Spalletti: ‘Juventus and Como on same level, sacrifice creativity for solidity’ | OneFootball

Luciano Spalletti explains his Juventus tactical changes against Como with praise for Cesc Fabregas. ‘They are on the same level as us, we must sacrifice some creativity for solidity.’

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium at 14.00 GMT (15.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Lecce vs. Inter and Cagliari vs. Lazio on the Liveblog.

The Bianconeri are coming off painful back-to-back defeats to Inter in Serie A and Galatasaray in the Champions League play-off.

Spalletti dealing with Juventus crisis

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Juvenus head coach Luciano Spalletti during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SS Lazio at the Juventus stadium on February 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

“We are up against a team on the same level as us, partly because they have players of great potential, but also the quality of Cesc, who is a very capable coach reflecting what he was as a player in his vision of football,” Spalletti told DAZN Italia.

“We have some difficulties to deal with, as many teams do, so we are trying to put everything together and create as little imbalance as possible.

“We expect Como to play 4-2-3-1, but we have to play with three centre-backs and make these long runs towards their full-backs.”

SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, celebrates his team’s third goal, scored by Jonathan David during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Both those losses were affected by red cards, which is why Pierre Kalulu is suspended this afternoon, despite an appeal to have his second yellow card rescinded for the Alessandro Bastoni simulation.

Gleison Bremer, Emil Holm, Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik are also injured, with Jonathan David not fully fit.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Referee Danny Makkelie shows a yellow card to the Galatasaray A.S. bench during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

“Often, you in the media comment on the results of games, but when matches are so evenly balanced, they can turn on a single incident that goes your way or not,” continued Spalletti.

“At this moment, we mustn’t add to the level of turbulence, because Como would inevitably have less pressure on them than us in that context. Considering recent results, and where we want to go, clearly we need to play above all with substance today.

“So we must sacrifice some creativity in order to give ourselves greater solidity, so that if incidents do go against us, we are better prepared.”

PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

It means Lois Openda gets his first Serie A start of 2026, and looks like a three-man defence.

“Como are the most aggressive and high pressing team in the league, so every now and then we will have to turn it around quickly, and Openda has the characteristics for that. David is also not fully fit and he would run the risk of not even lasting to half-time.”