Juventus have hit their first real bump of the season after a 3-2 defeat at Sassuolo left the club searching for answers on multiple fronts. The loss, sealed by a last-minute goal from on-loan midfielder Vasilije Adzic, exposed persistent problems in attack and midfield that Spalletti has been unable to resolve. The forwards have yet to find consistent form, and the absence of both Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram through injury has stripped the engine room of its intended structure. Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz, two players who arrived with big reputations but struggled in their first season, are now the primary midfield options by necessity rather than design. Sarr, signed to add depth, is only just recovering from a physical problem. Despite the setback, Spalletti publicly backed Douglas Luiz before the Sassuolo match, calling him a certainty, and the club's sporting director Giovanni Carnevali dismissed speculation about a managerial change, reaffirming confidence in the coach. Winger Edon Zhegrova scored twice from the bench at the Mapei Stadium and is emerging as an unlikely bright spot, though questions remain about why he is not starting. Juventus sit eighth in Serie A with seven points from four games, level with both Sassuolo and Frosinone. Attention now turns to a Europa League home fixture against NEC Nijmegen on 17 September, where a positive result could help steady nerves ahead of a difficult run of league fixtures.