Juventus Begin Luciano Spalletti Era Against Frosinone

Juventus kick off the Luciano Spalletti era with a trip into the unknown on Sunday evening, away to newly promoted Frosinone in Serie A.

It is a gentle fixture on paper. It feels anything but that in reality. New coach, new signings, new expectations. The margin for error is already thin.

Spalletti’s Juventus take shape

Spalletti arrives in Turin with the weight of a club demanding an immediate return to the top, but pre-season has at least offered a glimpse of order after recent turbulence.

Across August, Juventus looked sharp and disciplined. They edged Chelsea 1–0, then handled Palermo 2–0. The final tune‑up brought a routine 2–0 win over Juventus Next Gen, a useful run-out that underlined the coach’s ideas: compact without the ball, direct and purposeful with it.

Only Inter Milan managed to puncture that mood, sneaking a 2–1 victory. Even that defeat came with caveats; Juventus were competitive, organised, and only a couple of moments separated the sides. For a team under new management, that matters.

Now comes the real test.

Team news: gaps at the back, star power up front

Spalletti does not have a full deck to play with.

At the back, he loses one of his most reliable figures. Federico Gatti is sidelined by an ankle problem, stripping Juventus of a rugged, no‑nonsense presence in central defence. Young forward Jeff Ekhator is also out, trimming the attacking options from the bench.

There is another notable absence. Goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has been left out of the travelling squad, with his expected move to Premier League side Bournemouth looming. His omission clears the way for a new No.1 to step into the spotlight.

The good news for Juventus fans lies in the quality of those stepping in.

Spalletti has confirmed that both marquee summer arrivals, Guglielmo Vicario and Randal Kolo Muani, are fully fit and will start. No easing them in, no gentle introductions. This is their Juventus debut, from the first whistle.

Vicario takes the gloves and with them the responsibility of anchoring a reshaped back line. In front of him, the likely defensive trio features Kalulu, Bremer and Kelly, with Cambiaso offering width and energy from the flank.

Kolo Muani, meanwhile, will be asked to set the tone at the other end. He leads the line, the focal point of an attack built to move quickly and aggressively against a Frosinone side still adjusting to top-flight pace.

Midfield engine ready to supply

Behind Kolo Muani, Spalletti has assembled a midfield that mixes bite, balance and invention.

Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz should form the base, a pairing capable of both protecting the defence and springing forward with early passes. Their job is clear: control the rhythm, win second balls, and feed the runners ahead of them.

The creative burden falls on Kenan Yıldız, Weston McKennie and Francisco Conceição. They will drift between the lines, look for pockets of space, and try to drag Frosinone’s defensive shape out of position. Yıldız brings flair, McKennie brings power and timing from deep, Conceição offers direct dribbling and width.

If Juventus are to break down the newly promoted hosts, this trio will have to find the gaps and exploit them ruthlessly.

Predicted Juventus XI

Spalletti’s first competitive lineup in charge is expected to look like this:

Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Luiz; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani.

It is a side that blends new faces with established core pieces, a team built to dominate the ball and press high. On paper, it has enough to control the game. On the pitch, it must prove it.

Kick-off and broadcast details

Frosinone vs Juventus kicks off at 5:30pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.

In the United Kingdom, the match will be shown live and exclusively on DAZN.

A newly promoted side at home, a giant under a new coach, a fanbase desperate for a statement. Spalletti’s Juventus do not just need a win. They need a performance that hints at where this season is really heading.