JUVENTUS v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

The Rossoneri face their first major test of the new Serie A 2026/27 season, with Juventus awaiting at the Allianz Stadium for one of Italian football’s classic fixtures. Luciano Spalletti’s Bianconeri have started the campaign with maximum points and are yet to concede. After a 1-0 win away to Frosinone, decided by Bremer’s header from a corner, they followed it up with a 2-0 home victory over Parma thanks to second-half goals from Nico González and Koopmeiners. It has been a strong start for a team that built momentum in the second half of last season and now heads into its first big test of the campaign with several new faces and an increasingly clear identity under Spalletti.

FROM 3-4-3 TO 4-2-3-1: MORE OPTIONS FOR SPALLETTI’S JUVENTUS
Flexibility remains one of Juventus’ defining strengths. After the three-man defense became a key feature last season, the Bianconeri have also looked solid with a back four in their opening two games, with Locatelli and Douglas Luiz shielding the defense and a range of options operating behind the striker. Against Parma, Spalletti selected Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumi and Çelik in front of Vicario, with Conceição, David and Boga supporting Kolo Muani. The shape still gives Juventus width while allowing them to play with an aggressive, front-foot approach.

Juventus had already shown at Frosinone that they were looking to win the ball high up the field and attack down the flanks, a trend underlined by the 34 crosses attempted across their opening two games, 10 of them from Conceição alone. The Bianconeri have also been a threat from range: no team has taken more shots from outside the box so far this season (18, level with Sassuolo). Their squad depth was another key factor against Parma, with both goals coming from substitutes. Since the start of last season, no Serie A team has scored more goals through players introduced from the bench.

YILDIZ OUT, NEW OPTIONS: WOLTEMADE AND SARR ROUND OUT THE SQUAD
The biggest absence is Yıldız, a key figure in the Juventus attack, who underwent surgery after fracturing his left foot. His absence is a significant blow for Spalletti, although the coach still has options on the left. Boga remains available after making his move from Nice permanent in the summer following an impressive second half of last season, while new signing Alajbegović, a highly rated young Bosnian talent from Bayer Leverkusen, provides another alternative.

Juventus also bolstered their squad in the closing days of the transfer window with the arrivals of Woltemade and Sarr. The German forward, born in 2002 and signed from Newcastle, adds size and a different dimension in attack, while Sarr brings energy, physicality and intensity to a midfield set to be without Thuram until at least 2027. The two signings give Spalletti further options and add to the squad depth that has already proved a key strength in the opening weeks of the season.

The new AC Milan 2026/27 PUMA Kits are here: buy them now!