Juventus began their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Basel on Thursday, with new signing Ekhator starting in the lineup. The match, played in Basel, Switzerland, marked the first outing for Luciano Spalletti’s squad following their first week of training. Juventus.com, DAZN, and Sky Sport provided live coverage of the contest.
Spalletti named a starting eleven featuring a mix of experienced players and youth prospects. The team lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mattia Di Gregorio in goal, a defense of Andrea Kalulu, Federico Gatti, Timothy Kelly, and Fabio Cambiaso, and a midfield pairing of Douglas Luiz and Manuel Locatelli. The attacking line included Filip Zhegrova, Nikola Adzic, Jeremie Boga, and Ekhator leading the attack. Former Juventus player Stephan Lichtsteiner manages Basel, adding a familiar face to the opposition.
Ekhator’s inclusion in the starting lineup signifies an immediate opportunity for the forward to showcase his abilities to the Juventus faithful. The club recently completed the signing of the player, though financial details of the transfer have not yet been disclosed. He will be looking to make an impression during the pre-season schedule and compete for a place in Spalletti’s squad for the upcoming Serie A campaign.
The Juventus squad in Switzerland includes a number of young players from the Next Gen team, indicating Spalletti’s intention to evaluate emerging talent alongside established stars. The wider list of players called up by Spalletti includes experienced names such as Federico Gatti and Manuel Locatelli, alongside promising youngsters like Miretti and Owusu. This pre-season match provides a crucial opportunity for the new manager to assess his options and build team cohesion ahead of the competitive season. The friendly against Basel is the first step in Juventus’s preparations for the 2026-27 Serie A season, and a chance to integrate new signings and develop tactical approaches.
