'We have quality' – Spalletti optimistic of Juventus revival in Serie A

Luciano Spalletti believes Juventus' quality will eventually shine through despite experiencing a difficult start to life under the Italian.

Spalletti replaced Igor Tudor last month and has picked up one win from his first three matches in all competitions (D2), with Fiorentina, who are one of only two sides in Serie A yet to register a victory, up next. 

The Bianconeri are sixth in the Italian top-flight after 11 games in 2025-26, five points adrift of leaders Inter and three further back of a spot inside the top four. 

Juventus' stuttering start to their Serie A campaign has been highlighted by their attack, with the 14 goals they have netted this term seven fewer than they managed at the same stage last season. 

The 36-time Scudetto winners have not claimed the Serie A title since 2019-20, though Spalletti believes another title charge is not beyond the realms of possibility. 

"We have quality, and we have to start from here," Spalletti said via Ilbianconero.com.

"We should not be affected by bad moments because we might doubt our quality, and we must use it in certain moments of the game.

"It's work in a team as a unit. What to do at which moment of the game. It's hard to do, and we are working mostly on this."

Though Spalletti remains optimistic about Juventus' title hopes, the Opta supercomputer has given them just a 2.6% of finishing top of Serie A, with their most likely position being sixth (16%), where they sit as it stands.

Spalletti is not, however, expecting a warm welcome at Stadio Artemio Franchi, having faced Fiorentina 26 times in charge of seven different teams in Serie A. 

The 66-year-old has won 12 of his encounters against Fiorentina during his coaching career (D10 L4), seeing his teams score 45 goals against them and concede 31. 

"I know the environment well because I've spent many years there. I'll accept every situation because I've been there already," Spalletti added.

"I'll enter the field as the Juventus coach and will accept everything. Out of love for this sport, we must show the best of us, not the worst. I've always respected everyone.

"I'm serene at being the Juventus coach and in the Fiorentina stadium, and I expect a great game from my players. It will be a tough game for us."

The Juventus boss was also on hand to discuss the future of star Kenan Yildiz, who has been in fine form for the Serie A giants in 2025-26. 

Yildiz has scored three goals and provided four assists in all competitions, and is under contract until 2028-29, but he has been linked with a move away from Turin. 

Giorgio Chiellini, who is Juventus' director of football strategy at the club, said earlier this week there was no rush to tie down the Turkiye international to a new deal. 

"I won't discuss the renewal thing, it is not up to me. I look at it, but the club knows what to do," Spalletti said of Yildiz's situation. 

"To me, it's easy with Yildiz, he's the one who breaks the systems and patterns. Whoever links up with Yildiz links up with the rest of the team.

"He knows how to stay in the team, and he has leadership skills, so it’s the best for me."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fiorentina – Roberto Piccoli

Since scoring his first Serie A goal in 2020-21, Roberto Piccoli has netted for six different clubs (Atalanta, Cagliari, Empoli, Fiorentina, Lecce and Spezia) in Europe's top five leagues, more than any other player.

He has only scored twice against four different teams in the competition (Bologna, Fiorentina, Genoa and Inter) and has previously netted against Juventus in Serie A for Empoli (May 2023).

Juventus – Kenan Yildiz

Yildiz (26 shots and 24 chances created) and Nico Paz (37 shots and 27 chances created) are the only two players to have registered at least 20 shots and 20 chances created in Serie A this season.

The Juventus forward is yet to start against Fiorentina (58 minutes across two games) and Bologna (68 minutes across three games), but he will hoping to make an impact for Spalletti's side here. 

MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN

Despite the pre-match simulations ranking them as underdogs, Fiorentina have won two of their last four Serie A home games against Juventus (W2 D1 L1), as many as they had managed in their previous 19 such top-flight meetings (W2 D10 L7).

Indeed, having kept a clean sheet in their last home match against the Bianconeri, Fiorentina could register consecutive shutouts against them for the first time since 1998, when Alberto Malesani and Giovanni Trapattoni were their respective managers. 

Fiorentina are, however, still without a win after 11 Serie A games this season (D5 L6). The last team to avoid relegation after failing to win any of their first 11 games in a top-flight campaign was Reggina in 2007-08, while in the three-points-per-win era, Cagliari in 2005-06 are the only side to survive having not won any of their first 12.

Juventus have, though, failed to score in four of their last six Serie A matches (averaging 0.8 goals per game in that period), which is as many as they did in their previous 38 league games (averaging 1.6 goals).

They have also only won two, drawn one and lost two of their first five away games in Serie A this season. Juventus have lost three of their opening six away games on only three previous occasions in the three-points-per win era (1995-96, 1998-99 and 2015-16). 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Fiorentina – 27%

Draw – 26.9%

Juventus – 46.1%