A 2-0 win at Lecce has given Juventus a much-needed lift after a turbulent stretch that included a heavy defeat to Lazio and a frustrating 2-2 draw with Rennes in Europe. Douglas Luiz was the standout performer, contributing a goal and an assist in a dominant first half that settled the contest early. It was the kind of display Spalletti had been waiting for from the Brazilian, and it arrived at exactly the right moment for a squad under pressure.

The result moves Juventus to seventh in Serie A with 14 points from eight games, but the injury situation remains a serious concern. Zeki Celik and Nico Gonzalez are the latest additions to a casualty list that has now reached 16 players since the start of the season. Both suffered muscle injuries during the Rennes match and face spells on the sideline, forcing Spalletti to reshape his squad and his tactics. The switch to a back three and a two-striker partnership of Nick Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani has become a necessity as much as a choice, though Woltemade in particular has responded well to the added responsibility.

Spalletti has been candid about the difficulties, admitting after the Rennes draw that he continues to lose sleep when results do not come. The Lecce win offers some relief, but Genoa away on Wednesday represents an immediate test of whether this is a genuine turning point or simply a pause in a difficult period.