Juventus open their home campaign on the back of a commanding opening-day display, racking up nearly two expected goals while conceding little. Parma arrive in Turin having failed to score and looking disjointed, with an entirely overhauled lineup that features eleven regulars…
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Sign inJuventus host Parma in Serie A on Saturday evening, aiming to follow up a 1-0 victory at Frosinone with a more convincing performance. Luciano Spalletti’s side opened their campaign with an unconvincing win, and the visit of a Parma side eager to prove themselves provides an early test of the Bianconeri’s title intentions.
Summer signing Jeff Ekhator missed the opening-day trip to Frosinone with a minor injury but is expected to be available for the Round 2 fixture. The winger’s return would give Spalletti another option in the final third, though the coach is likely to stick with the starting XI that delivered a clean sheet last weekend. Guglielmo Vicario is set to continue in goal behind a back four of Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, Lloyd Kelly and Andrea Cambiaso. In midfield, Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz are expected to anchor the side, with Francisco Conceição, Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz supporting Randal Kolo Muani in attack.
Francisco Conceição did not hide his frustration after the Frosinone win, acknowledging that Juventus should have put the game to bed far earlier. “We brought the game our way, we could have scored two, three, four goals – that would have been good, but we didn’t manage it,” he said. The Portuguese attacker’s directness on the right flank was one of the bright spots, and his willingness to demand more from his teammates underlines the standards Spalletti is trying to instil after last season’s sixth-place finish and failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Conceição’s comments also highlighted the depth Juventus now possess in the forward areas. Kolo Muani, brought in alongside Kerim Alajbegovic and Jhon Lucumí during the summer, offers pace and movement, while Yildiz and McKennie provide creativity from deeper positions. The departure of Dusan Vlahovic and Loïs Openda has reshaped the attack, and the early evidence suggests Spalletti is still searching for the right blend. Ekhator’s return could see him push for a place on the left, adding another dimension off the bench.
Parma travel to Turin with their own ambitions, and they will be eager to exploit any uncertainty in a Juventus side that allowed Frosinone to remain in the contest during the closing stages of the opening match. The visitors’ compact shape and ability to counter-attack could ask questions of a backline that, while solid for long periods, was not fully tested until the final minutes. Any repeat of the wastefulness that frustrated Conceição would give Parma a foothold in a game where they start as underdogs.
Victory would send Spalletti’s men into the international break with maximum points and keep early pressure on the title favourites. For Parma, a positive result would be a statement of intent for the season ahead.
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