Juventus Kick Off Spalletti Era Against Frosinone

Juventus kick off the Luciano Spalletti era on Sunday with a trip that looks gentle on paper and anything but in reality: away to newly promoted Frosinone, hungry and unscarred by Serie A.

The Bianconeri reach the opener with quiet confidence. August brought structure, clean sheets and just enough cutting edge to hint at a team taking shape under their new coach. They edged Chelsea 1–0, handled Palermo 2–0, and wrapped up their preparations by beating Juventus Next Gen by the same scoreline. Only Inter Milan managed to pierce the mood, squeezing out a 2–1 win in the month’s only setback.

For a club that has lived on turbulence in recent seasons, that kind of steady pre-season matters.

Spalletti’s first Juventus: big calls, big debuts

Spalletti’s hand is partly forced at the back. Federico Gatti, a reliable presence in central defence, misses out with an ankle injury, trimming the options in a department where stability is usually non-negotiable. Young forward Jeff Ekhator is also unavailable.

There is another notable absentee. Michele Di Gregorio has not been included in the travelling squad, with his expected move to Bournemouth looming in the background. One door closing, another flung wide open.

Because in goal, Guglielmo Vicario is in. Not just in the squad. Straight into the XI. Spalletti has confirmed that the summer signing will start and take the gloves from day one, a clear statement of trust in a player brought in to anchor the new project.

Up front, the other headline arrival steps into the spotlight. Randal Kolo Muani leads the line, tasked with giving Juventus the kind of mobility, aggression and penalty-box presence they have lacked too often in recent campaigns. No gentle bedding-in. He starts.

Behind him, the structure looks balanced and busy. Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz form the midfield core, a blend of control and bite designed to keep Juventus on the ball and high up the pitch. Ahead of them, Kenan Yıldız, Weston McKennie and Francisco Conceição are charged with providing the spark, the runs between the lines and the final pass to unlock a Frosinone side that will almost certainly sit deep and scrap for every yard.

If Spalletti wants tempo and aggression, that trio can give it to him.

How Juventus are expected to line up

The predicted XI underlines the shift: technical, front-foot, and built to dominate territory.

Possible Juventus starting XI: Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Luiz; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani.

It is a side that suggests Spalletti will not wait to impose his ideas. High full-backs, ball-playing defenders, a double pivot with range, and a front four that can interchange and press. On day one, away from home, against a promoted team. No half measures.

Kick-off time and how to watch

Frosinone vs Juventus kicks off at 5:30pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.

In the United Kingdom, the Serie A clash will be shown live exclusively on DAZN.

A new coach, new faces, and an opener that could either confirm the calm of pre-season or expose early cracks. For Spalletti’s Juventus, the real work starts now.