At this level, the overall feeling concerning Juventus’ month of February is one thing that doesn’t precisely contain the form of language that the bosses would really like us to jot down throughout the physique of this put up. You recognize these ideas, nonetheless, have been expressed offline, and that the truth of Juve’s large second month of 2026 has been removed from what they’ve wanted to see happen to get some critical late-season second constructing.
Briefly, Juventus’ February has been a large letdown.
Commercial
They’re out of the Coppa Italia. Their Champions League hopes are on life assist, if not on the point of flat-lining coming into subsequent week’s second leg. And in Serie A, the battle for fourth place sees Juve now out of the highest 4 as we begin to method the purpose within the season the place we depend the variety of video games remaining on our two arms.
So after permitting 13 objectives of their final 4 video games and never profitable any of them — nearly like these two issues are linked! — Juve return house to attempt to document a get-right form of win over a Como facet that’s instantly behind them within the Serie A standings. Each groups are coming off midweek disappointment of their respective fixtures, however the truth that Como is all of 4 factors behind Juve within the standings is a reminder of simply how large of a sport that is each to easily maintain tempo with these in entrance of them at minimal and to doubtlessly achieve floor and get nearer to the highest 4 if anyone have been to slide up this weekend.
Saturday afternoon’s fixture actually has a fragile form of tone to it contemplating what came about the final time Juventus have been on the sphere and seeing considered one of their heaviest European defeats happen. The Allianz Stadium has been beginning to sound slightly bit like higher days of years previous, however the actuality of the squad’s present kind may very properly make for a return of the anxious form of vibe that has been current in Turin the previous few years.
However hey, at the least Nico Paz will probably be suspended after getting a yellow card in opposition to AC Milan on Wednesday, proper?
Commercial
At this price, any form of excellent news is welcome. That’s just because there hasn’t been plenty of excellent news in February. It’s beginning to look rather a lot like final February, with only some quick days to go earlier than Serie A possible turns into Juventus’ solely level of focus. That’s, except a minor miracle can occur in opposition to the identical crew that simply romped to a 5-2 win over these identical Juve gamers who’re wanting awfully drained in the intervening time.
However relaxation?
Ha, there isn’t any relaxation in terms of this sport in The 12 months of Our Lord 2026.
So now as they put together to play their sixth fixture throughout the span of the primary three weeks in February, Juventus must determine one thing out — and quick — to attempt to simply get again on monitor and doubtlessly again into the win column. What’s that realizing that their depth is missing and their most essential gamers are both exhibiting indicators of fatigue, are banged up in additional methods than one, each of these earlier two choices or simply merely not obtainable? It’s laborious to actually say. However in terms of what Luciano Spalletti can repair within the quick future, there’s actually just one factor that may attempt to do.
Commercial
Simply get again on the horse. Irrespective of how drained you could be.
“We acknowledge the newest outcomes and now now we have to determine what to do about them and the right way to react: it’s our consciousness of the crew’s power that may inform us how issues will end up,” Spalletti stated throughout Friday’s pre-match press convention. “We have to analyze the scenario accurately and objectively, utilizing this ache as a springboard to propel us upwards once more. I spoke of three steps again after the match in Istanbul in opposition to Galatasaray. We mentioned this with the gamers in a gathering, and I hope that these three steps again will function a operating begin to give us extra momentum and a fantastic response within the upcoming challenges.”
Juventus have the second leg in opposition to Galatasaray subsequent up on the schedule. They’ve a visit to the Italian capital after that subsequent weekend. The month of February has been unrelenting and is exhibiting that the great issues that Spalletti has completed generally can’t overcome the shortcomings that this crew nonetheless very a lot has. However first they should attempt to get again on monitor in opposition to a Como facet which might be nonetheless very a lot in play to get into European soccer subsequent season.
They could be with out their greatest participant on Saturday, however Como usually are not going to be a straightforward three factors that Juventus can financial institution on by any stretch. Nico Paz could be watching the sport by the well-known lake, however there are nonetheless loads of different gamers that may do harm in Turin this weekend. We all know that based mostly merely on when Igor Tudor’s remaining days as supervisor on the membership have been approaching.
Commercial
Whereas Spalletti isn’t in that territory in terms of his job standing, we’re seeing the identical form of issues go flawed for Juventus that we noticed happen 12 months in the past. There’s most likely extra religion in Spalletti turning issues round greater than the earlier two managers that Juve has had, however there’s going to have to an enormous quantity of enchancment — and quick — if Juve wish to see that large matchup in opposition to Roma subsequent weekend be one which has us feeling good about this squad once more.
It begins with what they do in opposition to Como on Saturday. And hopefully it simply goes slightly bit totally different than what we noticed alongside Lake Como 4 months in the past.
TEAM NEWS
Juventus will probably be sporting for Saturday’s sport in opposition to Como. It was impressed by the shirt the squad sported in the course of the 1996-97 season.
To the shock of no person round right here, Pierre Kalulu nonetheless has to serve a one-game suspension for his undeserved double yellow in opposition to Inter although nearly all people concerned has stated he didn’t deserve any of it. So yeah, no shock there contemplating what league that is and who runs it.
The person who would have stepped in for Kalulu — who gained’t be in Juve’s beginning lineup for the primary time this season on Saturday — in opposition to Como can also be injured, with Emil Holm choosing up a muscle harm that may maintain him out for at the least a month.
Spalletti additionally dominated out Gleison Bremer for Saturday’s matchup in opposition to Como, with the massive Brazilian defender nonetheless very a lot in “day-to-day” territory and in a race to be wholesome sufficient for the second leg in opposition to Galatasaray on Wednesday.
Whereas Bremer has been dominated out, Spalletti stated that Jonathan David will probably be again within the squad after lacking the primary leg in opposition to Galatasaray. He doubtless gained’t be within the beginning lineup having educated individually all week, but it surely’s at the least an possibility off the bench for Spalletti throughout a time wherein he has little or no wiggle room.
Apart from Bremer and Holm, the one two different injured gamers are Dusan Vlahovic and (after all) Arek Milik.
When requested a few potential change in aim, Spalletti reaffirmed that Michele Di Gregorio is Juventus’ starter regardless of latest criticism about how he’s performed domestically and in Europe.
Two Juventus gamers, Weston McKennie and Manuel Locatelli, are one yellow card away from having to serve a one-game suspension. With Roma subsequent up domestically, this seems like an essential factor to notice.
JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH
No Bremer. No actual fullbacks obtainable. (Properly, technically there are, however they’re not precisely defensive specialists, which feels slightly little bit of the aim being defeated.) No actually defensive stability of late.
Commercial
So, yeah, Let’s simply go forward and speak about someone in protection.
If not for Federico La Penna’s disastrous exhibiting because the match referee final weekend in opposition to Inter, there isn’t any doubt that the Federico who could be drawing essentially the most quantity of ire of plenty of Juve helps could be the one with the surname of Gatti. If solely his kind since getting back from harm had look nearly as good as his hair is wanting lately as in comparison with what his kind has been over his previous handful of appearances meniscus surgical procedure.
With Kalulu being suspended and Bremer being dominated out for Saturday’s sport in opposition to Como, many count on Spalletti to change to extra of a again three setup that he used throughout his first few weeks as Juventus supervisor. And on account of all of that, that might imply Gatti is again within the beginning lineup for simply his second begin of the 2026 calendar yr.
Commercial
In his earlier 4 appearances since coming again into the fold within the new yr, Gatti has regarded — as you’ll count on from someone who missed practically two months as a consequence of knee surgical procedure — rusty and much from how he performed for a lot of final season when he was the strolling definition of gritting his enamel by means of fatigue. However in these 4 appearances, Gatti has regarded rusty and gradual, and none was extra consultant of that after he got here on for Bremer late within the first half in opposition to Galatasaray.
In opposition to a Nico Paz-less Como, Juve will nonetheless be underneath loads of stress as a result of that’s how Cesc Fabregas’ squad desires to attempt to assault you. Meaning Gatti — together with Lloyd Kelly and certain Teun Koopmeiners if it’s a again three from Spalletti — will probably be a busy man and making an attempt to decelerate a Como squad that is likely one of the highest-scoring groups in Serie A this season.
We don’t understand how lengthy Bremer will probably be out of motion. However we do know that whereas he’s out, Juve will want someone to step up in his absence. Gatti looks as if one of many largest choices to do this — so long as he appears to be like extra just like the participant from final season reasonably than the one we’ve seen the previous few weeks.
MATCH INFO
When: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
Commercial
The place: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy.
Official kickoff time: 3 p.m. native time in Italy and throughout Europe, 2 p.m. in the UK, 9 a.m. Japanese time, 8 a.m. Central time, 6 a.m. Pacific time.
HOW TO WATCH
Tv: No over-the-air or cable channels obtainable in the US, Canada, United Kingdom or Italy.
On-line/Streaming: , CBS Sports activities Golazo Community, Amazon Prime USA, DAZN USA, fuboTV (United States); DAZN Canada; fuboTV Canada (Canada); DAZN UK (United Kingdom); DAZN Italy (Italy).
Different reside viewing choices will be discovered , and as all the time, you can even comply with together with us reside and all of the silly issues we are saying . Should you haven’t already, on Black & White & Learn All Over, and be a part of within the dialogue under.