Juventus recorded their first victory of the pre-season under new head coach Luciano Spalletti, defeating Standard Liège 1-0 in Belgium thanks to a superb second-half free-kick from Fabio Miretti. After opening their preparations with a goalless draw against Basel, the Bianconeri showed signs of improvement in both their intensity and control as they continue building towards the start of the new campaign.
Spalletti was still unable to call upon several of his senior stars, with a number of players remaining on holiday after their involvement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Others, including Kenan Yildiz and Khephren Thuram, are still working their way back to full fitness. Those absences allowed several academy talents and squad players to impress alongside experienced figures such as Manuel Locatelli, Douglas Luiz, Federico Gatti, and Andrea Cambiaso.
Standard Liège started the match brightly and created the better opportunities during the opening half. Juventus were forced to defend deep at times, with Federico Gatti producing an important block to deny the hosts after a defensive mistake. Although the Italian side enjoyed more possession as the half progressed, they struggled to create clear-cut chances before the break.
Spalletti responded by making several tactical and personnel changes at half-time, switching his system and introducing fresh legs, including Fabio Miretti. The changes immediately had an impact. Ten minutes into the second half, Miretti stepped up to curl a powerful free-kick beyond the goalkeeper and score the only goal of the match. Moments later, he almost doubled both his tally and Juventus' lead, but his effort was blocked by the recovering defence.
While the result itself is secondary during pre-season, the match offered encouraging signs for Spalletti. Juventus looked more organised after the interval, controlled possession more effectively, and showed greater attacking intent. With several key players still to return over the coming weeks, the Italian coach will be pleased to see younger members of the squad taking their opportunities as competition for places begins to increase ahead of the new Serie A season.