Defensive Woes and First Defeat
Juventus experienced their first defeat of the 2026-27 Serie A season, falling 3-2 away to Sassuolo in a dramatic encounter. The match saw Juventus concede three goals, with defensive lapses being a significant factor in the loss [1]. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario reportedly expressed frustration with his teammates’ defensive performance, highlighting two goals conceded due to errors [1]. Coach Luciano Spalletti admitted that the team attacked with eight men in an attempt to turn the game around, which ultimately compromised their defensive balance [2]. Edon Zhegrova was a standout performer for Juventus, scoring two solo goals in the match [3], his first goals for the club since November 2024 [4]. Despite Zhegrova’s efforts, Sassuolo secured the win with a late goal from Vasilije Adzic, a player on loan from Juventus [5].
Extensive Injury List Plagues Squad
Juventus is currently grappling with a significant injury crisis, with a substantial number of first-team players unavailable. Midfielder Manuel Locatelli is a major casualty, ruled out for four to six months following meniscus surgery [1]. Other key players sidelined include Jérémie Boga, Khephren Thuram, Weston McKennie, Juan Cabal, Jeff Ekhator, Kenan Yıldız, and Andrea Cambiaso [3]. Arkadiusz Milik is also a doubt due to back pain [2], and Randal Kolo Muani’s status is uncertain [2]. This extensive list of absentees forced Juventus to make history by fielding a starting XI against Sassuolo with no Italian outfield players [6]. New signings Nick Woltemade and Pape Sarr were included in the squad and are ready to play, with Woltemade having been signed from Newcastle United and Kolo Muani from PSG [7]. Douglas Luiz is expected to continue in midfield, with Teun Koopmeiners also set for a rare start [8].
Managerial Trust and Upcoming Fixtures
Despite the recent defeat and the team’s struggles, Juventus executive Giovanni Carnevali has publicly expressed trust in coach Luciano Spalletti, stating that changing coaches is not in his nature [9]. Spalletti himself acknowledged the team’s loss of balance due to their desire to win, indicating a need for tactical adjustments [3]. The team will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next Serie A fixture. The focus will be on integrating available players and addressing the defensive vulnerabilities that were exposed in the Sassuolo match. The return of any injured players would be a significant boost, but for now, Spalletti will have to work with a depleted squad to navigate the upcoming challenges.
What it means
Juventus currently sits in 8th position in Serie A with 7 points from four matches, having recorded two wins, one draw, and one loss. Their recent form shows a mixed bag of results, with a 2-3 away loss to Sassuolo, a 1-1 home draw against AC Milan, and wins against Parma (2-0) and Frosinone (1-0). This indicates a slight dip in momentum following their unbeaten start. The upcoming fixture sees Juventus host Atalanta in Serie A on September 20. This match will be a crucial test for Juventus to demonstrate resilience and tactical adaptability, especially given their extensive injury list and recent defensive concerns, as they aim to climb back up the league table.
Sources
- Football Italia: Vicario furious at Juventus teammates after dramatic 3-2 defeat football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Today’s Papers – Juventus madness, Spalletti do something football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Spalletti: ‘Juventus lost balance through desire to win’ in 3-2 at Sassuolo football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Watch: Juventus winger Zhegrova scores first goal since 2024 football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Adzic: ‘Unforgettable’ winner against Juventus exactly one year on from first goal football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Juventus make unfortunate history by failing to start a single Italian outfield player football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Zenga: ‘Juventus don’t have striker worth 15 goals per season’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Serie A: Sassuolo vs. Juventus: Probable line-ups and where to watch on TV football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Carnevali: Juventus must learn from Sassuolo defeat, coach change ‘not in my nature’ football-italia.net ↩