Juventus will hope to make a winning start to 2026 when they welcome Lecce on Saturday night.
Juventus step into the new year with momentum finally on their side, and Saturday’s clash with USC Lecce in Turin offers another opportunity to underline that resurgence. After months of inconsistency, the Bianconeri appear to have rediscovered their edge, and Lecce arrive at the Allianz Stadium knowing they face one of Serie A’s most in-form sides.
A late surge at the end of 2025 has transformed the mood around Juventus. Victory over Pisa last weekend capped off a run that has seen them string together four straight wins across all competitions, a sequence that has reignited genuine belief in a title push. The gap to the summit now stands at just four points, with UEFA Champions League qualification firmly back in their sights.
Much of that revival has been driven by efficiency rather than flair. Juventus have tightened up defensively under Luciano Spalletti, conceding just once during their recent winning run, while showing a newfound ruthlessness in decisive moments. Kenan Yildiz has once again emerged as the difference-maker, delivering when it matters most and continuing his development into a central figure of this side. His late strike last weekend underlined Juventus’s growing confidence in closing out matches, a trait they lacked earlier in the campaign.
Spalletti’s impact has also been felt in big fixtures. Wins over direct rivals AS Roma and Bologna have given weight to their revival, and progress in the Coppa Italia has only reinforced the sense that this team is beginning to resemble a contender rather than a work in progress. History also leans in their favour: the Turin giants have not lost their opening league fixture of a calendar year in over a decade, and they traditionally start strongly after the winter break.
Lecce, by contrast, make the journey north with far more modest ambitions. Survival remains the sole objective, and while their season has not unravelled, it has rarely gathered sustained momentum. A promising spell before Christmas briefly lifted spirits, but a heavy home defeat to Como quickly halted that progress.
Scoring remains a major concern for the Salentini. Since mid-October, goals have been in short supply, with several matches passing without troubling the scoreboard at all. Away from home, the problems are even clearer, few chances created, fewer taken, and limited control in midfield. While a four-point cushion above the relegation zone offers some breathing space, it is far from secure.
Trips to Turin have historically offered little comfort for Lecce. Their lone victory there came over two decades ago, and even in stronger seasons they have struggled to contain Juventus’ attacking rhythm. Facing a side currently playing with confidence, structure, and belief only amplifies the challenge. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Juventus head into this fixture with a relatively stable squad, though Luciano Spalletti is still forced to manage a few key absences. Centre-backs Daniele Rugani and Federico Gatti remain unavailable, continuing to limit defensive rotation at the back. Up front, Dusan Vlahovic is also sidelined, depriving the Bianconeri of their most natural focal point in attack.
On a more positive note, Francisco Conceicao is expected to return to the matchday squad after recovering from a minor setback, offering an additional option out wide if required. In Vlahovic’s absence, Lois Openda is expected to lead the line, having impressed with his movement and pressing in recent outings.
The Belgian forward is likely to be supported by Kenan Yildiz, who continues to be Juventus’s creative heartbeat. The young Turk has already registered ten goal contributions this season, placing him among Serie A’s most productive attackers alongside Nico Paz and Lautaro Martinez. His ability to drift between the lines and carry the ball through pressure remains central to Juventus’s attacking structure.
From a tactical standpoint, Spalletti is expected to retain his preferred 3-4-2-1 system, which has brought balance and defensive solidity in recent weeks. Michele Di Gregorio is set to start in goal, protected by a back three of Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, and Lloyd Kelly, a unit that blends physicality with ball progression. The wing-back roles should be occupied by Weston McKennie on the right and Andrea Cambiaso on the left, providing width and energy in transition.
In midfield, Manuel Locatelli will anchor proceedings alongside Khephren Thuram, offering a mix of positional discipline and ball-carrying ability. Ahead of them, Teun Koopmeiners is expected to operate in a free central role, linking midfield to attack, while Yildiz drifts between the lines behind Openda. The shape allows Juventus to overload central areas while maintaining defensive security against Lecce, a balance that has underpinned their recent resurgence.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Openda
US Lecce
Lecce travel to Turin with several squad limitations still shaping their approach, particularly in attack and midfield. Medon Berisha and Tete Morente remain sidelined through injury, removing two potential attacking outlets for Eusebio Di Francesco’s side. However, there is some positive news at the back, as Kialonda Gaspar is available again following the conclusion of his Africa Cup of Nations commitments with Angola. His return offers much-needed stability in central defence.
There is also cautious optimism surrounding Lameck Banda, who could feature after Zambia’s elimination from the tournament, although his match readiness will be assessed closer to kick-off. In contrast, Lassana Coulibaly remains unavailable, as Mali continue their AFCON campaign, forcing Lecce to reshuffle their midfield options once again.
With Coulibaly absent, Mohamed Kaba is expected to pair up with Ylber Ramadani in the double pivot. Ramadani remains one of Lecce’s most reliable performers this season, leading the squad in passes attempted, passes completed, and interceptions. However, his influence has yet to translate into direct attacking returns, with no goals or assists recorded in Serie A so far. The responsibility for creativity therefore falls further forward, where Lecce will look for inspiration from the wide areas.
Up front, Nikola Stulic is set to spearhead the attack despite a modest return of just one goal since his summer arrival. The Serbian striker will be supported by a three-man line behind him, with Santiago Pierotti and Riccardo Sottil providing width, while Thorir Johann Helgason operates centrally as the main link between midfield and attack. Lecce are likely to focus on compactness and quick transitions, aiming to exploit any spaces left behind by Juventus’ wing-backs.
Tactically, the visitors are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, prioritising defensive shape and numerical stability in midfield. Wladimiro Falcone should start in goal, shielded by a back four of Danilo Veiga, Kialonda Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, and Antonino Gallo. With limited attacking depth available, Lecce’s approach against Juventus will likely emphasise discipline, structure, and moments of opportunism rather than sustained pressure.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar, Gabriel, Gallo; Kaba, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Sottil; Stulic
Key Stats
- Juventus are unbeaten in their last 16 Serie A home matches against Lecce, winning 15 of those encounters and scoring an average of over two goals per game in Turin during that span.
- Lecce have failed to score in six of their last ten league matches, the joint-worst attacking record in Serie A over that period.
- Juventus have conceded just one goal in their last five matches across all competitions.
- Kenan Yildiz has been directly involved in ten Serie A goals this season, making him Juventus’ most productive attacking player and one of the top contributors among players aged 20 or under in the league.
- Lecce have picked up only one point from their last four away fixtures, scoring just twice during that stretch.
Player to Watch
Lois Openda
With Dusan Vlahovc sidelined, Lois Openda steps into the spotlight as Juventus’s primary attacking threat and this fixture presents a timely opportunity for the Belgian forward to assert himself. Quick, direct, and relentless in his movement, Openda offers a very different profile to the traditional No.9, thriving on space rather than physical duels.
What makes him particularly dangerous against a side like Lecce is his ability to attack the channels and exploit gaps between centre-backs and full-backs. Juventus are likely to dominate possession, and Openda’s sharp off-the-ball runs could stretch Lecce’s defensive block, creating openings not just for himself but also for runners like Kenan Yildiz and Teun Koopmeiners arriving from deeper positions.
Beyond his pace, Openda’s work rate out of possession has become increasingly valuable under Luciano Spalletti. His willingness to press from the front helps Juventus sustain pressure high up the pitch, often forcing hurried clearances or turnovers in advanced areas. Against a Lecce side expected to sit deep and defend compactly, that intensity could prove decisive.
If Juventus are to turn territorial dominance into goals, Openda’s movement, timing, and finishing efficiency will be central to breaking down a stubborn Lecce backline.
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 US Lecce
Juventus enter this contest with clear momentum, greater squad depth, and a tactical structure that has begun to look increasingly settled under Luciano Spalletti. Their defensive solidity, combined with growing confidence in the final third, gives them a strong platform against a Lecce side that has struggled to create chances consistently, particularly away from home.
Lecce are likely to defend deep and attempt to frustrate, but their limited attacking threat and absence of key personnel make sustaining resistance over 90 minutes difficult. Juventus’s ability to control possession, recycle pressure, and exploit wide areas should eventually tell.