Juventus have taken their first loss of the 2026/27 Serie A season, and the manner of it will sting. A 3-2 defeat at the Mapei Stadium, settled by Vasilije Adzic's last-gasp strike for Sassuolo, ended what had been a promising start to the campaign and exposed the fragility of a squad stretched thin by injuries. The result leaves Juventus eighth in the table with seven points from four games, level with both Frosinone and Sassuolo.

The injury situation is the defining story around the club right now. Captain Manuel Locatelli has undergone knee surgery and faces close to five months out. Khephren Thuram is also sidelined for the long term. Those absences have forced Luciano Spalletti to rely heavily on Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz, two players who arrived under scrutiny but have become indispensable by necessity. Senegalese midfielder Pape Sarr, recently arrived from Tottenham, is working his way back to full fitness and offers some relief.

The attack is another concern. Randal Kolo Muani and loan signing Nick Woltemade have yet to deliver the goals the team needs, and the performance against Sassuolo did little to change that picture. Spalletti's side showed character by fighting back twice through Edon Zhegrova, but the defensive shape in the closing stages cost them.

Next up is a Europa League home tie against NEC Nijmegen on September 17, a fixture that offers Juventus a chance to reset before the league resumes.