Juventus vs. Lecce match preview: Time, TV schedule, and how to watch the Serie A

We knew as soon as Juventus bought by means of three straight video games in opposition to golf equipment which might be direct competitors for the highest 4 (after which some) in Serie A, the schedule was going to grow to be 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 outdoors the relegation zone — which comes after a season through which they completed only one desk place from getting despatched again to Serie B. As Lecce make their method to the Allianz Stadium for Saturday evening’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 critical momentum earlier than the Champions League comes again into focus in a few weeks.

Juventus closed 2025 with three straight wins and have some very optimistic discuss coming from the members of the squad who have been hoping Luciano Spalletti’s arrival introduced some brighter days.

Relating to 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 following three or 4 weeks.

“I anticipate continuity, maybe including one thing on the pitch that may give us much more power,” Spalletti mentioned throughout Friday’s pre-match press convention. “My workforce has what it takes to compete in opposition to anybody. We’ve an intense interval forward of us, with many video games in fast succession.”

That continuity mainly boils all the way down to Juventus extending their profitable run past simply Lecce. As we all know, the fixtures in opposition to the provincial sides will be difficult, however they’re additionally going to be ones the place Juve can rack up some factors in fast succession the following two weeks. With issues so tight on the high of the desk between Juventus in fifth and Inter Milan in first earlier than Matchday 18 bought underway, there’s the possibility to each transfer up as others round them doubtlessly drop factors in opposition to harder opposition but in addition benefit from potential chaos in entrance of them.

Over the following 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 part. Not all of these are easy by any means — wanting proper at you, ninth-place Sassuolo — however they’re all video games through which Juventus ought to come away with three factors and proceed this profitable run that Spalletti has cultivated following the loss to Napoli in southern Italy.

Talking of that point below Spalletti, right here’s a couple of numbers from the Juventus web site following the win over Pisa to shut out 2025 that really feel relevant proper now:

BOUNCE | The Bianconeri are averaging 2.1 factors per sport below Luciano Spalletti (17 in eight video games) in comparison with 1.7 per sport within the 9 earlier than his arrival (15 factors from these video games).

AIRTIGHT | Juventus have saved 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 sport determine look even higher in a couple of 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 mentioned about Pisa final weekend, and that may be a sport through which Juve have been finally in a position to win after a not-so-great first-half efficiency. Contemplating we all know this Juventus workforce remains to be looking for consistency in assault outdoors of gamers named Kenan Yildiz, which may find yourself being the case in opposition to the provincial sides which might be going to take a seat again and try to get some type of outcome.

Then once more, it’s not like Eusebio Di Francesco-managed groups are identified for his or her defensive prowess. Or their tendency to take a seat again and attempt to simply take up stress regardless of the place he’s employed.

Both manner, Spalletti is aware of that his workforce must proceed the late-2025 vibes into 2026. They should maintain profitable. They should maintain constructing on what they’ve finished since dropping to Napoli. As a result of what’s ready late in January apart from two essential Champions League fixtures? Oh, proper. It’s Napoli once more.

So that you deal with enterprise in opposition to the provincial golf equipment which might be stacked up one after one other and then you definately reap the rewards of these victories — which, on this case, can be a pleasant profitable run with the defending champions and so they’re well-known supervisor coming to Turin later this month.

However first, although, you have to take that first step in opposition to Lecce this weekend and start this run of seven video games within the month of January on a optimistic (and profitable) word.

I’m going to go forward and guess that I wasn’t the one one sitting round and considering “Juventus haven’t any different artistic outlet apart 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 house in Turin watching on TV.

Properly, he’s again now. And right here’s to hoping that

As famous above, Spalletti mentioned that Francisco Conceição has recovered and shall be out there to play in opposition to Lecce on Saturday. Whereas Spalletti didn’t say so particularly, we will in all probability assume that he shall be within the beginning lineup contemplating the opposite choices which might be out there 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.)

And when you bear in mind simply how a lot of a Koopmeiners-centric wrestle it was to have creativity from anyone apart from Yildiz final weekend, then you possibly can in all probability think about that Conceição returning to the lineup is a welcome improvement.

We noticed glimpses of that in opposition to Roma — and never simply because Conceição ended up being the one who scored the opening purpose to present Juve the lead two weeks in the past. However Conceição being on the sphere simply signifies that the opposing protection can’t commit the vast majority 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 bought the necessity to have people break issues down quite than rely solely on the motion of a number of gamers opening up areas to function since issues are so congested.

Appears like a job Conceição can do, proper?

Yeah, looks like he can. And hopefully that occurs this weekend in order that issues is usually a little much less demanding in opposition to Lecce in entrance of the hometown crowd in Turin in comparison with what issues have been like in Pisa seven days earlier.

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. Japanese time, 11 a.m. Central time, 9 a.m. Pacific time.

Tv: No over-the-air or cable choices in america, Canada, United Kingdom or Italy.

On-line/Streaming: Paramount+, 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).

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