actually possible — finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League.

 

Juve got a little bit of help last weekend. Not as much as we were all hoping for, but Como beating Roma on Sunday did, at the very least, knock one team down a peg when it comes to the teams who are still thinking a fourth-place finish is possible. Juventus entered the weekend in sixth, they jumped into fourth, but ended in fifth because Como — yes, the plucky underdogs who have one of the wealthiest ownership groups in the sport — are now sitting in the final spot to qualify for the Champions League.

 

So, my friends, with nine games to go, Juventus are still in need of help. ............

 

The catch is that it’s a Sassuolo team that Juve beat up on back in January but has also been a historically annoying-as-hell kind of provincial opponent who will always be looked at as a potential speed bump in the race for fourth place.

 

Saturday night in Turin is the final game before an international break that is massively important for anybody who has been paying attention to the World Cup qualifying cycle. But before that can happen, Luciano Spalletti’s squad has the chance to win their third straight game going into said internatinal break. ............

 

”In this final part of the season, the decisions we make will be crucial,” Spalletti said during his pre-match press conference on Friday. “Technical errors are part of the game, and knowing how to make good decisions improves everything. Good decisions improve the team’s playing style. It’s not a minor detail; it’s crucial because it puts the team in a position to develop everything more. Making decisions is a very important verb; in football, to do it well, you also have to be good at anticipating and predicting. Decisions come before technical moves.” ............

 

We know tougher fixtures are lying in wait come April and May. But that doesn’t mean this specific one for Juventus is an easy one. Sassuolo, regardless of how the first meeting with Juve went this season, have shown they can pull off a big result and take points off a team from the top portion of the table.

 

Just like the last couple of weeks, this is all about Juventus taking care of business, avoiding any sort of silliness from happening when it comes to dropping points against a provincial side and putting pressure on those in front of them. Sounds simple, right? Well, nothing is simple this time of year. But Juve need the points — no matter how they end up getting them.

TEAM NEWS

• After worries coming out of last weekend’s win over Udinese about him coming off with some sort of ankle injury, Khephren Thuram returned to training with the group on Thursday and is expected to be called up to face Sassuolo.
• However, it’s still unknown if Thuram will be able to play from the start on Saturday. If he is not able to play from the opening whistle, it is widely expected that Teun Koopmeiners will step into the starting lineup and play alongside Manuel Locatelli.
• Spalletti was rather coy about the status of Dusan Vlahovic after he missed last weekend’s game in Udinese despite most folks expecting him to return to the matchday squad. Spalletti said Vlahovic, who has been training with the squad for much of the week, still needs to be evaluated ahead of the squad list being released on Saturday morning.
• The only player we know who is definitely out for Saturday’s game against Sassuolo is fullback Emil Holm, who has been out since mid-February with a calf injury.
• Mattia Perin is expected to keep his place as Juventus’ starter in goal. Perin has kept clean sheets in back-to-back games following his inconsistent performances against Galatasaray and Roma a couple of weeks ago.
• Weston McKennie and Lloyd Kelly are both one yellow card away from having to serve a one-game suspension.
• Juventus have won their last three games against Sassuolo and four of their last six matchups against the Neroverdi overall.

JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH

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Jérémie Boga has done something for the first time in his career in the last three weeks. He had never scored a goal in back-to-back-to-back games, with his tally in Serie A now a greater number than somebody like Loïs Openda both domestically and in all competitions over the course of their respective careers in Turin.

 

There’s also this when it comes to Boga: he’s about to play the club that brought him to Italy nearly a decade ago.

 

This will likely be a night in which Boga has some emotions attached to his mindset as he takes the field. Handling those will obviously be important to how he plays. The good thing is that he is playing fairly well as a Juventus player, and you have to believe that his confidence is pretty high after scoring in three games in a row. What he does with that confidence remains to be seen, of course, but you best believe he is enjoying his football again these days.

 

I mean, just look at that smile after his goal against Udinese last weekend. That man is enjoying this profession that he’s chosen after a rough spell — one that was not by his own doing — to end his time with Nice.

 

Where Boga lines up if he is indeed included in the starting lineup is a bit of a question mark as well. As we know, he started out on the left wing with Kenan Yildiz as the false 9 last weekend before Spalletti realized things weren’t working and flipped their respective positions. That opened things up — mainly because Yildiz had much more space to operate — and the proof was in the results after that. ............

 

No matter what, he’s a player who is scoring goals — and that’s not something we can say about a lot of Juventus attackers at this current moment.

MATCH INFO

When: Saturday, March 21, 2026.

Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy.

Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe, 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 3:45 p.m. Eastern time, 2:45 p.m. Central time, 12:45 p.m. Pacific time.

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/37248/juventus-sassuolo-2026-serie-a-matchday-30-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

Modificato 14 ore fa da Socrates

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