Juventus Faces Cagliari Test After Strong Serie A Starts

Cagliari hosted Juventus in Serie A on Sunday October 11 at Unipol Domus, with Fabio Pisacane's side entering the match fourth in the table and Luciano Spalletti's team seventh after five games. The fixture tested two teams separated by two points and marked Juventus' return after the international break.

According to BBC Sport, Cagliari had 12 points from five matches, with four wins and one defeat, while Juventus had 10 points after three victories, one draw and one loss. Cagliari had conceded two goals in their opening league matches.

According to beIN Sports, Juventus improved after a 3-2 defeat against Sassuolo on September 13 by winning two following matches, including a 2-0 Serie A victory over Atalanta. The team also recorded a 5-0 Europa League win over NEC.

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti said his squad used the international break to balance recovery and preparation before facing Cagliari.

"The break has been a long one, and there are pros and cons. We’ve managed this period in a straightforward way, allowing for longer rest periods to balance out the many matches we’ve played. A build-up of fatigue and a build-up of rest, there’s no other remedy.

We’ve assessed each player’s individual situation, tailoring the training programme for those still available. The international players have all returned in the right frame of mind and have worked well in recent training sessions. I’m pleased with their focus, the pace and the way the sessions have gone.

We’ve tailored some of the training loads based on the matches they’ve played and when they returned. We’re satisfied with the players we have available and, above all, with their fitness. Andrea Cambiaso has completed all training sessions as required.

Obstacles cannot be avoided, and we mustn’t try to do so; instead, we must overcome them. Constantly talking about difficulties is a waste of time. We’re happy with the squad we have and we’ll take to the pitch with these players to try and win the match."

Spalletti said.

Spalletti highlighted Cagliari's tactical approach and warned Juventus that the hosts could punish mistakes. The Juventus coach also discussed the team's development after recent results.

"Sometimes statistics need to be put into context because they can actually distort reality. Pisacane and Giulini deserved the points they picked up, but not last year’s victory. It’ll be a tough match.

Cagliari deliberately give you a bit of space, inviting you to play in their half, and they have players capable of turning the play around quickly, passing the ball well and neutralising any counter-attacks. As in previous years, they manage to get the best out of certain players, and this year they’re doing so with Daniel Maldini. We’ll have to be very good, determined, alert and intense, because if you give them space, they know how to make the most of it."

Spalletti said.

Juventus entered the match after recovering from their only league defeat of the season. Spalletti said the team continued to seek improvement.

"We want to improve, grow and keep learning. Those who stop learning often end up repeating themselves, whilst those who seek out new things grow. We’re training well and I don’t see any negatives in our progress.

Hunger is always important in football. A love for the game must be channelled onto the pitch through a professional approach and a constant drive for performance and results. That’s what we’re doing, even though there’s always room to achieve a little more.

We’ve won two matches since the defeat at Sassuolo, and it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that we’d manage it in that way. We’re on the right track." Spalletti said.

Spalletti also addressed expectations surrounding Juventus and the club's ambitions this season.

"We’re not interested in being seen as favourites or underestimated. There’ll never be any respite for those who’ve made our choice. Juventus will always be expected to win.

We are the ones raising the bar for our own ambitions. We know we can hold our own amongst that group. Some tip us for the Scudetto whilst others see us finishing elsewhere, but we are the ones with the highest ambitions.

We know what stage we’re at right now, and we don’t need others to tell us how far we can go." Spalletti said.

Spalletti also reviewed individual players before the match, including Edon Zhegrova and Randal Kolo Muani.

"Edon Zhegrova is one of those players who could go from being a substitute to a first-team regular. I’ll assess his playing time and then make a decision. There are players who immediately show, through their gaze, the determination and desire to take control of their own future.

Nico Gonzalez is intense in everything he does and has a distinctive, determined look in his eyes that immediately shows you the path he wants to take." Spalletti said.

Spalletti said Kolo Muani could contribute beyond the traditional striker role and praised several Juventus midfield options.

"We want to give Randal Kolo Muani the freedom to play and we’re encouraging him to adopt a different approach to that of a traditional centre-forward. He’s a natural runner, has quality both out wide and in the centre, and is good in the air, at acrobatic moves and at turning on a sixpence. We rate him very highly.

We try to support him in his choices whilst at the same time showing him something new. He’s played too much as a centre-forward and needs to move about more to meet the demands we’ve set for him." Spalletti said.

Juventus also arrived with questions over attacking output, as beIN Sports noted Kolo Muani had not scored in five Serie A starts. Cagliari's Daniel Maldini had scored in each of his previous three league appearances.

"Teun Koopmeiners is a versatile player. He has great vision, the ability to play unexpected through-balls and to create space for his teammates. It’s as if he’s wearing 3D glasses that allow him to see beyond the defensive line.

He has a touch that gives the ball rhythm and knows how to direct play towards goal. In defence we have Jhon Lucumì, who is doing brilliantly, and Lloyd Kelly, who has had a successful spell with us. Koop is a deep-lying playmaker, capable of keeping the team moving and taking them by the hand.

He’s probably made a few mistakes, but I always expect him to prove his worth. I haven’t lost faith in the possibility of seeing Koopmeiners run the show for Juventus. Douglas Luiz?

Usually, good playmakers are the ones who don’t drive their managers mad, and I’ve got a very good playmaker in him." Spalletti said.

Spalletti also described Pape Matar Sarr's role after the midfielder was brought into the starting lineup.

"Pape Matar Sarr is a cross between a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder. He has a short stride, but when he makes a run, he covers a lot of ground. His timing is spot on and, in terms of his playing style, he is most similar to Weston McKennie.

He covers a lot of ground and could be one of those players who goes from being a substitute to a first-team regular." Spalletti said.

Cagliari manager Fabio Pisacane said his team prepared for Juventus while monitoring player fitness. Goal.com reported that Deiola and Kevin Carlos were expected to be involved, while other unavailable players remained limited to the usual absences.

"The injury situation? Deiola has stepped up his recovery, but obviously the international break has helped him. Every player has a certain pain threshold, we are assessing him, but he will be involved, as will Kevin Carlos.

Other than that, everyone is available, apart from the usual three." Pisacane said.

Pisacane said Cagliari expected Juventus to control possession but believed his team could challenge the visitors with its own style.

"What kind of Juve am I expecting? I am expecting a Juventus side who will want to dictate the game. They have structure, they will want to take maximum points.

We will have to be good at countering them. They will play with a 4-3-4 or 4-2-3-1. Out wide they have enormous potential, they are not a perfect team, but we have a huge amount of respect."

Pisacane said.

Cagliari entered the match after winning three straight games against Lecce, Atalanta and Udinese, while Juventus prepared with several absences including Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli according to Livescore.

"Juventus? We will have to put our DNA on the pitch, that of warriors. We have prepared for the game like the others." Pisacane said.

Pisacane also discussed individual players including Nzola and Alessandro Romano before the match.

"Nzola? He has been following an individual programme, it has not been easy. I hope his first goal is followed by more.

He could start from the first minute." Pisacane said.

"Romano? He is a player who can play both as a mezzala and as a deep-lying playmaker. Then each of us thinks about the shape to give the team.

I see him as a dynamic mezzala, but with other game plans he can also be used as a deep-lying playmaker." Pisacane said.