Following Juventus’ wins over Bologna and Roma final month, we knew that the schedule would ease up a bit. Out goes opponents for the highest 4 and race for a European place, in would come the provincial sides lined up one after the other for the higher a part of the following 4 weeks.
We’re within the ultimate a part of these 4 weeks of that favorable schedule now, with a large three-game stretch domestically and in Europe on deck come the beginning of the brand new work week.
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However first, there’s that one final fixture earlier than larger ones arrive.
That fixture in opposition to one other certainly one of Serie A’s relegation battlers, Cagliari, takes Juventus to Sardinia this Saturday night time for what could possibly be a matchup that continues this very nice run of type Luciano Spalletti’s squad is presently on. With Napoli dropping factors but once more earlier within the week, this time in a scoreless draw in opposition to Parma, Juve are only one level behind the reigning champions who now now not have their recreation in hand. Meaning if the traits of the 2 squads proceed, Juventus may very properly be forward of Napoli and in third place when Antonio Conte’s squad make their method to Turin subsequent weekend for a large showdown on the Allianz Stadium.
Earlier than that, although — and earlier than Juve can change their focus to the return of the Champions League on Wednesday night time — there’s the matter of taking good care of enterprise in opposition to the membership that’s presently sitting in Sixteenth place within the Serie A standings.
It’s that Sixteenth-place standing that very a lot represents Cagliari’s type for a lot of this season. I say that as a result of on prime of struggling , they’ve gained all of two video games in all competitions since late September — a stretch of 17 video games that has seen them tumble down the standings after their shiny begin to the 2025-26 season.
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You see that type after which the shape that Juve are presently within the midst of and also you suppose that one other three factors are within the bag so long as Spalletti’s squad carry on taking part in like they’ve been taking part in. And that’s very a lot most likely the case. Nevertheless it’s additionally one thing that we most likely thought when Juventus confronted Lecce a few weeks in the past … and everyone knows how that one turned out.
So, as simple as it’s to sit up for what’s on the schedule come subsequent week (and the following 10 days), rely Spalletti as any individual who isn’t going to be falling into that entice. We all know that as a result of he mentioned so throughout his pre-match press convention on Friday.
“”For us proper now, the one recreation we’re fascinated by is the one away to Cagliari,“ the Tuscan tactician mentioned. ”In fact, there are plans past this weekend’s recreation, however we’re solely fascinated by what’s subsequent. … We’re specializing in one recreation at a time, learning every one with depth however with out overfilling the gamers’ heads.”
Positive, there may be some teaching cliché discuss there, nevertheless it’s additionally fairly true — particularly when you think about the very actual chance that Juventus may really finish the weekend in third place. That’s as a result of Napoli are combating three straight attracts to their identify and simply two wins of their final six video games. The stress could be very a lot on them to try to flip issues round in some kind of method earlier than they’ve their very own return to the Champions League after which make the journey to Turin subsequent weekend.
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Stress on Juventus? Probably not. They actually aren’t taking part in prefer it for the time being. They’re wanting some type of reverse to that, with this run of provincial golf equipment on the schedule actually being the factor that has allowed Spalletti to construct some momentum and get his new squad on a pleasant run of outcomes. (Sure, even with the extremely irritating draw in opposition to Lecce thrown in there as properly.)
That is Juventus’ likelihood to both bounce over or pull even with Napoli this weekend … or simply put themselves able to do the identical factor subsequent weekend. An improved run of type has allowed Juventus to have the ability to say that. Now it’s all about merely taking good care of enterprise yet another time in opposition to a relegation battler earlier than a lot larger fixtures arrive.
And the way issues are going proper now, you most likely have a fairly good feeling that may occur precisely as you hope.
TEAM NEWS
Kenan Yildiz missed coaching on Thursday because of a light case of the flu.
Higher information to return out of Continassa on Thursday: Each Federico Gatti and Francisco Conceição returned to coaching with the group after lacking time because of their respective accidents. Gatti has been out since early December because of meniscus surgical procedure.
With Gatti and Conceição again within the fold, which means the one three Juventus gamers out injured are Dusan Vlahovic, Daniele Rugani and, in fact, Arek Milik.
How did Spalletti describe Manuel Locatelli’s affect on this staff proper now? “He’s an ideal participant for offering stability,” he mentioned. Fairly good praise, that.
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JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH
Kenan Yildiz has been battling some flu signs the final couple of days, so it’s not completely recognized simply how near 100% he will likely be this weekend. Chico Conceição is, once more, simply again from a minor-ish muscle harm and doubtless gained’t be capable to deal with a heavy workload. Edon Zhegrova continues to be on a minutes restrict as he has remained an choice off the bench and nearly solely that.
So it solely is sensible to speak concerning the one superior participant that’s most likely at full-steam-ahead mode for the time being.
Are we within the midst of Fabio Miretti’s greatest run of type since he broke into the senior squad at Juventus as a teen a couple of years in the past? Perhaps! He’s actually taking part in fairly properly throughout his first prolonged interval of taking part in time since coming back from his mortgage spell at Genoa over the summer time.
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And also you higher imagine that recognized that Miretti now wears the identical equipment variety of a sure former Juventus midfielder who .
Regardless of the place you fall within the discourse, Miretti has been a considerably stunning contributor in current weeks just because we weren’t completely positive the place he would match into Spalletti’s plans. Was he going to play in a pivot? Would he play additional up the sector? May he deal with issues if he did play additional up the sector and be a supply of creativity as Juventus’ different forwards/wingers often are?
Effectively, my buddies, I’ve received some information for you … Miretti’s doing fairly OK on this superior position.
Say regardless of the heck you need concerning the stage of opposition Juventus have performed in opposition to within the final couple of weeks, however Miretti being a authentic contributor to wins each by way of scoring objectives and creating scoring probabilities for his teammates was one thing we would not have anticipated in such a thrust into the forefront type of method. Spalletti clearly charges Miretti, who at 22 simply seems far more comfy on the sector in comparison with the times earlier than he went on mortgage to Genoa for the 2024-25 season.
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This model of Miretti, one which Juve may actually use with regards to manufacturing going ahead over the following few weeks with so many large video games on the schedule, is beginning to appear like the participant who many people hoped he may become when he was nonetheless a teen. Among the passes he’s dished out the final couple of video games are a number of the greatest we’ve seen from any Juve participant this season. On prime of that, the superior position he’s now taking part in in — be it as a No. 10 or as one of many attacking mids when Spalletti goes with extra of a three-man protection — is one thing he’s actually taken to.
Now, very similar to the staff as a complete going into subsequent week’s large fixtures, he simply must maintain it going. He does that and hopefully good issues proceed to occur as a result of he’s been a giant a part of Juve’s final couple of wins.
MATCH INFO
When: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
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The place: Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy.
Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. native time in Italy 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 (Canada); TNT Sports activities 1, TNT Sports activities 3 (United Kingdom); Sky Sport Calcio, Sky Sport 251 (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 dwell viewing choices will be discovered , and as at all times, you too can comply with together with us dwell and all of the silly issues we are saying . For those who haven’t already, on Black & White & Learn All Over, and be a part of within the dialogue beneath.