Juventus in crisis: third defeat in nine games puts everything in question

Juventus suffer third league defeat in nine games, losing to Genoa; Spalletti's tactics and squad depth now under scrutiny.

Juventus collapsed to a deserved defeat at Genoa, their third loss in nine Serie A matches, extending their crisis under manager Luciano Spalletti. Two own goals from Cambiaso and Bremer within 30 minutes exposed a team playing with no organisation or conviction, conceding after an indolent and inexplicable display. The loss is particularly damaging after the false hope of victory at Lecce, putting everything back into question: the manager, the squad composition, and the club's overall project.

Spalletti changed the formation that had worked at Lecce, seeking fresh legs, but instead generated confusion. Individual performances were poor across the board—Cambiaso's decline is now undeniable, Kolo Muani offers nothing, Kalulu was careless in both phases, Bremer was disoriented, and McKennie contributed little. Douglas Luiz failed to repeat his earlier form, while Sarr, on loan from Tottenham for just €2 million, confirmed he is a ball-interceptor with clumsy feet. The midfield went into immediate crisis.

With Juventus now eighth, 11 points off the top and six from the Champions League places, having scored just 11 goals, the club faces an embarrassing backdrop for the upcoming clash with Napoli. Spalletti's second-half substitutions—bringing in Zhegrova, Woltemade, Cabal, Boga, and Koopmeiners—were born of desperation and produced only confused, directionless play.