Juventus secured a 1-0 victory over Standard Liegi in a pre-season friendly at the Maurice-Dufrasne stadium on Tuesday evening. A second-half penalty from Fabio Miretti proved to be the difference for Luciano Spalletti’s side, a week after a goalless draw against Basel. The match saw Spalletti utilize his entire squad, with several players unavailable due to various reasons.
Following the match, Andrea Cambiaso addressed speculation surrounding his future, stating he believes he will remain at Juventus despite reported interest from clubs like Barcelona, Manchester City, and Real Madrid. He acknowledged the constant stream of transfer rumors as part of the game. Cambiaso also briefly commented on the potential appointment of Andrea Pirlo as the new Italy national team manager, expressing respect for Pirlo and the other candidates.
Spalletti discussed the match in a post-game interview with Sky Sport, noting a slow start in the first half with difficulties in build-up play. He praised his team’s improved performance in the second half, citing increased speed and quality in their passing and decision-making. The coach also addressed the departure of Loïs Openda, wishing the Belgian forward all the best in his move to Lyon and acknowledging the team hadn’t fully utilized his potential.
Juventus’ upcoming schedule includes a match against Nice on Friday, July 31st, followed by a clash with Chelsea on August 5th. They will then face Inter in the “Derby d’Italia” on August 8th. Meanwhile, Juventus Next Gen drew 1-1 with Pisa in a separate friendly, with Keutgen scoring the equalizer.
The club is reportedly accelerating their pursuit of Randal Kolo Muani following Openda’s transfer. The sale of Openda has freed up funds, allowing Juventus to move closer to securing the French forward. Federico Gatti started in defense and is also subject to transfer speculation, with Napoli reportedly monitoring his situation following an injury to Alessandro Buongiorno. Douglas Luiz also featured from the start, with Spalletti challenging him to improve physically and demonstrate leadership qualities. Zeki Celik, a recent signing, was an unused substitute, potentially set for his debut in upcoming matches.
