Juventus ground out a 1-0 victory over Standard Liège in their second pre-season friendly of the summer — a result that, on the surface, suggests progress after the goalless draw against Basilea. In reality, the performance revealed a squad still in profound construction, and the mood at the Continassa remains tense as the clock ticks towards the start of the competitive season.
A Win Built on Miretti — and Very Little Else
The decisive moment came in the 55th minute, when Fabio Miretti — introduced at the start of the second half — struck a free kick cleanly past the Standard Liège goalkeeper. It was a goal that settled a match Juventus had been in danger of not winning throughout a first half characterised by few clear opportunities and some anxious moments at the back. The second period was more controlled, with Di Gregorio and Perin rarely seriously tested.
Spalletti was forced to begin the match with an attack consisting of youth players — Durmisi, Licina, and Adzic — in the absence of Ekhator, Milik, Openda, and all the returning World Cup players. Thuram, Yıldız, McKennie, Bremer, and Francisco Conceição were all unavailable. Only Locatelli, Cambiaso, and Kalulu could genuinely be described as established first-team starters who participated.
Farewell to Openda — With Genuine Warmth
The most emotionally resonant moment of Spalletti’s post-match interview came when he addressed Lois Openda’s imminent departure to Lyon on loan. Despite choosing not to play the Belgian in what will likely be his final appearance in a Juventus shirt, the manager’s words were generous and entirely without rancour. “He is an exceptional lad and an exceptional professional,” Spalletti said. “First of all we must wish him the most sincere good luck for this new situation he is going to experience. We wish him the best possible. At Juventus we were probably not able to exploit him to the maximum.”
It was an honest, gracious acknowledgement of a situation that went wrong for reasons that lie on both sides of the relationship — and a dignified farewell to a player whose talent was never in question, even if the fit was always wrong.
The Transfer Market: Honest About the Difficulties
On the wider subject of the summer’s transfer activity, Spalletti spoke with characteristic directness. “The transfer market is clearly full of difficulties — but we are right there next to the director’s office, we have known each other for years, and they are constantly on the phone trying to find solutions. We have the solution — it is just a matter of time.”
The phrase “we have the solution” — delivered with deliberate calm — is understood to be a reference to the Kolo Muani deal, which is now in its formal closing stages following PSG’s resignation to Juventus’s offer of just over €40 million.
The Dressing Room Message That Has Already Been Delivered
What the post-match interview did not fully capture was the internal atmosphere that has been building at the Continassa for several days. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Spalletti had already lost his patience with the squad in a training ground meeting, telling the assembled group: “Change your pace. I will be staying here — but many of you will be leaving.” A squad populated by players with uncertain futures, contract disputes, and no sporting role under the new management is not an easy environment for a manager trying to build momentum and identity. The message, delivered directly and without diplomatic softening, was intended to cut through.
What Comes Next: Nizza, Then Asia
With the Standard Liège result on the board, Juventus now have less than a week before a final pre-season friendly against Nizza at the Continassa on Friday 31 July. After that, the squad departs for their international tour — facing Chelsea in Hong Kong on 5 August, then Inter on 8 August and Palermo on 11 August in Perth, before a final preparatory match against the Next Gen on 17 August ahead of the competitive season’s opening.
The Kolo Muani deal must be concluded before the Asian tour begins. The goalkeeper situation — with both the Dibu Martínez pursuit and the Suzuki and Vicario alternatives all in play — must also be resolved. The 1-0 in Liège was a small step forward. The real work of this summer remains very much in progress.
