The Report Cards: Juventus vs. Lecce

Saturday’s sport between Juventus and Lecce regarded for all of the world prefer it was going to be a thrashing. Dusan Vlahovic set a membership file for quickest purpose scored in a league match to place the staff within the lead inside 12 seconds, and within the subsequent six minutes he practically scored once more and Francisco Conceição bashed a ball into the crossbar. Lecce, nonetheless enjoying for his or her lives to stave off relegation, regarded utterly shell-shocked. Save for an amazing save by Michele Di Gregorio to maintain the house staff from equalizing shortly, they didn’t produce all that a lot in the way in which of menace.

However as we’ve seen too many instances in 2026, Juve couldn’t capitalize on their dominance. A sport that basically should have been 3-0 or extra by halftime become a nervy affair by the top, as Lecce tried desperately to salvage a degree for themselves whereas Juve clung to their single purpose.

Many instances we’ve seen Juve get bitten within the rear by their incapability to place video games away, however thankfully this time they averted that specific destiny. Their 1-0 victory pulled in three large factors, particularly contemplating the outcomes the remainder of the spherical. Roma stayed on Juve’s tail a degree behind, however AC Milan took a surprising beating by the hands of Atalanta, permitting Juve to leap above them for third place. On Monday, Napoli misplaced to a last-second winner towards Bologna, leaving them solely two factors forward of the Bianconeri with two video games left. The race for the Champions League locations has now sucked everybody under champions-elect Inter (barf) with two video games left to go.

How did Juve’s gamers fare on a person degree on the Stadio By way of del Mare? Let’s take a better look.

MICHELE DI GREGORIO – 6.5. Made an enormous save together with his thigh within the third minute to maintain Lecce from snatching again the momentum early, then had a comparatively straightforward 87 minutes forward of him, bar a late cease on a long-range effort from Santiago Pierotti. Obtained him a bit of little bit of a reprieve after his mistake towards Verona.

PIERRE KALULU – 6.5. Surprisingly tame on the offensive entrance, however he made 4 tackles and usually made positive Lecce have been neutralized on that flank.

BREMER – 7. Good night time for the large Brazilian, racking up three tackles, 4 clearances, and an interception within the again whereas limiting Walid Cheddira to treasured few alternatives.

LLOYD KELLY – 7. Led the staff with six clearances and even bought credit score for 2 dribbles popping out of the again 4. Good day throughout.

ANDREA CAMBIASO – 7.5. What is that this mini-revitalization happening with Cambiaso? For the second straight sport he was glorious, helping with a wonderful cross, including on yet another key cross. He pressured a superb save out of Wladimiro Falcone together with his solely shot of the match, and recorded three tackles, together with a few one-on-one stops in area of a sort you didn’t typically see even when he was going nice two years or so in the past. Whether or not it’s one thing Luciano Spalletti found out or if he discovered his method to Leonardo Bonucci’s outdated psychological coach, preserve it proceed!

MANUEL LOCATELLI – 6.5. Actually deserved an help for the attractive cross he threaded via to Concieção when he hit the bar. Was a bit of inaccurate together with his passes as we speak (82.9%) however made 4 tackles and two clearances to assist the defensive effort.

TEUN KOOPMEINERS – 6. He labored exhausting, which ought to particularly be highlighted within the effort he made to stave off two defenders and kick the ball out to Cambiaso earlier than the purpose. Made three tackles and accomplished 92.5 p.c of his passes, however didn’t contribute on to a shot all the sport.

FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO – 7.5. Unfortunate to not have doubled the lead straight away. He stacked up a ton of stats on this sport, together with 4 key passes and 5 tackles—which, amazingly, wasn’t even the staff excessive. Labored his tail off.

WESTON McKENNIE – 6. Comparatively customary day for him, with a pair of key passes and a ridiculous work charge.

KENAN YILDIZ – 7. Dude made eight tackles on the night time, which is just absurd from that place, and from a man who isn’t 100% both. Had one or two possibilities to attain, together with a pleasant lane within the second half, however he pushed it extensive.

DUSAN VLAHOVIC – 6.5. Lovely management and switch for the sport’s solely purpose. He took seven pictures whole, barely lacking excessive on a few events, and had one other shot stopped by Falcone when he tried to undergo his legs. If solely he’d nailed a few these different possibilities.

EMIL HOLM – NR. Not one of the subs had a lot probability to do something, however Holm helped lock issues down late as Spalletti determined to arrange store.

JÉRÉMIE BOGA – NR. Denied on the very finish by a one-on-one save from Falcone, and made two dribbles in solely seven minutes of play.

EDON ZHEGROVA – NR. Equally denied a late clincher when Falcone completed a double save by denying his rebound try after Boga’s shot.

JONATHAN DAVID – NR. Solely had time to make three passes, however considered one of them practically arrange a purpose.

FEDERICO GATTI – NR. On for a remaining little bit of muscle within the closing minutes.

One of many traits of Spalletti’s Juve has been relatively aggressive begins off the kickoff, by no means sending the ball again off the primary kick however shortly shifting it ahead to press the assault straight away. It labored to perfection this time, taking all of 11 seconds to go from Yildiz to Koopmeiners to Cambiaso to Vlahovic. It’s an indicator of the attacking mentality that Spalletti has instilled on this staff, versus the likes of Max Allegri and Igor Tudor. The truth that the staff couldn’t push the ball into the web wasn’t something he may’ve helped with.

I discussed final week that one of many solely issues Spalletti may’ve finished on his personal was inserting Vlahovic into the lineup, and it’s wonderful how a lot completely different the staff felt with him on the entrance versus Jonathan David. He created some actual havoc, utilizing his tempo to outrun defenders to via balls and his energy to carry off Tiago Gabriel on his purpose. This clearly must be how issues end.

If there’s one factor that I’ve been scratching my head about in current weeks it’s Spalletti’s sub sample. As soon as once more he went to his bench fairly late, ready till the 77th minute to insert his first sub. By that time Eusebio Di Francesco had placed on 4—the sum whole of what he finally used from his bench. It didn’t have an effect on the sport all that a lot, but when within the subsequent two weeks it appears to be like like a change must be made, it has to return with some extra alacrity.

Two extra video games stay. Subsequent week, Juve end the house slate towards Fiorentina within the Sunday lunchtime kickoff. Then the Derby d’Italia finishes the season.

Juve sit in third place, one level forward of Milan and Roma (Milan holds the tiebreaker there) and three forward of Como. They’ve reeled Napoli in second to inside two factors. It’s relatively wonderful that as little as three weeks in the past we have been figuring on three groups combating for one spot within the Champions League to a five-team melee with second, third, and fourth all in play. This’ll be an attention-grabbing two weeks.