Entering the Big Three, Juventus is reluctant to be complacent

PISA, SUNDAY - Juventus concluded the year 2025 by being in the top three of the Italian League 2025-2026. The acquisition of three points and a clean sheet against Pisa, Sunday (28/12/2025) early morning WIB, helped "The Old Lady" become the fifth team to collect more than 30 points.

Playing at the Cetilar Arena, the home of Pisa, which is the second oldest stadium in Serie A Italy this season, Juve appeared lackluster in the first hour of the match. Although they returned home with a 2-0 victory, Juve faced two opportunities from the home team that were thwarted by the goalpost.

Pisa's chances came through shots from Stefano Moreo in the 44th minute and Matteo Tramoni in the 60th minute.

After experiencing a double shock effect, Juventus Coach Luciano Spalletti made two substitutions. Edon Zhegrova and Jonathan David were brought in to enhance the attacking power by replacing Manuel Locatelli and Lois Openda.

Changes were made to welcome the final half hour of the match optimally. Entering the 65th minute, the Old Lady finally had a significant opportunity. A precise shot from defender Lloyd Kelly hit the post.

Juve finally managed to shake the net of Pisa, the promoted team, through a touch from defender Pierre Kalulu in the 73rd minute. Juve secured the three points with a shot from Kenan Yildiz two minutes into the second half's stoppage time.

The victory over Pisa helped Juve collect 32 points. For the time being, Juve sits in third place. They surpassed Napoli by a one-point advantage. Meanwhile, Napoli still has two games in hand.

Although they are on the right track to meet the target of qualifying for the Champions League next season, Yildiz acknowledged that his team did not perform perfectly in the match against Pisa. In the first half, Yildiz stated, things did not go as expected.

"Pisa played very well, but we were better over the 90 minutes. We tried to press harder after half-time," Yildiz told Sky Sport Italia.

The Turkish player is not yet satisfied with the collection of three consecutive victories achieved in the Italian League. Yildiz is determined to help Juve sweep the remaining two matches in the first round of this season with perfect points.

The two remaining matches for Juve in the first half of this season are against Lecce at the Allianz Arena on January 4. Then, Juve will visit Sassuolo's home ground three days later. Based on the strength of the teams, Juve should be able to secure an additional six points.

"This is an important victory for us, but there are still matches left before the midpoint of the season. No match is easy," he said.

Kalulu added, "Currently, our position in the standings is quite good, but that does not guarantee anything. We must remain focused on preparing for the next match."

Spalletti acknowledged that his foster child performed below standard. According to him, Juver played at a very slow tempo, especially at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half of the game.

This situation forced Spalletti to make a tactical change. This change, Spalletti continued, helped his team take home three points.

"Our problem is that we're a truly strong team, but we often play far below our best. We have to consistently prove that Juve is a formidable team," Spalletti said, as reported by Tuttosport.

The former coach of the Italian national team is pleased with the individual performances of several players. According to him, a number of players who came off the bench are beginning to make significant contributions to the team's play.

Several players highlighted by Spalletti include Zhegrova, David, and Fabio Miretti. Additionally, Spalletti did not hesitate to commend Khephren Thuram's performance, which can provide balance from the heart of the game.

"I am pleased with the impact of the players who came in. Thuram has gradually developed to deliver crucial performances. This victory boosts the team's confidence," said Spalletti.