Juventus secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Standard Liege in a pre-season friendly on July 25, 2026, at Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Belgium.
Why it matters: This match was a key part of Juventus' pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. The win helps build momentum for the team under new manager Luciano Spalletti.
Juventus is looking to improve its squad depth and rhythm after a goalless draw against FC Basel earlier in the week.
Standard Liege had already played more pre-season matches, making this a test of fitness and tactical execution for Juventus.
Spalletti’s squad remains without several key players, which has limited his options during pre-season.
Driving the news: The friendly kicked off at 19:00 BST, with Juventus fielding a mix of experienced players and young prospects.
Juventus' lineup featured Douglas Luiz and Manuel Locatelli in midfield, with 18-year-old Arman Durmisi starting as the centre-forward.
Spalletti's strategy involved rotating players to assess their fit within his tactical system.
Lois Openda was included in the squad but did not start, as he nears a loan move to Lyon.
State of play: The match statistics highlighted a competitive encounter, with both teams creating chances.
Standard Liege controlled 53.8% possession compared to Juventus' 46.2%, indicating a balanced contest.
Standard Liege registered 11 shots, with 2 on target, whereas Juventus managed 10 shots, 4 of which were on target.
Defensively, Juventus recorded 22 tackles, demonstrating a strong commitment to stopping Standard Liege's attacks.
The big picture: This was Juventus' second pre-season fixture, and they continue to adapt under Spalletti's management.
Juventus previously drew 0-0 with FC Basel, highlighting their need for improvement in attacking play.
Standard Liege's coach, Vincent Euvrard, aimed to leverage home advantage but faced a well-organized Juventus defense.
The match was a valuable opportunity for Spalletti to evaluate his squad before the competitive season begins.
What they're saying: Post-match comments from Spalletti provided insight into the team's performance.
"They trained well and we played a good game. In the first half we were a bit slow, and we struggled to build up play," Spalletti said.
He noted that Juventus improved in the second half, gaining control and playing with more pace.
Spalletti acknowledged that defensively, the team performed well, even though Standard Liege had the upper hand early on.
By the numbers: Key match statistics from the friendly showcase both teams' efforts.
Juventus received 1 yellow card, whereas Standard Liege had none.
Both teams earned 7 corners, demonstrating offensive pressure.
Goalkeeper saves were 3 for Standard Liege and 2 for Juventus, highlighting the effectiveness of both defenses.
What's next: Juventus will continue its pre-season preparations with upcoming fixtures against other European teams.
Next, Juventus faces Nice, Chelsea, Inter, and Palermo as they gear up for the Serie A season.
Fans can expect to see continued rotation among players as Spalletti seeks to finalize his squad.
The team aims to build on this victory and improve its attacking strategy ahead of the competitive matches.