With simply three video games to go within the 2025-26 season, Juventus have the possibility to see the house stretch go one in all two methods. They’ll both maintain agency on their slim, one-point margin over fifth-place Roma (and in sixth place) and qualify for the Champions League. Or, they’ll fumble away what was a superb benefit to have simply a few weeks in the past, seeing probabilities to wrap issues up go by the wayside and drop down into a possible doomsday state of affairs relating to the core of the roster and the funds of the membership.
One a part of this fork within the highway is the great possibility.
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The opposite is … properly, mainly the other of that.
So how do you stop a actuality the place Juventus stroll by way of the less-than-desirable Door No. 2? You and shut your closing three video games with nothing however three factors.
One week after lining up in opposition to a crew that had simply been formally relegated to Serie B, Juventus now face a crew that’s attempting to not be part of in Italy’s second division subsequent season. As issues stand proper now, Lecce’s standing in seventeenth place is definitely trying a bit of higher than Juve’s in fourth. Lecce are 4 factors forward of relating to the ultimate relegation spot, with Hellas Verona and mathematically relegated through the opening hours of Matchday 35 final week. Come Saturday night time on the By way of Del Mare, any type of taking factors off Juventus will imply Lecce’s standing in Serie A for subsequent season is simply that a lot appears to be like that significantly better. However on the identical time, it might imply the potential and dread Door No. 2 possibility for Luciano Spalletti of turning into that rather more of a actuality.
Contemplating Juventus’ closing two fixtures of the season are in opposition to two groups, and Torino (on the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino), who would completely like to see the Bianconeri’s Champions League hopes go up in smoke proper in entrance of the end line, going into these two matchups in even worse form than issues might seem now could be probably the ultimate nail within the coffin. Or least that’s how it might really feel from the surface.
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As bizarre because the previous few days have been as a result of whenever you drop factors in opposition to a crew that’s already been relegated and see your benefit in fourth place minimize to a single level it’s not like you may really feel nice about issues, Juventus are nonetheless within the driver’s seat. They’ll management their very own future. You win the ultimate three video games of the season and also you’re within the Champions League once more. It gained’t matter what Roma does. It gained’t matter what Como does, both. Three wins and also you’re in — easy as that.
put it finest : “We all know all of it will depend on us.”
That’s seven easy phrases from the person who wears the captain’s armband at Juventus. The phrases are easy, however because the Bianconeri confirmed final weekend, really doing so in opposition to one of many worst groups within the league — that’s already been relegated right down to Serie B, too! — isn’t so simple as it seems on paper. (It ought to have been however it wasn’t. As a result of this crew simply shoots itself within the foot so many rattling occasions.)
Spalletti was simply as direct — or no less than in his personal particular approach since he’s a really philosophical when on the microphone — when discussing Juve’s present scenario in regard to Champions League qualification.
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“In some methods, although, the trail is now clearer, there’s just one approach ahead, with no room for distraction,” he stated . “You don’t threat getting there while harbouring doubts about how it is best to behave. It’s a must to be resolute in your selections and intentions. That’s what makes the distinction, we have to do one thing that breaks the monotony, the routine.”
So now after going through a crew that had nothing left to play for aside from pleasure (and possibly auditioning for his or her subsequent crew), you might be going through a second straight provincial aspect that has a complete lot on the road once they take the sphere on Saturday night time.
One thing that’s true: Lecce has extra wins over the past couple of matchdays Juventus. Critically, that’s a factor. Have they been nice over their final six video games, not to mention the previous few months? After all not, and that may be a large cause why they’re just some factors out of the relegation zone as in comparison with a way more snug place with three video games to go. They’re nonetheless preventing for his or her lives in Serie A, and a loss to Juventus plus Cremonese beating Pisa on Sunday might make for an extremely annoying closing two weeks of the season for Eusebio Di Francesco.
So, that is no pushover. Juve might have gained the final 4 of six conferences in opposition to Lecce since their return to Serie A, however only a few of them have been dominant or runaway sorts of victories. This might very properly be one other a type of circumstances the place it’s 1-0 or 2-1 and also you’re going to should grind out each single minute during which you have got the lead regardless of the actual fact you’re enjoying in opposition to one of many statistically worst groups in Serie A.
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Then once more, Juve’s already dropped factors in opposition to Lecce as soon as this season — ! — so it may not be out of the realm of potentialities that you simply’re critically worrying about that taking place once more. You definitely gained’t be alone there, my good friend.
However like Spalletti and Locatelli have each stated, Juventus have their destiny of their arms. They get all three factors and so they’re heading again to Turin simply that a lot nearer to qualifying for the Champions League. It may not be a scenario that’s wrapped up a few weeks early like we hoped, however the extra you may stop the catastrophe scenario from taking place then the higher your possibilities of moving into the competitors with the world-famous anthem find yourself being.
No person needs to see Door No. 2 change into a actuality. Not Spalletti, not Locatelli, not any of us.
TEAM NEWS
The excellent news? For the previous three days, just about all people who’s presently out there to Spalletti has educated with the group. No extra questioning about if has educated individually or together with his teammates. None of that with Khephren Thuram or .
The one two gamers out injured in opposition to Lecce are and , with each gamers having suffered season-ending accidents final month.
There at the moment are three Juventus gamers who’re one yellow card away from suspension: , and Manuel Locatelli. With three video games to go and Juventus’ slim benefit in fourth place, this looks like an necessary factor to remember.
The largest piece of squad information to return out of Spalletti’s pre-match press convention: Vlahovic might very properly be within the beginning lineup. “Let’s not place an excessive amount of duty on him both, crew cohesion comes from many issues,” Spalletti stated of Vlahovic, who hasn’t began a recreation since Juve’s late-November win over during which he needed to come off after half-hour on account of damage.
Regardless that we haven’t seen a lot of him over the past couple of months, Spalletti stated that Loïs falling out of the rotation is one in all his “unmentioned errors” as Juventus supervisor. “If I didn’t play him, it’s as a result of I assumed the others have been higher and will give us extra ends in these video games,” Spalletti added.
Solely six of Juventus’ 17 away video games this season have seen three targets or extra be scored. Take that as you’ll forward of a visit to a stadium during which .
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JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH
So Spalletti stated Vlahovic might very properly be within the beginning lineup in opposition to Lecce?
And also you assume we gained’t take that probability to speak once more a couple of Juventus attacking participant for very apparent causes?
After all we are going to. Each single time Lucio opens that door, we are going to take that probability.
Sure, Vlahovic may very well be within the beginning lineup and having Yildiz and Chico Conceição flanking him in assault in opposition to Lecce on Saturday night time. In a approach, possibly that is what Spalletti hoped for all alongside and needed ever because the early weeks of his managerial tenure at Juventus up till Vlahovic received harm and subsequently missed near 4 months because of this.
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However for Spalletti to say one thing like this throughout which a time that he doesn’t at all times have press conferences and doesn’t normally touch upon the beginning lineup possibilities of gamers, it has to imply one thing. Or possibly that’s simply me studying an excessive amount of into it. Or possibly it’s simply me hoping that the simple choose to fill out this part of the preview really involves fruition.
Understandably, it’s been a little bit of a combined bag for Vlahovic in his first couple of appearances off the bench since getting back from his minor muscle damage he picked up whereas warming as much as probably come on in opposition to . There’s been some good issues, however there’s additionally been some traditional not-so-good issues from Vlahovic that has you simply shaking your head since you’ve seen them so many occasions over the previous few years.
The factor is, although, the alternate options aren’t precisely inspiring. Is Vlahovic a greater possibility than proper now? Possibly. That’s mainly what it’s right down to for Spalletti and what he’s in all probability asking himself. Does this Juventus crew have a greater probability of scoring targets and successful on Saturday night time (after which the subsequent two weeks) if it’s Vlahovic or David beginning up entrance? It doesn’t appear so easy, however possibly that’s simply me.
On the very least, if Vlahovic does play from the beginning, it is going to be good for Juventus to have any individual who is taken into account a reasonably good free kicker taker. As a result of as he proved final weekend, he can try this properly and it does really convey one thing to the desk as in comparison with the conventional state of Juve’s menace from free kicks.
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MATCH INFO
When: Saturday, Could 9, 2026.
The place: Stadio By way of Del Mare, Lecce, Italy.
Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. native time in and throughout Europe, 7:45 p.m. in the UK, 2:45 p.m. Japanese time, 1:45 p.m. Central time, 11:45 a.m. Pacific time.
HOW TO WATCH
Tv: TLN (); TNT Sports activities 2 (United Kingdom); Sky Sport Calcio, Sky Sport 251 (Italy).
On-line/Streaming: , Amazon Prime USA, DAZN USA (United States); DAZN Canada; fuboTV Canada (Canada); DAZN UK (United Kingdom); DAZN Italy, Sky Go Italia, NOW TV (Italy).
Different dwell viewing choices could be discovered , and as at all times, you can even comply with together with us dwell and all of the silly issues we are saying . In case you haven’t already, on Black & White & Learn All Over, and be part of within the dialogue beneath.