LECCE, ITALY - MAY 09: Head coach of Juventus FC Luciano Spalletti smiles during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
LECCE, ITALY - MAY 09: Head coach of Juventus FC Luciano Spalletti smiles during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Douglas Luiz returns to theJuventus midfield as the Bianconeri prepare to take on Standard Liege in Belgium ina pre-season friendly on Saturday evening.
The Old Lady will be taking on Standard Liege at 19.00 BST this evening.
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This is Luciano Spalletti’s first real test of pre-season, but is still without a core group of his key players, many of whom are either on holiday or have not yet returned to full fitness. That means no Gleison Bremer, Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao or Jonathan David this evening.
In fact, reports earlier this week claimed that Spalletti feels he has only had three or four ‘starters’ available to him in the early stages of pre-season and that the coach isbeginning to become slightly frustrated at the lack of reinforcements available to him.
Juventus are so short on strikers this evening that Lois Openda has been included in the matchday squad, despite the fact that he is on the verge of signing for Lyon on a season-long loan deal.
SASSUOLO, ITALY - JANUARY 06: Loïs Openda of Juventus during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Loïs Openda of Juventus during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Despite the fact that he is the only senior centre-forward available this evening, Openda has not been named in the starting line-up. There is instead an opportunity for 18-year-old centre-forward Arman Durmisi.
Vasilije Adzic and Jeremie Boga will line up behind him in attack, in front of a midfield pairing of Douglas Luiz and Manuel Locatelli. Andrea Cambiaso and youngster Adin Licina have been selected at wing-back, with an established back three of Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 01: Douglas Luiz #26 of Juventus FC arrives at the stadium prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Real Madrid CF and Juventus FC at Hard Rock Stadium on July 01, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 01: Douglas Luiz #26 of Juventus FC arrives at the stadium prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Real Madrid CF and Juventus FC at Hard Rock Stadium on July 01, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
**Standard Liege:**Epolo; Mortensen, Hautekiet, Karamoko, Drammeh, Fossey, Ilaimaharitra, Trouillet, Nielsen, Abid, Nkada.
Subs: Pirard, Dierckx, Kokora, Sy, Lawrence, Spoden, Mohr, Touzghar, El Hankouri, Nguene, Ayensa, Mitongo.
**Juventus (3-4-2-1):**Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Cambiaso, Locatelli, D.Luiz, Licina; Adzic, Boga; Durmisi.
Subs: Perin, Celik, Openda, Miretti, Pinsoglio, Rugani, J.Mario, Arthur, Cabal, Owusu, Gil Puche, Oboavwoduo, Elimoghale.
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