Spalletti begins Juve tenure with win at Cremonese | The Express Tribune

MILAN:

Luciano Spalletti got off to a winning start in charge of Juventus on Saturday as his new team beat Cremonese and their goalscorer Jamie Vardy 2-1.

Serie A leaders Napoli though could only manage a goalless draw with Como.

Birthday boy Filip Kostic took just 84 seconds to score the first goal of the Spalletti era, and another close-range finish from Andrea Cambiaso in the 68th minute made sure dominant Juve moved fifth, four points behind Napoli.

Juve started Saturday’s match just one point above spirited Cremonese, who showed why they sit ninth after being promoted last season.

Former England international Vardy halved the deficit in the 83rd minute when he held off Federico Gatti before bursting through and confidently rolling home his second Serie A goal.

“We did well for a good chunk of the first half, then we started to concede too much, and it was the same at the start of the second half… there’s a bit to work on,” Spalletti told Sky Sport.

“We need to grow, and quickly. We have potential and I trust the players, but the pressure of playing for Juventus can weigh on the players… Some of them struggle with it, but we can work on that.”

Spalletti was unveiled as Juve’s new man on Thursday following the sacking of Igor Tudor, the 66-year-old signing a contract until the end of the season.

He comes back into the club game after a nightmare spell in charge of the Italian national team which ended in June after a disastrous title defence at Euro 2024 and a thumping at the hands of Norway in the opening match of the Azzurri’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

But Spalletti showed some of his old taste for the unusual by starting Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners in defence, a move that largely worked with three centre-backs including Gleison Bremer out of action.

Juve host Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday as they try for their first win in this season’s Champions League, with Spalletti’s team on two points from three rounds of matches.

Napoli held

For the second time in as many matches goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved Napoli’s blushes by keeping out a penalty, this time stopping Alvaro Morata from netting his first goal for Como after bringing down the Spain forward midway through the first half.

That was by far the best opportunity of a cagey, intense contest in Naples which has given Napoli’s rivals the chance to apply more pressure in the battle for the Scudetto.

Roma trail Napoli by a point and can move top with a win on Sunday night at AC Milan who are, alongside Juve and third-placed Inter Milan, four points from the summit.

“It was a very even match, and good to watch because it was played with a bit of edge, we pressed them high and they did the same to us,” said Conte.

“It was a European-style match where neither team sat back in their own area and waited for a counter-attack. Both teams were brave.”

Napoli now turn their attention to the visit of Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night, with Antonio Conte’s team on three points from their three Champions League matches following a thumping at PSV Eindhoven last month.

Como sit sixth in Serie A, a point behind Juve and the Milan clubs, after extending their unbeaten league run to eight matches.

The tiny club, backed by tobacco giant Djarum, showed an ease on the big stage that has been typical of Cesc Fabregas’ tenure as coach.

“I’m pleased up to a certain point, when you play that well you have to win. But we’ve taken another step forward, playing against the champions and a really good team,” said Fabregas.

Atalanta’s unbeaten record fell with a 1-0 defeat at Udinese in the day’s early kick-off, Nicolo Zaniolo netting the winner five minutes before half-time.