Juve Pre-Season Test
Juventus Faces Standard Liege in Pre-Season Friendly, Testing Squad Depth and Tactics Under Spalletti
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Key Points
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Juventus deployed a 3-4-2-1 in this friendly, with Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly forming the back line, Andrea Cambiaso and Adin Licina as wing-backs, a midfield duo of Douglas Luiz and Manuel Locatelli, and Arman Durmisi leading the line supported by Vasilije Adzic and Jeremie Boga.
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The match was Juventus’ second friendly of the summer, with kick-off listed around 8 p.m. local time in Liège and multi-time-zone listings (UK, Eastern/Central/Pacific) for viewers.
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Spalletti entered the game short on reinforcements, with key players such as Gleison Bremer, Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao and Jonathan David not available or not fully fit.
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Juventus’ pre-season also featured a personal angle, as Spalletti prepared for a clash against an old friend on the opposing sideline, adding extra intrigue to the fixture.
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The match took place at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, with Standard Liege lined up in a 4-3-3 and Juventus in a 3-4-2-1 setup led by Locatelli, illustrating a clear formation contrast between the two sides.
Juventus traveled to Liège on July 25, 2026 for a pre-season friendly against Standard Liege at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, with manager Luciano Spalletti fielding a 3-4-2-1 formation in just his side's second warm-up match of the summer. Football Italia confirmed that Douglas Luiz started in midfield for the first time since recovering from injury, marking a notable return for the Brazilian amid a squad thinned by absentees.
Key players including Gleison Bremer, Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and new signing Jonathan David were all unavailable or not yet fully fit, leaving Spalletti with limited options as Juventus chase European football next season.
Spalletti's Thin Squad Tested in Belgium
Juventus lined up with Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti, and Lloyd Kelly in a back three. Andrea Cambiaso and Adin Licina filled the wing-back roles. Douglas Luiz and Manuel Locatelli partnered in the center of midfield. Up front, 18-year-old Arman Durmisi led the line. Vasilije Adzic and Jeremie Boga played just behind him, according to Football Italia.
Standard Liege set up in a contrasting 4-3-3, according to YSScores. The tactical mismatch gave Spalletti's back three an early test of shape and discipline. Lois Openda was in the Juventus traveling squad but did not start, adding another name to a growing list of fringe players Spalletti must assess before the season begins.
Douglas Luiz's Return Offers Midfield Hope
The return of Douglas Luiz was the headline story inside the Juventus camp. The Brazilian had missed significant time through injury and his partnership with Locatelli in the double pivot gave Spalletti his first look at what could become a key midfield axis. Yahoo Sports noted this was Luiz's first appearance back in the middle of the park since returning to fitness.
Locatelli captained the midfield effort and brought calm organization to a side missing several first-choice names. The duo's performance in Liège was widely framed as a key early indicator of Juventus' structure and rhythm heading into the new campaign.
Spalletti Faces an Old Friend on the Touchline
The match carried a personal dimension for Spalletti. The manager lined up against a former colleague on the Standard Liege touchline, adding extra intrigue to what might otherwise have been a routine pre-season fixture. Spalletti is known for his close relationships within European football management circles, and the reunion was noted as a subplot by several outlets covering the game.
Global Fans Tracked Kick-Off Across Time Zones
Kick-off in Liège was listed at around 8 p.m. local time. Yahoo Sports and Football Italia both published multi-time-zone breakdowns for UK, Eastern, Central, and Pacific viewers. The demand for live stream details pointed to growing international interest in Juventus' pre-season progress, even with a weakened squad on the pitch.
Coverage combined official confirmed lineups with fan-focused previews. The dual approach reflected how Juventus supporters are tracking every squad decision closely, with transfer uncertainty still hanging over the club and the race for European places set to define their 2026-27 season.
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