Juventus are in the grip of a genuine crisis. The 2-0 defeat at Genoa on October 28 was, by most accounts, the worst performance of Luciano Spalletti's tenure, a flat, disorganised display that left the club 11 points off the pace after just nine Serie A games. The result triggered an immediate response from the boardroom. CEO Giovanni Carnevali addressed the squad directly the following day, delivering a blunt message that the situation was unacceptable, and the club sent the players into a training retreat ahead of the next fixture.

Spalletti's position is now openly questioned. Reports linking Antonio Conte and Stefano Pioli to the role have circulated for weeks, and the name of Didier Deschamps has since emerged in the Turin press as another potential candidate. The club publicly says it does not want to change coach, but the pressure is real and mounting.

There is a small boost in the squad picture. Attacker Jeff Ekhator has returned to group training after an injury that ruled him out for the entire start of the season, giving Spalletti an additional option. Defender Gleison Bremer, meanwhile, continues to attract concern over a dip in form that has drawn significant attention.

The next test is Sunday's home match against Napoli, a side that arrives in Turin level on points with Juventus and in far better shape. For Spalletti, it is widely regarded as a defining moment.