Juventus are navigating a testing period in the early weeks of the 2026/27 season, sitting seventh in Serie A with 10 points from five games, level with Frosinone and Como above and below them. The squad has been shaped significantly by injuries, with the loss of Kamil Grabara to a cruciate ligament tear forcing the club to act quickly in the transfer market. The solution they landed on was a familiar face: Norberto Neto, the Brazilian goalkeeper who previously spent two seasons at the club, has returned on a deal until June 2027. Neto himself described receiving the call while watching the Copa Davis with his family, saying the chance to return somewhere he already knew made the decision straightforward.

On the pitch, Francisco Conceicao has emerged as the key creative force in the absence of the injured Kenan Yildiz, whose foot problem sustained on the opening day at Frosinone continues to keep him out. Conceicao has taken on the responsibilities that would typically fall to the Turkish forward, shifting the team's attacking play toward the right. A concern arose during the international break when Conceicao appeared to pick up a knock while on Portugal duty against Norway, though he did return to the pitch before being substituted.

Spalletti also used the friendly against Cremonese, a 1-0 defeat, to experiment with Andrea Cambiaso in a deep-lying playmaker role, a position new to him at Juventus. The next competitive test arrives Sunday at Cagliari.