Juventus are navigating one of the most challenging starts to a season in recent memory, with a midfield injury crisis threatening to derail what had been a promising opening to the 2026/27 campaign. The club sit sixth in Serie A with seven points from three games, but the mood at the Continassa is defined less by that respectable return and more by the mounting casualties in central midfield. Manuel Locatelli, the club captain, underwent knee surgery after feeling discomfort following the 1-1 draw with Milan and faces close to five months on the sidelines. Khephren Thuram was already out before that blow arrived. With Weston McKennie not yet fully fit and Pape Sarr only just recovering from a problem carried over from Tottenham, Spalletti has been left with Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz as his only reliable options in the engine room. Both players arrived at Juventus under significant scrutiny after difficult spells, yet the injury crisis has thrust them into indispensable roles. Douglas Luiz has responded well enough to earn a recall to the Brazil squad under Carlo Ancelotti. Spalletti is also weighing tactical adjustments up front, with reports suggesting he may start Nick Woltemade alongside Randal Kolo Muani against Sassuolo on Sunday. Sarr's potential return offers genuine encouragement, but the squad's depth is being tested early, and how Spalletti manages these constraints over the coming weeks will shape Juventus's season.