Juventus found the response they required in Lecce, winning 2-0 at the Via del Mare in the eighth round of Serie A. Weston McKennie and Douglas Luiz supplied the first-half goals that eased the weight of a 3-0 home defeat to Lazio, while Luciano Spalletti’s side returned to a league away victory for the first time since the opening-day win at Frosinone. The three points took Juventus to 14, level with Frosinone in sixth place.
A first half that settled the evening
Lecce had arrived encouraged by their emphatic 3-0 victory away to Udinese and Eusebio Di Francesco had asked his players to meet Juventus with courage rather than retreat into a low block. The home side pressed early and nearly profited when N’Dri challenged Vicario as the Juventus goalkeeper delayed a clearance, but the chance did not result in a shot on target.
Spalletti’s team, fielded in a 3-4-1-2, gradually imposed itself. Juventus had Woltemade and Kolo Muani together in attack, with McKennie operating behind them, while Douglas Luiz, Koopmeiners and the wide players began to move the visitors through the match with greater control.
- McKennie opened the scoring in the 29th minute from a rehearsed free-kick routine. Koopmeiners shaped to take the set piece, but Douglas Luiz delivered instead, splitting the Lecce line and allowing McKennie to arrive centrally and turn the ball past Falcone.
- Kolo Muani had two opportunities as Juventus pressed for another goal, first being challenged as he shot and then sending a right-footed effort wide after a ball played in behind.
- Douglas Luiz doubled the lead on 41 minutes. After a previous corner routine had ended with Bremer heading wide, Gatti laid the ball back to the Brazilian on the edge of the area, where he struck first time into the far corner. Falcone got a touch but could not keep out the powerful, curling finish.
For Spalletti, the opening 45 minutes were the template. He described it as the work of a “serious, tough team” determined to win, praising the rhythm, substance and purpose in Juventus’ possession. Yet he also felt the side did not convert enough of its promising sequences into a more decisive advantage.
Juventus manage, Lecce change the terms
Di Francesco intervened at half-time, bringing on Monteiro for Fatah and Siebert for Kaba. Lecce subsequently altered their structure, and their coach said the second-half 3-4-2-1 gave his team a better platform than the first-half arrangement.
The hosts became more competitive without finding a route back into the scoreline. Maleh’s central effort was crucially deflected by Gatti, while N’Dri forced Vicario into a save after cutting inside. Esteban, introduced during the half, also tested the goalkeeper with a volley that was smothered after N’Dri’s cross.
Juventus did not force the issue in pursuit of a third. Spalletti introduced Cabal and Boga for Cambiaso and Kolo Muani, then Sarr for Douglas Luiz, before Alajbegović replaced McKennie late on. Cabal did have an opportunity to add another, but fired over from an angle, while Woltemade shot high after Boga lost possession.
Lecce’s difficult end was compounded in stoppage time when Gaspar was shown a second yellow card, and then a red, for protesting after a corner decision was reversed. He had earlier been booked for pulling back Woltemade.
Spalletti pleased by the answer, wary of the drop-off
The Juventus coach did not allow the final score to conceal his concerns. He felt his side became too cautious after the interval, playing more passes back towards Vicario and losing the assertive approach that had put the match in their hands.
- Spalletti said Juventus had accepted an open contest and played with very good tempo before the break, but “went backwards” in their second-half management.
- He explained that Juventus had moved towards a three-man midfield in search of greater solidity and clarity, while accepting that such a choice can reduce opportunities for wide players.
- Spalletti praised Douglas Luiz for his work rate, defensive effort and ability to tidy difficult situations, insisting that the midfielder must maintain a higher tempo in order to show his quality.
- He said Lecce’s move to a back three and man-to-man approach altered the game, although Juventus remained compact and did not concede a goal.
Douglas Luiz agreed that the visitors had “fallen asleep” after the interval and said they must improve across the full 90 minutes. He was pleased with the away win and noted that Juventus have worked extensively on set pieces, particularly to make use of their aerial threats.
McKennie, scorer of the breakthrough goal, said the victory mattered more than his own contribution. He admitted Juventus could have done better after the break, but called it a step forward after discussions within the group following the match against Rennes. The midfielder said the squad must ignore outside talk, fight for the shirt and club, and use the result to build confidence and reduce pressure.
Di Francesco sees a lesson for Lecce
For Lecce, the defeat stopped them from immediately carrying the momentum of their win in Udine into another demanding fixture. Di Francesco said his players suffered Juventus’ width and had made the visitors’ task easier in the first half, particularly by directing their opponents into central areas where they were able to control the game.
He accepted that the opening goal, from a dead-ball situation, came after a naive defensive moment. The second goal, he said, took energy from his side. Still, he saw a more convincing Lecce after the break, arguing that his team were more dangerous than Juventus and better at disrupting their build-up.
Di Francesco also pointed to the need for more attention in the smallest details, especially when defending set pieces. He said his forwards will eventually need to contribute goals, because attackers are essential in matches of this kind. Tiago Gabriel, who was substituted after an injury issue, will be assessed in the hope that he can recover for Thursday.
Before kick-off, Di Francesco had said that simply defending was not in Lecce’s nature. The result did not reward that ambition, but the second-half response offered him material to carry into the next chapter of their survival campaign. Juventus, meanwhile, leave Salento with a necessary victory, an improved league position and a reminder from their own coach that a convincing first half must become the standard rather than an isolated answer.
