Juventus vs Frosinone: Spalletti's First Match Preview
Juventus kick off the Luciano Spalletti era on Sunday with a trip that looks gentle on paper but carries all the usual traps of an opening day: away to newly promoted Frosinone.
The Bianconeri arrive in Lazio with something they have not always had in recent seasons – calm. August has been kind to Spalletti. His side edged Chelsea 1–0, handled Palermo 2–0, and rounded off preparations with a controlled 2–0 win over Juventus Next Gen. Only Inter Milan managed to pierce the mood, sneaking a 2–1 victory in the only pre-season blemish.
Spalletti has seen enough to be reassured. Now it has to count.
Spalletti’s first Juventus XI takes shape
He will not have a full deck to play with. Federico Gatti, usually a reliable presence in the heart of defence, misses out with an ankle problem, cutting into the manager’s options at the back. Young forward Jeff Ekhator is also sidelined.
There is another notable absence. Michele Di Gregorio has been left out of the travelling squad entirely, with his expected move to Premier League side Bournemouth looming. For a club that has long built its identity on stability in goal, it marks a clear change of guard.
The new face between the posts is already confirmed. Spalletti has made it clear that Guglielmo Vicario, one of the marquee arrivals of the summer, will start and make his competitive debut. In front of him, a back line of Pierre Kalulu, Bremer and Lloyd Kelly, with Andrea Cambiaso offering width, will be asked to set an early defensive standard.
The other headline name walks straight into the spotlight. Randal Kolo Muani leads the line from the first whistle, the focal point of an attack designed to be more mobile, more aggressive, less predictable.
A midfield built to unlock Frosinone
Behind Kolo Muani, Juventus will lean on a midfield that blends bite with invention. Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz are set to anchor the centre, tasked with dictating tempo and winning the ball back quickly when it’s lost.
Ahead of them, the creative burden falls on Kenan Yıldız, Weston McKennie and Francisco Conceição. Spalletti wants movement and risk in the final third; this trio will be charged with prising open a Frosinone side eager to prove it belongs at this level and unlikely to gift space cheaply.
It is a team sheet that signals intent. Fresh blood, clear roles, and little room for excuses.
Predicted Juventus lineup vs Frosinone
Possible Juventus starting XI: Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Luiz; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani.
Kick-off time and how to watch
Frosinone vs Juventus kicks off at 5:30pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.
In the United Kingdom, the Serie A clash will be shown live exclusively on DAZN.
A new coach, a reshaped spine, and a promoted opponent desperate to spoil the script – Juventus are about to discover how quickly Spalletti’s ideas have taken root.
