Juventus Faces Early Season Struggles Under Luciano Spalletti
Juventus sits in sixth place in Serie A with 11 points after opening the campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Cagliari at the Unipol Domus stadium, Yahoo Sports reported. The Turin club currently stands five points adrift from league leaders Inter and Lazio, who share the top spot with 16 points each.
Significant concern surrounds the Italian giants following a trajectory that closely mirrors the run leading to Igor Tudor’s sacking last season. During their opening six matches, Tudor collected 12 points—surpassing Spalletti’s current total by one—while both tacticians posted identical records featuring nine goals scored and five conceded.
Although the Juventus board extended Spalletti’s contract through June 2028 last April, the club could part ways with the former Roma, Inter, and Napoli coach if current form does not improve. Giovanni Albanse of La Gazzetta dello Sport highlights several key challenges facing the manager at the helm of Juventus this season.
A Substandard Attack and Underwhelming Signings
When Juventus brought back Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani this summer, expectations were high for the 27-year-old striker to replicate his form from his first spell in Italy during the 2024-25 season. Kolo Muani amassed eight goals and one assist in 16 appearances after arriving on a six-month loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2025.
However, the €41m transfer is yet to pay off as Kolo Muani has only managed to score one goal within the opening six games of the season. Spalletti attempted to redesign the attacking line by allowing Kolo Muani to roam freely at the top while Argentine Nico Gonzalez acts as a second striker making runs in behind. Despite this tactical shift, the forward continues to misfire in the final third.
Nick Woltemade has also struggled since arriving on deadline day on loan from Newcastle United. The 24-year-old German international has not amassed a single goal in four appearances for the Bianconeri in Serie A, lacking a clinical edge in front of goal.
Squad Depth and Injury Concerns
Spalletti manages a compact fixture list with a depleted squad as key players face spells on the sidelines. Recent fixtures have been played without several injured members: Turkish rising star Kenan Yildiz, captain Manuel Locatelli, Frenchman Khephren Thuram, former Genoa forward Jeff Ekhator, and 29-year-old winger Jeremie Boga.
The lack of depth and unavailability of core personnel have decreased squad quality, contributing to a sluggish run where Juventus recorded only one win in their last four Serie A fixtures.
Fixture Against Lazio at the Allianz Stadium
The upcoming fixture against Lazio at the Allianz stadium marks a crucial encounter in the race for Champions League qualification. The match carries heavy stakes as Juventus attempts to recover ground on the league leaders and avoid the fate that befell Tudor on the bench last year.
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