Maybe it’s my thoughts failing me, however I’m having hassle remembering a recreation wherein Juventus simply flat-out dominated in the identical method that they did in opposition to Lecce on Saturday but didn’t come away with three factors.
I don’t know what different technique to say it.
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Sure, we’re three days into 2026, nevertheless it’s going to be laborious for any of the opposite irritating performances Juve will doubtless put ahead and come near matching what we simply watched.
Then once more, possibly I shouldn’t say that as a result of this present state of Juventus — not the final couple of weeks to shut out 2025 however the common high quality of issues — simply proceed to defy what ideas we now have about them.
Juventus didn’t simply outshoot Lecce by a large margin on the Allianz Stadium. They didn’t simply dominate possession, the massive possibilities in entrance of purpose, the entire xG figures and nearly each different statistic you can throw on the market that will make you assume this was a possible runaway win. But within the newest chapter of “Things Juventus Do To Cost Them Points” we now have the newest prime of instance of arguably the largest factor that has held this membership again as they’ve develop into a battler for the highest 4 in Serie A and not way more than that — capturing themselves within the foot and being their very own worst enemy. It didn’t matter if it was Andrea Cambiaso gift-wrapping Lecce their solely purpose of the evening proper earlier than the half or Jonathan David seeing his second-half penalty saved that will have given Juventus the lead, the Bianconeri’s 1-1 draw was each bit the irritating night that didn’t appear doable after watching simply how robust they got here out of the blocks in opposition to one in every of Serie A’s relegation battlers.
It regarded like it might solely be a matter of time earlier than Juventus took the lead and raced off into the gap to assert a win. There was only one factor lacking: a purpose. And you positively wouldn’t have thought that it might be Lecce, the workforce that didn’t even drive a save out of Michele Di Gregorio your complete evening, taking the lead proper earlier than the halftime whistle.
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Yet there we have been because the second half kicked off and Juventus have been having to chase the lead due to Cambiaso’s completely beautiful cross-field passes that principally handed Lecce their greatest scoring probability of the evening and the opening purpose within the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
It was thoughts boggling. Absolutely thoughts boggling.
And little did we all know …
Yeah, I do know, I do know. Where this recreation went didn’t get higher. Weston McKennie did the newest factor to remind Juventus that they need to renew his contract ASAP, however the different half of the CONCACAF Boys, the utterly out-of-form David, simply did one other factor to remind us how he’s at present a shell of the participant we noticed for a lot of his time at Lille in Ligue 1. It was a PK that was deserved and VAR received proper for a change, nevertheless it’s additionally an try from the spot that might have given Juventus the much-needed lead in a recreation that will have seen them return into the highest 4.
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Instead …
It simply makes you wish to scream due to how a lot Juventus did to place themselves in place to win this recreation. Luciano Spalletti had his workforce come out like gangbusters and they created as many possibilities as we’ve seen them document inside the first 10-20 minutes of a recreation in what looks like whereas. They completed with 4 occasions as many pictures as Lecce. They even had an opportunity to win it on the very finish when Kenan Yildiz’s bending shot went off the upright, however Loïs Openda’s try to put away the rebound went anyplace however the place it ought to have.
This is a draw that by no means ought to have occurred.
Even with David’s penalty miss taken out of the equation — and that’s not discounting it in any respect as a result of there isn’t any purpose why you ought to be taking that unhealthy of a shot irrespective of who the keeper is — Juventus ought to have scored greater than a single purpose. You don’t create 25 pictures and solely depart the sector having scored a single purpose. That is, like I stated, why they needed to chase the sport within the second half. (Well, that and Cambiaso’s utterly unforgivable cross-field cross that by no means was going to succeed in its supposed goal.)
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I simply don’t know, man. This ought to have been a win 99.99% of the time. It’s simply that 0.01% that took over.
You wanna know why Juventus are going to be battling for the highest 4 and most likely not in a severe title race this season after they have the possibility to show all of us improper? It’s due to stuff like this. It’s due to video games like this. Everybody drops factors in a couple of video games they shouldn’t — that’s simply the truth of this sport. Juventus, nevertheless, simply appear to do it a lot extra usually than those that are in entrance of them within the standings.
And that’s why they entered the weekend in fifth place, not legitimately pushing the Milan golf equipment and Napoli for the Serie A title proper now.
RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS
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Those black jerseys. They won’t ever disappoint me. They are simply so fairly.
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Can you think about one in every of Juve’s keepers rolling out in that third equipment at some point when the remainder of the workforce wears the black and white stripes? That could be the good things proper there.
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Meanwhile, Juventus on the entire, they may disappoint me a good variety of the occasions I watch them. That’s simply the a part of the fandom these previous few years.
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Remember this time final yr when Juventus have been reportedly weighing up Manchester City probably throwing within the neighborhood of €60 million for Andrea Cambiaso? Yeah? YOU REMEMBER THAT? Well, I’m guessing they’d be hard-pressed to get even half that quantity for him now. Boy oh boy, these previous 12 months haven’t been excellent for a participant who loads of us thought is perhaps a possible cornerstone form of participant going into the longer term. Now? It’s laborious to say the place the heck his kind will go aside from keep proper the place it has been for a lot of the previous 12 months.
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I get why Spalletti and Yildiz let David take the penalty. I do, I actually do. But man, generally you simply gotta be the egocentric one and let the most effective participant on the workforce take one thing that’s crucial moderately than attempt and lengthen an olive department to a participant who’s struggling. Now just isn’t the time for that — particularly with a lot potential chaos within the playing cards this weekend.
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After his first-half miss, you most likely thought David was extremely unfortunate contemplating how the ball bounced after a very good scoring probability. After the penalty? Nah, that’s only a participant who has the arrogance stage that’s near zero.
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Kenan, take the penalties any further. I don’t care who else is on the sector. This is your workforce now. Take it.
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Juventus had 9 pictures within the first 20 minutes of the sport. This felt like a preseason pleasant in opposition to any individual from Serie B throughout these first jiffy.
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Juventus recorded seven key passes — SEVEN! — within the opening 23 mintues in opposition to Lecce.
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Juventus had six corners within the opening half-hour.
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At the 40-minute mark, Juventus had recorded 12 pictures. But, as you’ll be able to most likely guess, solely two of these pictures have been truly heading in the right direction.
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Really admire Lecce fielding a participant who has a reputation that interprets into English as “Tony Rooster.” It’s after video games like these the place you must snicker a little bit bit. Or at the least attempt to.
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I do know Juventus have little or no room to function in January, however man … signing a striker looks like a very essential factor that should occur if the chance presents itself. David and Openda simply ain’t sufficient except one thing severely modifications.
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Lost in all of this nonsense was the truth that Spalletti switched to a four-man protection. He did!
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I miss when Juventus’ midfield was good and constant.
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You shouldn’t be drawing video games wherein Kenan Freakin’ Yildiz touches the ball 106 occasions.
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I nonetheless do not know what Cambiaso was pondering with that cross that handed Lecce their purpose. I actually don’t.
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Filip Kostic got here on within the 69th minute (good?) and touched the ball 46 occasions. FORTY-SIX TIMES! That’s insane.
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Wladimiro Falcone, top-of-the-line names in Serie A proper now, made a few very nice saves.
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Michele Di Gregorio, who appears to be like like a viking and has a really deep voice, didn’t document a single save as a result of Lecce barely had the possibility to assault outdoors of their purpose.
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I’m 1,500 phrases into this submit and I’m nonetheless simply shaking my head about this outcome. Seriously.
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It’s Saturday. I don’t have work tomorrow. Juventus simply dropped two factors in an enormous form of method. You can most likely guess the place I’m going with this, however I’ll say it anyhow: cross the bourbon … and depart the bottle.
(*1*)