We knew as soon as Juventus acquired by way of three straight video games towards golf equipment which might be direct competitors for the highest 4 (after which some) in Serie A, the schedule was going to develop into much more favorable and a string of provincial golf equipment would arrive.
Juventus closed out 2025 with an opponent very a lot within the relegation zone. They’ll start 2026 with an opponent who’s simply exterior the relegation zone — which comes after a season wherein they completed only one desk place from getting despatched again to Serie B. As Lecce make their approach to the Allianz Stadium for Saturday night time’s matchup, it comes at a time the place it’s not simply the primary fixture of 2026 — it’s additionally the start of a month of January that’s full of very winnable video games in addition to the possibility to construct some severe momentum earlier than the Champions League comes again into focus in a few weeks.
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Juventus closed 2025 with three straight wins and have some very constructive discuss coming from the members of the squad who had been hoping Luciano Spalletti’s arrival introduced some brighter days.
On the subject of Spalletti himself, he’s making an attempt to not get too far forward of himself as a result of he is aware of full nicely how rapidly issues can flip once more — particularly with so many video games on the schedule over the subsequent three or 4 weeks.
“I count on continuity, maybe including one thing on the pitch that may give us much more energy,” Spalletti stated throughout Friday’s pre-match press convention. “My crew has what it takes to compete towards anybody. We’ve got an intense interval forward of us, with many video games in fast succession.”
That continuity principally boils all the way down to Juventus extending their successful run past simply Lecce. As we all know, the fixtures towards the provincial sides will be tough, however they’re additionally going to be ones the place Juve can rack up some factors in fast succession the subsequent two weeks. With issues so tight on the prime of the desk between Juventus in fifth and Inter Milan in first earlier than Matchday 18 acquired underway, there’s the possibility to each transfer up as others round them probably drop factors towards more durable opposition but in addition reap the benefits of potential chaos in entrance of them.
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Over the subsequent 4 matchdays, Juventus will face golf equipment who’re at the moment sixteenth, ninth, twelfth and 14th earlier than they journey to the Principality to face Monaco on the penultimate spherical of the Champions League league section. Not all of these are easy by any means — wanting proper at you, ninth-place Sassuolo — however they’re all video games wherein Juventus ought to come away with three factors and proceed this successful run that Spalletti has cultivated following the loss to Napoli in southern Italy.
Talking of that point beneath Spalletti, following the win over Pisa to shut out 2025 that really feel relevant proper now:
BOUNCE | The Bianconeri are averaging 2.1 factors per recreation beneath Luciano Spalletti (17 in eight video games) in comparison with 1.7 per recreation within the 9 earlier than his arrival (15 factors from these video games).
AIRTIGHT | Juventus have stored a clear sheet in three of their final 4 video games throughout all competitions, as many as of their earlier 18 matches. They’ve additionally shut out their opponents of their final two away journeys.
You know the way you retain these sorts of numbers going and make that 2.1 factors per recreation determine look even higher in just a few weeks? You beat the mid- and lower-table groups which might be subsequent up in your schedule. On the season, Lecce’s numbers look quite a bit like what we stated about Pisa final weekend, and that could be a recreation wherein Juve had been finally capable of win after a not-so-great first-half efficiency. Contemplating we all know this Juventus crew remains to be looking for consistency in assault exterior of gamers named Kenan Yildiz, that may find yourself being the case towards the provincial sides which might be going to sit down again and try to get some type of end result.
Then once more, it’s not like Eusebio Di Francesco-managed groups are identified for his or her defensive prowess. Or their tendency to sit down again and attempt to simply soak up stress regardless of the place he’s employed.
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Both manner, Spalletti is aware of that his crew must proceed the late-2025 vibes into 2026. They should hold successful. They should hold constructing on what they’ve carried out since dropping to Napoli. As a result of what’s ready late in January in addition to two crucial Champions League fixtures? Oh, proper. It’s Napoli once more.
So that you deal with enterprise towards the provincial golf equipment which might be stacked up one after one other and you then reap the rewards of these victories — which, on this case, can be a pleasant successful run with the defending champions and so they’re well-known supervisor coming to Turin later this month.
However first, although, you must take that first step towards Lecce this weekend and start this run of seven video games within the month of January on a constructive (and successful) word.
TEAM NEWS
Francisco Conceição returned to full coaching on New Yr’s Day and might be obtainable for choice after lacking the ultimate fixture of 2025 as a consequence of his minor hamstring harm picked up towards Roma the week prior.
Spalletti stated at his pre-match press convention that each Federico Gatti and Daniele Rugani will each nonetheless be out of motion as a consequence of their respective accidents.
Meaning the massive three accidents might be: Gatti, Rugani and Dusan Vlahovic, who remains to be at the very least a few months away from returning to motion.
Additionally a doubt to be known as as much as face Lecce: Arek Milik, who Spalletti stated “has had a minor challenge and might be assessed (Saturday) morning.”
Spalletti did add that Juan Cabal might be again within the squad this weekend after coping with some minor muscle fatigue over the past couple of weeks.
Primavera prospect Future Elimoghale has been coaching with the senior squad just lately, with Spalletti saying of the 16-year-old Italian winger: “He’s anyone with traits that recommend he has an enormous future forward of him. We have to assist him develop in the best manner, giving him the chance to be taught on the proper tempo.” There is no such thing as a indication that Elimoghale — who was a part of Italy’s Beneath-17 World Cup squad final month — might be known as up, however him coaching with the primary crew is an efficient signal of what Spalletti and the membership as a complete consider him regardless of his very younger age.
The 2 huge lineup selections it seems Spalletti has to make forward of dealing with Lecce is whether or not to go together with Teun Koopmeiners or Lloyd Kelly on the left facet of the three-man backline in addition to the standard decide between Loïs Openda and Jonathan David in assault.
Former Juventus captain Danilo is reportedly going to be in attendance for Saturday’s recreation. Danilo’s season with Flamengo within the Brazilian Serie A received’t get underway till subsequent weekend.
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JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH
I’m going to go forward and guess that I wasn’t the one one sitting round and pondering “Juventus don’t have any different inventive outlet aside from Yildiz” throughout a lot of the primary half of final weekend’s win over Lecce.
That was as a result of a small but electrical Portuguese winger was again dwelling in Turin watching on TV.
Nicely, he’s again now. And right here’s to hoping that
As famous above, Spalletti stated that Francisco Conceição has recovered and might be obtainable to play towards Lecce on Saturday. Whereas Spalletti didn’t say so particularly, we will most likely assume that he might be within the beginning lineup contemplating the opposite choices which might be obtainable to play reverse Yildiz within the different quasi-winger position behind the striker. (Please be capable to play some extra minutes this month, Edon, as a result of that might be good.)
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And in case you keep in mind simply how a lot of a Koopmeiners-centric battle it was to have creativity from anyone aside from Yildiz final weekend, then you’ll be able to most likely think about that Conceição returning to the lineup is a welcome growth.
We noticed glimpses of that towards Roma — and never simply because Conceição ended up being the one who scored the opening objective to offer Juve the lead two weeks in the past. However Conceição being on the sphere simply implies that the opposing protection can’t commit nearly all of their consideration onto Yildiz as Pisa did with three and generally 4 our bodies following the motion of Juventus’ gifted No. 10. Mix that with smaller golf equipment more likely to arrange with a deepeer backline and also you’ve acquired the necessity to have people break issues down somewhat than rely solely on the motion of a number of gamers opening up areas to function since issues are so congested.
Seems like a job Conceição can do, proper?
Yeah, looks like he can. And hopefully that occurs this weekend in order that issues generally is a little much less irritating towards Lecce in entrance of the hometown crowd in Turin in comparison with what issues had been like in Pisa seven days earlier.
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MATCH INFO
When: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.
The place: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy.
Official kickoff time: 6 p.m. native time in Italy and throughout Europe, 5 p.m. in the UK, 12 p.m. Jap time, 11 a.m. Central time, 9 a.m. Pacific time.
HOW TO WATCH
Tv: No over-the-air or cable choices in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom or Italy.
On-line/Streaming: , CBS Sports activities Golazo Community, DAZN USA, Amazon Prime Video (United States); DAZN Canada; fuboTV Canada (Canada); DAZN UK (United Kingdom); DAZN Italia, Sky Go Italia (Italy).
Different stay viewing choices will be discovered , and as at all times, you can too observe together with us stay 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.