JUVENTUS SEASON 2025-2026

[Socrates 9528]

Round 16: Juventus vs. Roma match preview

 

 

We are down to the final 180 minutes of football for Juventus in 2025. It has been a calendar in which three different men have managed Juventus — which, honestly, is something you never want to see take place no matter if you’re a team competing for Europe or simply not get relegated. But this is what Juve have done and there’s no turning back now — especially with somebody like Luciano Spalletti now at the helm.

 

It just so happens that the first half of the final two league fixtures of 2025 is against one of Spalletti’s former clubs in Italy.

 

The Saturday before Christmas brings us another big December fixture for Juventus, with Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma will make their way to Turin to face Spalletti’s newest squad at the Allianz Stadium. It is fourth place traveling to face fifth place in Serie A. Four points separate the two clubs, so there’s no chance for Juventus to jump over another rival for a spot in the top four for the second consecutive weekend. But what we do have in store is the chance for Spalletti and Juventus to show that this run of five wins in six games since their trip to the Arctic Circle can stand the test of a solid side like Roma that is also competing for the top four. ............

 

Juventus were able to get three points against Bologna last weekend, arguably the biggest win since Spalletti took over nearly two months ago. Spalletti very said is was such, and now he’s had nearly a full week of training to continue to work with his new squad. He will also welcome back Juve’s best player not named Kenan Yildiz back into the starting lineup, as Gleison Bremer will be the man in the center of the Bianconeri defense against Roma, Spalletti said.

 

So with a lot of Italy’s other big clubs over in Saudi Arabia this weekend for the Supercoppa, Juventus and Roma take center stage, with Juve trying to make things even tighter at the top of the table. ............

 

“The current Roma team has been transformed,” Spalletti said during his pre-match press conference on Friday. “It has taken on his own characteristics, if you will. Everyone on the team is available to know how to behave in any position on the pitch. Roma deserves our compliments because they play total football. Tomorrow will be a truly important test for us, a test of maturity.”

 

Saying that facing Roma “will be a truly important test” for Juventus feels right on the money. Roma, thanks in large part because of their defense, are going to be a feather in Spalletti’s cap if he were to win. And if they do that, then they go into their final fixture of 2025 with the chance to end the year (with some help) actually in the top four. That is a good thing for Spalletti to build upon and hopefully take some truly good vibes into the new year after so much turbulence over the past 11 1/2 months.

TEAM NEWS

• AREK MILIK BACK IN THE SQUAD SZN
• That’s right, my friends. Spalletti announced at his pre-match press conference that Milik, the Juve striker who has not played for over 500 days due to a multitude of injuries, will be called up to face Roma. Maybe he’ll even get to play a few minutes off the bench, too!
• The way Spalletti did describe Milik’s enthusiasm for being back was pretty genuine. “I found him to be like a happy child who has the opportunity to return to playing the game he always loved. He’s a very enthusiastic boy, he knows this sport and his position,” Spalletti said.
• The more important starting lineup news from Spalletti: It’s Bremer time.
• With the yellow card he picked up against Bologna last weekend, Teun Koopmeiners will be suspended for Roma’s trip to Turin this weekend. ............
• Spalletti said he will have to evaluate the condition of Juan Cabal and Daniele Rugani on Sunday morning due to both players “being a bit tired.”
• While Spalletti said he is a fan of Andrea Cambiaso, the Juve manager admitted the Italian fullback “has much greater potential than what he is showing.” ............

 

JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH

The big man is back.

 

We’ve missed you big man.

 

Now we hope you can stay healthy as long as you can, big man. Because we can’t see this Juventus squad go an extended period of time — be it close to three months or even longer — yet again.

 

 

Bremer’s return to the lineup is a couple of weeks later than he would have hoped considering he was still unavailable for what proved to be Juventus’ lone loss under Spalletti against Napoli. But considering the fact that he is going to be back in the lineup prior to the new year, that’s something to be thankful for this holiday season.

 

To have Bremer back in the starting lineup for such a big game is obviously going to be a huge boost for a Juventus squad that has obviously been prone to defensive lapses both this season and last during the time he was out injured. It’s also important to note that Spalletti himself has noted that Bremer’s return to the field could be one of the big factors in a potential formation change that involves a four-man defense. Whether that happens against Roma is still something that remains to be seen, but it’s something that is now probably on the list of possibilities with Bremer back in the fold.

 

That is a big deal — both because you have arguably the best defender in Serie A back on the field and Spalletti finally pulling the trigger on what everybody feels is going to be his preferred formational setup.

 

While one piece to that puzzle still remains somewhat unknown, the thing we do know is that the big Brazilian who means so much to Juventus’ defense is available to play from the opening whistle once again. With the fixture a little spread out to end 2025, there has been no temptation to rush him back — which is something Spalletti has made perfectly clear. Now six days after his return from his second knee surgery in a year, Bremer is set to walk out of the tunnel with his Juve teammates once more prior to the Serie A anthem being booed by the crowd at the Allianz. That’s a beautiful thing right there.

MATCH INFO

When: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.

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, 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, 1:45 p.m. Central time, 11:45 a.m. Pacific time.

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/34653/juventus-as-roma-2025-serie-a-matchday-16-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

[Socrates 9528]

Juventus v Roma Match Preview and Prediction

 

 

Juventus will test itself against AS Roma after an impressive win against Bologna in their previous outing. That victory has given the Bianconeri a renewed sense of confidence, yet concerns remain about their inconsistency and continued struggles against top-level opposition. While progress has been made, Juventus have often failed to deliver when faced with elite teams. ............

 

Roma arrive as one of the strongest sides in Serie A at present, having made notable progress under Gian Piero Gasperini. Their position on the league table reflects that improvement, as they currently sit above Juventus. Even if the Bianconeri were to secure all three points, they would still be unable to overtake Roma in the standings.

 

That said, Roma have shown some vulnerability in recent weeks. They have suffered two defeats in their last three league matches, which could offer Juventus encouragement. The Old Lady will believe that if Roma can be beaten, then they have the quality to be the side that does it. This belief may prove crucial in what is expected to be a tightly contested encounter. ............

 

Recent meetings between these two clubs suggest that fine margins will once again decide the outcome. Their last three encounters in all competitions have ended in draws, highlighting how evenly matched they have been. Juventus also tend to be strong at home against Roma, rarely losing this fixture at the Allianz Stadium. ............

 

Given the current form of both sides and their recent head-to-head record, this is expected to be a closely fought contest.

 

Prediction

Juventus 2 – 1 Roma

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

Modificato December 20 da Socrates

[Socrates 9528]

Serie A: Juventus vs. Roma – probable line-ups

 

 

Lois Openda is favourite over Jonathan David for a starting spot as the Juventus centre-forward against Roma, while Matias Soulé will lead the Giallorossi’s attack.

 

It kicks off at 20:45 CET (19:45 GMT) at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.

 

It’s the big match of Serie A Round 16 between two teams fighting for a Champions League spot.

 

The Giallorossi sit fourth in the table, four points above fifth-placed Juve. ............

 

According to multiple sources, Openda is favourite over David in the Juventus attack, while centre-back Gleison Bremer will return to the line-up for the first time in 84 days. ............

 

Former Juventus starlet Soulé will lead the Roma attack, while Evan Ferguson is favourite over another ex-Juventus star, Paulo Dybala, who is expected to be introduced from the bench. ............

 

Juventus vs. Roma – probable line-ups

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

Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Hermoso; Wesley, Cristante, Koné, Rensch; Soulé, Pellegrini; Ferguson.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-v-roma-probable-line-ups-watch-on-tv/

[Socrates 9528]

Luciano Moggi says Juventus is still not at Napoli and Inter Milan’s level

 

 

Juventus have shown signs of improvement over the last few weeks since Luciano Spalletti took charge of the team. The Bianconeri have long been regarded as one of the strongest sides in the league, and many supporters believe they still have a chance of challenging for the Serie A title. Recent performances have offered encouragement, suggesting that the season may yet take a positive turn. ............

 

Juventus are eager to maintain their momentum and continue winning matches, knowing that consistency will be vital if they are to remain competitive. Within the current squad, there is belief that further progress can be made, with individuals who have the ability to elevate the team beyond its present level. ............

 

Despite the progress, there are still significant obstacles standing in their way. Two teams in particular, Inter Milan and Napoli, are seen as major threats to Juventus ambitions. Both clubs have demonstrated quality and consistency over the past few months and currently set the benchmark in the league. ............

 

While Juventus continue to work towards improvement, there is a general acceptance that they have not yet reached the level of the top sides. This view has been reinforced by comments from Luciano Moggi, who assessed the team’s current standing and delivered a sobering assessment.

 

He said, “Juve? Nothing has changed with Spalletti. The team has the characteristics it has, with Bremer, they can maybe improve, but they are not at the level of Inter and Napoli.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/luciano-moggi-says-juventus-is-still-not-at-napoli-and-inter-milans-level/

Modificato December 20 da Socrates

[Socrates 9528]

Daniel Fonseca reveals what he expects from the Juve-Roma match

 

 

Daniel Fonseca expects the upcoming clash between Juventus and AS Roma to deliver an entertaining spectacle, with the two sides set to meet in one of the standout fixtures in Europe this weekend. With the kick-off approaching, anticipation is high, as neither team can afford to lose such an important contest. Both clubs understand the significance of the occasion and the potential impact the result could have on their respective positions. ............

 

Juventus enter the match knowing that a home victory would allow them to close the gap on Roma in the league table, a scenario their supporters are eager to see. The Bianconeri have shown encouraging signs of recovery in recent weeks, and there is a growing sense of belief around the squad. They possess several high-quality players capable of influencing the game and delivering a positive outcome against strong opposition.

 

Despite this, the encounter is not expected to be straightforward. Roma arrive with their own ambitions and have consistently demonstrated their ability to challenge top sides. ............

 

Speaking about the game, Daniel Fonseca said:

 

“A full-throttle clash.

 

“A match that matters more for Juventus. The Bianconeri are playing at home and need a win to close the gap on Roma and their rivals. We’re seeing a balanced championship, without cannibals, and we’re not even halfway there: Spalletti’s team could aspire to get back into the Scudetto race with a win.”

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/full-throttle-pundit-reveals-what-he-expects-from-the-juve-roma-match/

[Socrates 9528]

[Socrates 9528]

[Socrates 9528]

[Socrates 9528]

https://x.com/i/status/2002478820721586512

[Socrates 9528]

Serie A | Juventus 2-1 Roma: Old Lady back in the fight for fourth

 

 

Francisco Conceicao and Lois Openda allowed Juventus to defeat Roma and close to within a point of the Giallorossi in fourth place. ............

 

Dybala tested Michele Di Gregorio after a give and go into the box, but Juve had a double chance when Lois Openda ran onto the Khephren Thuram through ball, forcing Mile Svilar and Devyne Rensch to scramble clear. ............

 

Di Gregorio was right behind the Pellegrini toe-poke, but Juve created the best chance of the half. Kenan Yildiz found Francisco Conceicao, who dribbled around Rensch to force a desperate Svilar save, then Openda’s follow-up was deflected over.

 

Moments later, Juventus took the lead. Kenan Yildiz rolled across from the left, Andrea Cambiaso flicked it on with his heel and Conceicao took a couple of touches before placing the precise angled drive into the far bottom corner, through Jan Ziolkowski’s legs. ............

 

Juventus threatened again after the restart, Kenan Yildiz combining with Openda to get down the left, his left-footed angled drive flashing across the face of goal to skim the far post.

 

Svilar kept the scoreline down, rushing off his line to smother the Francisco Conceicao back-heel flick, then getting his gloves stung by a Cambiaso scorcher from the edge of the area. ............

 

Gianluca Mancini nodded over from a corner, but Juventus doubled their lead instead. Svilar made another big save on the Weston McKennie glancing header from Edon Zhegrova’s cross, then the American reacted quicker than anyone else, prodding the rebound into the path of Openda to tap in from close range. It was his first Serie A goal. ............

 

Roma got one back when Evan Ferguson’s angled drive was parried one-handed into the path of Tommaso Baldanzi at the back post.

 

Kenan Yildiz almost made it 3-1, but his strike from the edge of the area thumped the base of the far post with Svilar beaten. ............

 

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/serie-a-juventus-2-1-roma-old-lady-fight-four/

 

Modificato December 20 da Socrates

[Socrates 9528]

Player Ratings: Juventus 2-1 Roma – Bianconeri duo dominates as Soulé falls short

 

Juventus 2-1 Roma: player ratings

Juventus: Di Gregorio 6.5; Kalulu 6, Bremer 7.5 (60′ Rugani 5), Kelly 6.5; McKennie 7, Locatelli 6.5, Thuram 6, Cambiaso 6.5 (88′ Kostic N/A); Conceicao 7.5 (60′ Zhegrova 5), Yildiz 7 (88′ Miretti N/A); Openda 7 (81′ David). Coach: Spalletti 7. ............

 

Best Juventus players: Bremer and Conceiçao 7.5 – The Brazilian defender started his first match in over 90 days and was rock-solid at the back until he remained fit. Two crucial interventions in the first half frustrated Roma’s attempts. Conceiçao had two chances in two minutes and capitalised on the second one, giving Juventus the lead in the first half.

 

Lowest Juventus ratings: Zhegrova and Rugani 5 – The Montenegro international contributed to Juventus‘ second goal with a cross from the right, but lost the ball that led to Roma’s goal and didn’t quite recover from that, wasting possession many other times down the right flank. Rugani started with confidence, but then struggled to cope with Ferguson’s physicality.

 

Juventus coach: Spalletti 7 – A massive, massive win in the race for a Champions League spot. Juventus were in control of the game after taking the lead with Conceiçao, but gradually lost solidity after Bremer’s inevitable substitution.

 

Roma: Svilar 7; Mancini 5.5, Ziolkowski 5, Rensch 6; Celik 6, Cristante 5, Koné 6, Wesley 6.5; Soulé 5 (56′ Ferguson 6.5), Pellegrini 5 (53′ Bailey N/A 73′ El Shaarawy); Dybala 5.5 (56′ Baldanzi 7). Coach: Gasperini 5.5. ............

 

Best Roma players: Svilar and Baldanzi 7 –  ............

 

Lowest Roma ratings: Ziolkowski, Cristante, Pellegrini and Soulé 5 –  ............

 

Roma coach: Gasperini 5.5 –  ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/player-ratings-juventus-2-1-roma-bremer-soule/

[Socrates 9528]

Juventus beat Roma 2-1 to close in on a top-four spot

 

 

Luciano Spalletti’s hard work is beginning to show tangible results as Juventus secured a 2,1 home victory over AS Roma this evening. The encounter provided a clear measure of Juventus’ progress against high-calibre opposition, with Roma widely regarded as one of the strongest teams in the division. ............

 

The return of Gleison Bremer in defence added composure and resilience at the back, with Juventus showing a willingness to commit fully to the task of securing victory. Despite missing several opportunities, they remained disciplined and survived moments of pressure. Their perseverance was rewarded just before the interval when Francisco Conceicao broke the deadlock, a goal that proved a significant psychological blow for the visitors heading into halftime. ............

 

Juventus emerged for the second half with renewed belief, even though they were soon forced to adjust following the loss of Bremer to injury. His replacement did little to disrupt their momentum, and the hosts extended their advantage through Lois Openda, underlining their determination to maintain control of the match.

 

Roma continued to search for a breakthrough but found Juventus well organised and alert to danger. A brief lapse in concentration eventually allowed Tommaso Baldanzi to reduce the deficit, setting up a tense finale. ............

 

The crossbar denied Kenan Yildiz what would have been a spectacular goal, yet the Bianconeri remained composed and saw out the match to secure a valuable win.

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-beat-roma-2-1-to-close-in-on-a-top-four-spot/

[Socrates 9528]

Conceicao and Bremer on deserved Juventus victory and ‘demanding’ Spalletti

 

 

Francisco Conceicao feels Juventus ‘deserved the victory’ against Roma, while Gleison Bremer has praise for ‘demanding’ Luciano Spalletti.

 

This was a huge head-to-head for fourth place, and a potentially decisive match in the race for a Champions League qualification spot. ............

 

“I think we deserved the victory. We knew how important the game was and we did our job, we won, we’ve got to be up there,” Conceicao said.

 

Are Juventus back in the race for a top four finish or for the Scudetto?

 

“We are up there, that is what we must do. We’ve got to win matches, we won two important games now, and have to keep going like this.” ............

 

Bremer made his return to the starting XI for the first time since that meniscus tear in his knee back on September 27, and brought solidity to the Bianconeri defence.

 

“I had this nasty injury, but I’ve been working with the team for two weeks and knew I had to be ready when called upon. I wasn’t able to play the whole game, but we had expected this,” Bremer said. ............

 

“The coach is very demanding, which is only right, as we are Juventus and must always want more. He is a good coach, giving us a lot of information, we are playing more with the ball and you can see the results,” concluded Bremer.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/conceicao-bremer-on-deserved-juventus-victory/

[Socrates 9528]

Spalletti: ‘A double victory for Juventus, learning from Roma’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti feels Juventus earned a ‘double victory’ over Roma, by beating them and also learning from their aggressive approach, even if he criticised Edon Zhegrova’s ‘liquid’ defending.

 

The Bianconeri knew this was a huge test of their ambitions, as a defeat would’ve left them seven points adrift of the top four. ............

 

“A football match is like an empty box, you can’t just fill it with your own qualities, you’ve got to also put in some of the uncomfortable things you don’t enjoy doing,” Spalletti said.

 

“For example, in the second half Yildiz dropped back and covered that flank. His opponents know how good he is, but I don’t think he yet realises how good he is, nor how he is already perceived by the other players.

 

“He does the work that he needs to do. When you are facing a team like Roma who are balanced, aggressive, who swarm at you with the third defender, the wing-back and another, if you don’t have Yildiz and Conceicao helping the defence, then they will break through.

 

“Well, Zhegrova is a player who at this moment cannot do that defensive work. If you can get him running at opponents going forward, he can be deadly. So I have to keep the ball in a position where he only has to do that. If I cannot, then we become vulnerable.

 

“I don’t believe Zhegrova will ever be able to defend solidly, those aren’t his characteristics. When he has to defend, he becomes liquid,” added Spalletti.

 

“He can run back into position, but sometimes you’ve got to cling on to your opponent, to make it a physical duel. It’s not his style.” ............

 

“Roma are a side who will keep churning and churning, whereas we are not like that, we have moments where we drop out of the game, where we lose the ball cheaply, and lose sight of their wing-backs. They switch from side to side, so if we don’t manage to funnel them in one direction, we use up a lot of energy chasing them down.

 

“Even if they weren’t all that dangerous, their tempo, consistency, solidity, all that caused us problems in the first half. We also didn’t make the most of the counter-attacks that opened up. Their constant pressure, it wears you down, and you don’t have the energy needed to go on the counter.

 

“Gasperini’s teams create these mini-prisons that you feel like you have to break out of, there’s always someone on your back.” ............

 

Considering the fixture list has no more head-to-head clashes coming up, is that an opportunity for Juve to close up on the top?

 

“I feel like biting you when you ask me things like that,” Spalletti told the interviewer with a laugh.

 

“What does that mean, no big games? They are all difficult now. Winning, and learning from those teams who you manage to beat, represent a double victory, because they also give you self-belief and the knowledge you can fight it out with anyone.

 

“We pushed to the very end, and even when conceding that late goal, the team wanted more. Now we will keep working and hopefully try to claw back some more lost ground.”

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-double-victory-juventus-learn-roma/

 

Modificato Domenica alle 19:29 da Socrates

[Socrates 9528]

Openda: ‘Serie A is not easy, I know I had some bad games’

 

 

Lois Openda is very happy to have scored his first Serie A goal for Juventus in the 2-1 win over Roma. ‘It’s not an easy league, I know I had some bad games, but I will show more.’

 

The striker was given a rare start this evening at the Allianz Juventus Stadium and he got the decisive goal after the restart, when Francisco Conceicao had opened the scoring.

 

It was his first in the league, having already found the net in the Champions League success over Bodo/Glimt. ............

 

“Of course, it was an important goal, I’m happy to score my first goal in Serie A, but the most important thing was the win,” Openda said.

 

“The feeling for the team is good after winning and of course I am happy to have scored.” ............

 

“It’s not an easy league, my adaptation was not easy, it was not the best, but I always felt the support from everybody at the club and my family,” he explained.

 

“It just takes time, and in the last couple of weeks I’ve felt much better. It was tough at the start, new team, new league, new city, but I am happy now.

 

“After this game, I showed that I really want to help the team. I know that I had some bad games, some better, but I will show more in the next games for sure.” ............

 

“For me, the focus is to feel good here, to adapt well. It’s much, much better now, so I want to do well in every minute I get to play.

 

“As for the team, our objective is to win every game from now on. We did well in the last couple of games, we have something different now with the new coach, everything is in our hands. We’re going to give everything, 100 per cent, game by game.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/openda-serie-a-is-not-easy-had-some-bad-games/

 

Modificato Domenica alle 19:35 da Socrates

[Socrates 9528]

Locatelli reveals what ‘must not happen again’ as Juventus beat Roma

 

 

Manuel Locatelli insists Juventus must not show the same attitude they had in the first half against Napoli at the start of December, and is delighted by the spirit that the team showed against Roma this evening. ............

 

“As I said many times, we must think about winning games, then we’ll see where we are in March. The most important thing was to get a winning streak and confidence,” Locatelli said at a press conference.

 

“When you win games, self-esteem increases, and you can do things you could not do before. We must continue on this path without overthinking.

 

“We stayed in the game, we didn’t risk much, and we showed the right attitude. We won duels, and we played a great match in terms of spirit.”

 

Luciano Spalletti has said that Juventus players don’t realise how strong they are.

 

“He tells us so. The coach’s career speaks for itself, so we have to listen to him,” argued Locatelli.

 

“We are united as a group, we feel well together, and we follow what the coach says.”

 

Juventus have won six of their last seven games across all competitions and are now on a three-match winning streak, following a 2-1 away loss at Napoli at the beginning of December.

 

“After Napoli, we analysed the errors we had committed against a strong opponent, making some individual mistakes,” Locatelli said.

 

“We didn’t repeat the first half we played against Napoli, with that attitude, as it’s something that must not happen again.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/locatelli-not-happen-again-juventus-roma/

[Socrates 9528]

Juventus 2 - Roma 1: Initial reaction and random observations

 

 

For the second straight week, Juventus were lined up against a team in which they are in direct competition for a spot in the top four in Serie A. And it was maybe even a greater challenge than last week no matter how tough it has become to pick up three points in Bologna the last couple of years.

 

And just like last week, Juventus got a big win that Luciano Spalletti can almost certainly build off of and take into the new year.

 

In what was once again one of the better performances under Spalletti, Juventus continued their pursuit of a space in the top four. Coming into Saturday night’s showdown at the Allianz Stadium, we knew that Juve couldn’t overtake Roma just as they did with Bologna a week before. But with the 2-1 win over Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad, Juventus moved within a point of the fourth-place squad right in front of them. Plus, with everybody in front of them in the standings spending a few days in Saudi Arabia for the Supercoppa, it now means that things are even tighter between first place and fifth place than it was just a couple of hours earlier. ............

 

You can read it for yourself. Or you can just read what I’m about to say here: That’s four points between first place and Juventus down in fifth. It is a sign of how Spalletti is starting to get some things moving in the right direction, but also a reminder of just how much those dropped points are still holding Juve’s standing in the table back and will always be in the back of our heads no matter what happens over the next few weeks and months.

 

But with just one more fixture in the 2025 calendar year to go, Juventus were able to get through a big stretch in Serie A and the Champions League with only one loss to their name. It just so happens that the one loss was to Napoli, a team in which they could have beaten if they didn’t have a first half to completely forget. But even with that loss, Juve are right back in the mix thanks to their wins over Bologna and Roma within the span of a week. And with a schedule that is filled with mid- or lower-table teams over the next few weeks, this is the kind of momentum you’d hope they would be able to build and maybe have a big run in them going into the new year.

 

Plus, with the way they played for much of the night against Roma, there was just a whole lot to like.

 

Against a defense that had only allowed eight goals domestically this season, Juventus recorded a quarter of that total in quite impressive fashion. And if it wasn’t for a man of the match kind of performance from Mile Svilar in goal for Roma, that 2-1 scoreline could have been much more one-sided than that. Even before Francisco Conceição found the back of the net right on the cusp of first-half stoppage time, it was becoming evident that Juventus were very much up for it against such a strong defensive team. Spalletti, to his credit, got things right when it came to how he approached this, and Juve’s quick passing and overall movement was looking about as strong as it’s been in weeks, if not longer than that.

 

Throw in the second-half performance before Loïs Openda scored his first Serie A goal and made it 2-0 and you’ve got a team that had folks wondering what the heck they might have been watching. I mean, I know I was thinking it. The texts I got had the team of “Who is this team in black and white???” simply because they looked so much different than the team who had slogged through so many of their games before Spalletti arrived. There was just a different feeling about this one, and they showed it.

 

Even if they gave us a nervy final 15 minutes or so, this was Juventus getting a signature kind of win that their manager can point to and say that is the way. The positives far outweigh the negatives from this win — and the three points they got don’t hurt, either.

 

This was a Juventus that needs to be seen more often, folks. And that’s something I haven’t thought very often during this calendar year of 2025. Now to finish the year on a high note next weekend, right?

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• We need a prayer circle for Chico’s hamstring. That did not look good. Nor was his reaction to it.
• We also need a prayer circle for Gleison Bremer because we’re still not totally sure why he had to come off and if he’s actually injured again I’m not sure my heart can take such a thing.
• It was so disheartening to see Bremer sitting on the turf and have to be subbed off immediately after. The thing is, we don’t know if it’s just a match fitness thing or if there really is an injury there. So, unfortunately, for the second time in about three months, we’re waiting for Juve’s best defender to (maybe) visit J Medical to find out what’s wrong, if anything actually is.
• Plus, up until that point, Bremer was playing so damn well. He was just being his usual self — which is exactly what this team needs right now as they’re starting to build a nice little run. ............
• I STILL MISS YOU, PAULO. THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE.
• Then again, Juventus’ current No. 10 is pretty damn good, too. And a lot younger.
• Seriously, Yildiz is reaching the level where every single person who roots for Juventus in that stadium is basically moving to the edge of their seat and you can just feel the anticipation building with each touch on the ball he gets. I said the same kind of thing last season, too, but this is becoming to the point where he’s making things happen so often that it’s hard to forget he’s also still got so much room to grow. He’s good now — just wait until he’s 21, 22 or 23.
• That shot he slammed off the post that would have wrapped up the win, can you imagine the reaction in the stadium if that happened? There is one undeniable star on this roster and his name is Kenan Yildiz.
• That cross from Edon Zhegrova to Weston McKennie that led to the second goal — just beautiful, man.
• That turnover from Zhegrova that led to Roma’s only goal of the night — yeah, not as beautiful.
• Those moves from Zhegrova to make Roma defenders look stupid — those are better.
• Was this Openda’s best performance in a Juventus jersey? Yeah, I think it was. Once he got into the game, there was no looking back. He was a complete nuisance for Roma’s backline. ............
• Juventus finished with 2.33 xG … IN THIS ECONOMY?!?!?!
• Seriously, if not for Svilar, that’s a big win by a big margin. That guy is good.
• We salute a nice glass to this win. And a merry Christmas to all. That’s a reason to celebrate.

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/34806/juventus-as-roma-2025-serie-a-matchday-16-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 9528]

Juventus player ratings vs Roma: Locatelli tames the Wolves

 

 

In their last appearance at the Allianz Stadium in 2025, Juventus held on to earn a vital 2-1 win over Roma.

 

Francisco Conceicao broke the deadlock before the interval, and yet, the Bianconeri kept pushing for a second after the break. They were eventually rewarded for their efforts, with Lois Openda tapping in from close range. The Giallorossi pulled one back through Tommaso Baldanzi’s rebound, but they couldn’t find the equaliser. ............

Juventus XI (3-4-2-1)

Michele Di Gregorio – 6

 ............

Pierre Kalulu – 6.5

 ............

Gleison Bremer – 7

The returning Brazilian only lasted 60 minutes, but he kept Paulo Dybala at bay. He made crucial interceptions in delicate moments.

Lloyd Kelly – 6.5

 ............

Weston McKennie – 7.5

A massive outing from the club’s MVP in November, who prevailed in his duel against Wesley. He saw a close-range header denied by Mile Svilar, but he unselfishly laid the ball in Openda’s path after collecting the rebound.

Manuel Locatelli – 7.5

The Juventus captain reigned supreme in the middle of the park. He undeniably prevailed in his duel against Manu Kone, even launching a counterattack on one occasion after dispossessing the Frenchman.

Khephren Thuram – 7

 ............

Andrea Cambiaso – 7

 ............

Francisco Conceicao – 7.5

The Portuguese winger gave the Roman defenders nightmares every time he had the ball at his feet. Kept his composure to find the bottom corner with a clinical finish, and could have scored another two goals if it wasn’t for Svilar’s saves.

Kenan Yildiz – 7.5

The Turkish youngster didn’t register a goal or an assist, but he may have been the Bianconeri’s most influential player in the final third. Instigated back-to-back chances for Conceicao with his marvellous dribbling, which resulted in the opener, but was unlucky to see his fabulous effort crash against the post.

Lois Openda – 7

Aside from opening his Serie A account with an easy tap-in, the Belgian didn’t pose a direct goal threat for Roma. However, his movement and connection with his teammates were absolutely crucial for Juventus.

Substitutes

Edon Zhegrova – 6

A mixed bag from the Kosovar who created Juve’s second goal with a sublime cross to McKennie, before cheaply giving the ball away inside his own half, which culminated in Roma’s goal.

Daniele Rugani – 5.5

 ............

Jonathan David – N/A

Filip Kostic – N/A

Fabio Miretti – N/A

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-roma-locatelli-tames-the-wolves/

[Socrates 9528]

Spalletti explains what Juventus must avoid: ‘It gives me anxiety’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti was delighted with Juventus‘ performance against Roma, but urged the team to show even further improvement: ‘If you’re not modern in the way you play, you’ll pay for it.’ ............

 

“Roma are a team that play the same way regardless of the result. If you want to create space, you have to drop your defensive low block, but I’m never comfortable on the bench when the team is pinned back like that,” said the Juventus coach.

 

“Both Conceiçao and Yildiz did their defensive work in the second half. They filled the box of the game with other things too. We need to take steps forward in this regard, but every time we won the ball, we went close to scoring the third goal. In the second half, we were good at many things, almost everything. In the first half, we were always a bit late getting to their wing-backs; they forced us to drop deep, and we struggled, but we knew it would be like that.” ............

 

Does Spalletti enjoy seeing the team finally going on the right path?

 

“Enjoyment…I’m afraid I’ve never really felt it. I think I might have some kind of problem,” he replied with a smile.

 

“For me, enjoyment is seeing the players like they were in the dressing room; hugging each other, happy and smiling. My happiness always comes as a reflection of the people around me. That’s what makes me feel good.

 

“There are things we absolutely need to improve because they are within reach and yet we can’t find continuity.

 

“We have to get used to this constant change in the flow of the game. Roma always bring someone within a two-meter radius of you. We have to get used to this local battle. At times, it’s not 11 v. 11 but individual 1 v. 1 duels. Roma always won the second ball in the first half,” he continued.

 

“If you react, you are always late. It’s not about reacting, but anticipating what’s coming.

 

“Defenders need to be more involved when we have the ball. Do you play football just to take the ball away from someone? What kind of enjoyment is that? Roma do it differently. They were leaving just one man at the back; everyone else was inside the penalty area.” ............

 

“You just don’t sit there waiting for the referee’s final whistle because you won 2-1. It’s the wrong mentality; sooner or later, in modern football, you pay for it,” he said.

 

“If you’re not modern in the way you play, you’ll pay for it. It really upsets me when I see my team stuck on the edge of the box, unable to get out of the defensive phase; it gives me anxiety. Forget enjoyment. It really pisses me off, and it genuinely makes me awful.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-what-juventus-must-avoid-anxiety/

[Socrates 9528]

Dybala gets standing ovation from Juventus fans after Roma substitution

 

 

Juventus fans at the Allianz Stadium paid tribute to Paulo Dybala last night with a standing ovation when the Argentine was subbed off in the second half. ............

 

Dybala started the match against his former club at the Allianz Stadium and was subbed off at minute 56.

 

Dybala received a round of applause from his former fans when he was replaced. ............

 

Dybala joined Roma on a free transfer in 2022 after scoring 115 goals in 293 games with the Bianconeri from 2015 to 2022. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/dybala-standing-ovation-juventus-fans-roma/

[Socrates 9528]

Juventus duo provide positive updates after double injury scare

 

 

Juventus stars Francisco Conceicao and Gleison Bremer downplayed the episodes that led to their premature exits against Roma.

The duo were both highly influential in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Roma at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. ............

 

Curiously, Conceicao and Bremer both went to the ground at the same time just before the hour mark, which prompted a double substitution for Juventus.

 

Luciano Spalletti opted to bring in Edon Zhegrova and Daniele Rugani in their places, while the Allianz Stadium crowd saluted the exiting duo with a nervous cheer. ............

 

Luckily, the two stars offered some reassuring updates on their conditions while talking to the press after the game.

 

“We’ll see, but I don’t think it’s anything serious,” said Conceicao in his post-match interview. “The important thing was the win.” ............

 

“I had this bad injury, I came back well, and I’ve been working hard over the last two weeks, even mentally, because I knew I had to be ready,” said the Brazilian defender in his post-match interview.

 

“I wasn’t able to play the whole match, but that was expected. The important thing was to win.

 

“Spalletti is a very demanding coach, and rightly so. We’re at Juve: we always have to want more. He’s a good manager, and the fruits of his work are visible on the pitch.”

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-francisco-conceicao-gleison-breme-injury-roma/

[Socrates 9528]

Juventus lose Rugani for 6 weeks and have two more doubts for Pisa

 

 

Juventus were the ones left celebrating after a massively important 2-1 victory over Roma in Serie A on Saturday evening, but Luciano Spalletti now has to deal with another defensive injury and also has two new doubts approaching next weekend’s clash against Pisa. ............

 

The victory, however, has come at the expense of centre-back Daniele Rugani, who is now facing a spell of up to six weeks on the treatment table. ............

 

“Following the muscular problem that he suffered during the match between Juventus and Roma, Daniele Rugani underwent medical tests at JMedical this morning,” a statement from Juventus read.

 

“The examinations showed a medium-grade injury to the medial twin in his right leg. New checks will be carried out in 10 days to define the precise recovery time.” ............

 

The Roma match was his first appearance since early November, appearing off the bench for the final half hour in place of Gleison Bremer, who himself has also only recently returned from injury.

 

As things stand, Bremer, Pierre Kalulu and Lloyd Kelly are the only natural senior centre-back options for Spalletti’s 3-4-2-1, although Teun Koopmeiners has regularly filled in on the left of the back three in recent weeks. ............

 

Juventus have confirmed that Conceicao Weston McKennie also reported for medical check-ups on Sunday following Saturday’s victory over Roma.

 

The club have ruled out any serious injury fears, but it remains to be seen whether either will be fit enough to start against Pisa on December 27. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-lose-rugani-6-weeks-two-more-doubts/

Modificato Domenica alle 20:51 da Socrates

[Socrates 9528]

Le Pagelle: Juventus vs. Roma

 

 

Sunday was the last in Juventus’ three-game stretch against direct competitors at the top of the table, and they acquitted themselves as well as they have in quite some time. In what may have been the most complete performance we’ve seen the team put in since the false dawn of Mottaball against AC Milan this past January, they put a pair of goals past the league’s best defense and hung on after a late mistake to beat Roma 2-1, pulling themselves to within a point of the Giallorossi for fourth place.

 

It was a game where everyone contributed, and the ideas of Luciano Spalletti are starting to show themselves in the Bianconeri’s attacking play. ............

 

MICHELE DI GREGORIO - 6.5.  ............

PIERRE KALULU - 6.5.  ............

BREMER - 7.5. The big man was the absolute rock he’s always been in the hour that he was on the pitch. The stats are typically excellent: two tackles, five clearances, a pair of blocked shots, and an interception. Equally impressive was that he was able to effectively defend both Paulo Dybala as a false nine and Evan Ferguson as a traditional striker before he was forced off the field. Fortunately, it seems like that looked a lot worse than it was.

LLOYD KELLY - 6.5.  ............

WESTON McKENNIE - 7. Shone in every area of the field. Unlucky not to get that driving header past Mile Svilar but had the presence of mind not only to pounce on the rebound but to quickly realize that Loïs Openda was in a better position to score and poke it to him. Put in some great defensive work as well.

MANUEL LOCATELLI - 7. Registered a joint-team-high five tackles along with two clearances and a blocked shot. He’s fantastic cover for the defense, and his passing ability was incredibly helpful in the attack. Quite unlucky not to have an assist after Yildiz hit the post on that late counter.

KHÉPHREN THURAM - 6.  ............

ANDREA CAMBIASO - 6.  ............

FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 7.5. His dribbling is usually his strong suit, but in this match the big thing was how he moved off the ball. He was constantly finding spaces in the box for Yildiz and others to find him in, and he made the most of them, hitting the target with all three of his shots, including his excellent goal on the stroke of halftime. Added a pair of tackles in as well for an all-around performance.

 

 

KENAN YILDIZ - 7. Made a pair of key passes as well as the hockey assist on the opening goal. Every time he touched the ball in the attacking third, the crowd started to buzz. Deeply unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself late on after he damn near cracked the post in half.

LOÏS OPENDA - 7. Started slowly but got going once the team started supplying him with the right passes. He’s a nightmare for defenses when he can run into space, and he has a knack for being in the right place to follow up on other teammates’ shots. Made a pair of key passes and two tackles as well. He’s rounding into form at the right time.

SUBS

EDON ZHEGROVA - 6. Like Cambiaso, his contribution to the attack was excellent, but some defensive deficiencies cropped up as his time on the field wore on. The cross he put in that eventually led to Openda’s goal was absolutely gorgeous, the perfect height and weight for McKennie to put a ton of power into his header. But he lost the ball far too easily in the lead-up to Roma’s goal, which drags down his overall score.

DANIELE RUGANI - 6.  ............

JONATHAN DAVID - NR.  ............

FILIP KOSTIC - NR.  ............

FABIO MIRETTI - NR.  ............

MANAGER ANALYSIS

A lot of us were interested in seeing what might happen when Luciano Spalletti was able to train the team without a midweek fixture to worry about. The results so far are promising.

 

I don’t think I’ve seen Juve pass out of a press so well since the Streak was still going. Gasperini’s got one of the most ferocious and effective presses around, and there were times when the Bianconeri were able to work their way out of it with a bunch of one-touch passes. The team was more fluid in attack as well, both on the break and when the Roma defense was a bit more set. He’s definitely figured out the best way to use Openda, and other players like Thuram are starting to pull themselves into decent form.

 

Spalletti has not only steadied the ship, it looks like he’s gotten the pumps working and the engines moving again. It’s nowhere close to optimal—yet—but for the first time in a bit it actually looks like there’s a steady hand in the captain’s seat. Why that seems to be happening for Spalletti now and not when he was coaching the national team is a question for another time, but Juventini can be happy right now that there seems to finally be someone in the manager’s office that can not only calm things down but get results. ............

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/34827/le-pagelle-juventus-roma-player-ratings-manager-analysis-2025-serie-a-matchday-16-final-score-result-vs-roma

[Socrates 9528]

Capello on Spalletti’s effect: “I saw something in Juventus that I had never seen before

 

 

Legendary Italian football manager Fabio Capello noticed major improvements at Juventus following their 2-1 win over Roma.

 

The Bianconeri reduced the gap between them and their rivals from the capital to a single point, as they ended their 2025 home fixtures on a high note. ............

 

After the contest, Capello applauded the two clubs for their efforts. Nevertheless, the 79-year-old, who won the Scudetto title with both clubs, was far more impressed by the Juventus players, as even the attackers dropped back to help their teammates retrieve the ball.

 

“It was a wonderful match, hard-fought, with neither side looking to waste time,” noted the former Real Madrid and England manager in his post-match appearance. ............

 

“I saw something in Juventus that I had never seen before: when they lost the ball, every player reacted with great speed in dropping back and winning it again.”

 

This was also highlighted by Luciano Spalletti, who commended Kenan Yildiz and Conceicao for their defensive contribution. ............

 

“Juventus did not play better than Roma in the first half. Roma were clearly superior and far more proactive. The coach’s decisions leave me with a few doubts.

 

“But returning to Juventus, this is a genuinely healthy, determined side that plays well and, above all, shows creativity.

 

“Conceição’s goal was beautiful, but so were the other moves that allowed Juventus to threaten. Svilar did extremely well on three or four occasions, coming off his line with perfect timing to deal with advancing attackers.

 

“Still, the lingering doubt remains that Roma’s starting XI, having dominated the first half, performed better than Juventus.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/fabio-capello-juventus-roma/

[Socrates 9528]

“Getting closer” – Del Piero teases Juventus return, defends Agnelli family

 

 

Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero is leaving the door open for a future managerial role at his beloved club.

 

The 51-year-old was at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening to witness the Bianconeri’s 2-1 victory over Roma. He also donned a special jersey designed by Juventus in his honour. ............

 

“I had it (the shirt) given to me, and I put it on, hoping they’ll let me do a few passes. It’s a great honour for me,” said the 2006 World Cup winner.

 

“A return in a managerial role? I’m slowly getting closer… Now I’m here on the pitch, putting on the Juventus shirt. I’m slowly getting into the mix; let’s see if Spalletti notices me!” ............

 

“The offer of Tether comes because this is a glorious, fantastic club, one that, as you know, I love, and that so many people around the world love as well.

 

“Behind it, there is immense passion and a family that has carried this journey forward for 102 years; no ownership has ever been as long-standing and passionate as the Agnelli family. I experienced so many great moments, but also a dramatic one, like 2006 with relegation to Serie B. Yet the ownership was there even then, and that was perhaps the most important moment of all.”

 

“It’s easy to show up when you’re winning. The real strength has always been the ability to get back up. We did it in 2006, and we’ll do it again now, especially since another wound was reopened in 2022,” added the iconic striker.

 

“We must not confuse sporting results, the bitterness and dissatisfaction of the moment, with an extraordinary 102-year journey. In my view, that’s what John Elkann’s words mean. I like to underline it: they were there in the hardest moment, and they are still there. ............

 

 

“I had a chat with Bremer when I met him at JMedical three weeks ago and asked him how he was, because I know how important this player is. He has physical, mental, and tactical strength.”

 

The Juventus icon also hailed Francisco Conceicao, who scored the opener. He believes that the Portuguese is a vastly important player for the club thanks to his neat dribbling skills.

 

“Conceicao and I had greeted each other before the match, and I’m happy he scored. I hope it was a good omen.

 

“His unpredictability is crucial; he has the one-on-one skills that Roma are somewhat lacking. If Dybala or Soulè are missing… Players who can play one-on-one are crucial, especially in Italian football, where teams defend well.”

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/getting-closer-del-piero-teases-juventus-return-defends-agnelli-family/