Spalletti Backs Juventus After Late Adzic Goal Seals Sassuolo Win
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti backed his players’ attacking intent after a dramatic 3-2 loss at Sassuolo, despite Adzic — a Juventus-owned player — scoring the decisive goal with the final kick at the Mapei Stadium.
The Bianconeri forced the match back to 2-2 through two Edon Zhegrova goals, but their push for a winner left space for Sassuolo to break late on. Spalletti accepted that his side’s loss of structure caused the final two concessions, while insisting the team had taken risks because it believed it could turn the game around.
Who is affected
- Juventus: The defeat damages their league position and momentum, with Spalletti describing the impact on confidence and the standings as severe.
- Luciano Spalletti: The coach praised the willingness to chase victory but demanded greater calm and defensive control in decisive moments.
- Edon Zhegrova: The winger ended his lengthy scoring drought with a brace, underlining his value in Juventus’ attacking plans.
- Adzic: The Juventus-owned player delivered Sassuolo’s winner in the dying seconds.
How the match turned
- Sassuolo took the lead through Sebastiano Esposito after Juventus’ defensive line was caught too high without enough pressure being applied to the ball.
- Spalletti was dissatisfied at the interval, feeling Juventus had sent too many crosses into the area without converting their territorial pressure into enough clear-cut finishing.
- Zhegrova struck twice after the break. His first came after cutting inside and finishing from 12 yards; his second was a low effort driven through a crowded box to level at 2-2.
- Juventus continued to commit bodies forward rather than settling for a draw. With around 30 seconds left, Spalletti believed a free-kick should have been delivered straight into the area, but a short routine surrendered possession.
- Sassuolo countered and Adzic scored at the death to seal the 3-2 result.
Spalletti said the players had followed his instructions and produced a stronger second half, but he pointed to the need for more balance when attacking. He also highlighted Zhegrova’s threat in tight one-versus-one situations, while noting that the winger’s offensive freedom can bring defensive compromises.
What happens next
Juventus must now address the defensive issues exposed in the closing stages, particularly their positioning when chasing a result. Spalletti has made clear that he will not criticise the ambition shown at Sassuolo, but expects sharper decision-making and better protection behind the attack in the next fixture.
