Juventus vs Frosinone: Spalletti's New Era Begins
Juventus kick off a new era under Luciano Spalletti on Sunday with a potentially awkward Serie A opener away to newly promoted Frosinone.
It is a gentle fixture on paper. It rarely is in reality for a coach taking charge of his first competitive game in Turin colours.
Spalletti’s Juve arrive with a spring in their step
The summer offered encouraging signs. Juventus moved through August with a sharper edge than in recent pre-seasons, grinding out clean-sheet wins against Chelsea (1–0) and Palermo (2–0) before closing their preparations with a 2–0 victory over Juventus Next Gen.
Only Inter Milan managed to interrupt that rhythm, edging a tight friendly 2–1. Even so, the performances under Spalletti hinted at a side already buying into his structure and intensity.
Now comes the first real examination.
Thin at the back, bold up front
Spalletti does not have a full deck to play with.
Federico Gatti, one of the most reliable figures in last season’s back line, misses the trip with an ankle problem, reducing the options in central defence. Young forward Jeff Ekhator is also ruled out.
There is another notable absentee. Goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has been left out of the travelling squad as his expected move to Premier League side Bournemouth edges closer. His omission clears the stage for one of the club’s headline summer arrivals.
Guglielmo Vicario will start in goal and make his competitive debut, a clear statement that Juventus intend to build their new cycle around him from day one.
At the other end of the pitch, the spotlight falls on Randal Kolo Muani. The France international, another marquee signing, has been declared fully fit and will lead the line from the start. Spalletti has not eased him in; he has handed him responsibility.
Midfield engine and creative spark
Behind Kolo Muani, Juventus will lean on a midfield blend of control and aggression.
Manuel Locatelli anchors the side, with Douglas Luiz alongside him to add bite and passing range. That duo is tasked with dictating tempo and suffocating any early enthusiasm from the hosts.
The creative burden sits just ahead of them. Kenan Yıldız, Weston McKennie, and Francisco Conceição are expected to provide the movement and invention needed to unpick Frosinone’s defensive block. Their ability to find Kolo Muani early and often could define how comfortable – or complicated – this opener becomes.
Predicted Juventus XI
Spalletti is set to line up with:
Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Luiz; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani.
It is an XI that mixes established Serie A know-how with fresh energy, and it leans towards front-foot football rather than caution, even with defensive absences.
Kick-off time and how to watch
Frosinone vs Juventus gets underway at 5:30pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.
In the United Kingdom, the game will be shown live exclusively on DAZN.
A new coach, new signings, and a promoted side desperate to make a statement: Juventus are about to discover how ready this revamped project really is.
