Spalletti insists Scudetto not out of reach for Juventus ahead of Cremonese trip

Luciano Spalletti believes Juventus can still challenge for the Scudetto this season, as he prepares to face Cremonese in his first game in charge of the Turin giants.

Juventus dispensed with previous boss Igor Tudor on Monday after an eight-game winless run, though youth coach Massimo Brambilla then stepped in to mastermind a 3-1 win over Udinese in midweek.

That victory left the Bianconeri seventh in Serie A, six points behind leaders Napoli, ahead of Saturday's trip to Cremona.

Spalletti will be in the dugout for that match, having taken the reins on an initial short-term deal to run until the end of the season.

As a former Scudetto-winning coach with Napoli, Spalletti sees no reason for Juve to settle for a Champions League spot this term.

"I hope we can get back and be involved in the race for the Scudetto," the former Italy boss said at his introductory press conference on Friday. 

"That is what we were discussing with the players yesterday. We must aim for the top, and in this case, the top is the title race. 

"Nine games have been played, still 29 to go. That's a lot of games. I've seen everything in my over 30-year career. 

"I don't see why I should settle for less. I have absolute respect for the quality of these players."

Dusan Vlahovic was among the goals against Udinese, but with his contract due to expire at the end of the campaign, speculation is rife that Juve may look to sell him in January.

Spalletti is yet to think about the future of the Serbia international, though, saying: "With Vlahovic, it's easy. I have to talk to him. 

"I haven't received any restrictions from the club regarding any player. I'll see what he will do and his response. 

"Based on the last game against Udinese, he has clear intentions, and that behaviour fixes everything because he played an excellent game."

Cremonese are only one place and one point behind Juve in the Serie A table, after Federico Bonazzoli's brace guided them to a 2-0 win over Genoa on Wednesday.

Jamie Vardy scored his first goal for the club in their previous match, a 1-1 draw with Atalanta.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cremonese – Jamie Vardy 

Vardy scored in his last Serie A match at the Zini Stadium and now has three goals in his last four home top-flight games, including outings for Leicester City in the Premier League.

That is as many goals as he managed in his previous 16 home top-flight matches, all for the Foxes.

Juventus – Kenan Yildiz

Yildiz has equalled Paul Pogba as the player with the most Serie A goals scored for Juventus before turning 21 in the three-points-for-a-win era (11). 

After his goal against Udinese last time out, Yildiz could score in back-to-back Serie A matches for the first time.

However, he is yet to be involved in an away goal this season, with his two goals and three assists in league play all arriving at Allianz Stadium. 

MATCH PREDICTION – JUVENTUS WIN

Cremonese have won 14 points already this season, making this their joint-best start to a Serie A campaign when converting all to three points for a win (also 14 in 1993-94).

Furthermore, the last newly promoted team with at least 14 points won after nine games played in a single Serie A season was Hellas Verona in 2013-14 (16).

Saturday's hosts also have the highest shot conversion rate in Serie A this season at 16.4%, double that of Juventus (8%). They have also converted 56% of their big chances, netting nine of the 16 they have had in total.

But Cremonese, along with Piacenza, are one of the two teams Juventus have faced most often in Serie A without losing – 16 matches against both (W12 D4 against the Grigiorossi).

The Bianconeri are also unbeaten in their last eight matches in the first half of a season against promoted sides (W6 D2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Cremonese – 17.2% 

Juventus – 60.3%

Draw – 22.5%