Juventus travel to Celta Vigo with Luciano Spalletti balancing a demanding European night against an important Serie A meeting with leaders Lazio on Sunday.
Spalletti prepares changes in Vigo
The Juventus coach described Celta as an experienced and well-organised opponent ahead of the Europa League fixture in Spain. He said his side will need to approach the match with accuracy and a sharper edge.
Spalletti also confirmed that the team will not be identical to the one used in Cagliari, with Sunday’s league match against table-topping Lazio part of his planning.
- Juventus drew away to Cagliari in their latest Serie A outing.
- The final whistle brought a confrontation between Spalletti and Cagliari coach Fabio Pisacane.
- Spalletti now takes his side to Vigo for the Europa League match against Celta.
- He intends to alter the starting line-up, mindful of the visit of Serie A leaders Lazio on Sunday.
A week that tests Juventus’ balance
The trip to Galicia arrives at a sensitive point in Juventus’ season. The draw in Cagliari left the club needing a response, while the dispute involving Spalletti and Pisacane added tension to the end of an already difficult afternoon.
Against Celta, Juventus will face a side Spalletti believes has the experience and structure to punish imprecision. His selection decisions therefore carry two purposes: finding the right performance in Europe and preserving resources for a significant domestic fixture.
“Celta are experienced and organised,” Spalletti said. “We will have to be very precise and ruthless. I will make changes from the Cagliari match, also with the Lazio game in mind.”
For Juventus, the coming days offer more than two separate matches. They are a test of the coach’s management, the squad’s response after Cagliari and the club’s ability to keep its European and Serie A ambitions moving together.
