Juventus secured their first pre-season victory of the summer on Saturday, defeating Standard Liege 1-0 in a closely contested match held in Belgium. The decisive moment arrived 10 minutes into the second half when Fabio Miretti converted a powerful free-kick from the edge of the penalty area to seal the win for the Italian side.
The match served as the second test for head coach Luciano Spalletti, who previously oversaw a 0-0 draw against Basel. Spalletti continued to manage a squad missing several key first-team players, many of whom are currently on break following their participation in the 2026 World Cup. Notable absences included Gleison Bremer, Weston McKennie, Francisco Conceicao, and Jonathan David, while Khephren Thuram and Kenan Yildiz were also unavailable as they continue their recovery to full fitness.
Juventus utilized a mix of youth and experience, with 18-year-old striker Arman Durmisi leading the attack alongside Vasilije Adzic and Jeremie Boga. Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz anchored the midfield. Standard Liege started aggressively, putting pressure on the Juventus defense early on. Their most significant opportunity occurred in the 10th minute when Gustav Mortensen delivered a cross to Timothe Nkada, though the forward failed to convert. Later, in the 22nd minute, an error by Andrea Cambiaso allowed Alexis Trouillet a shot on goal, but Federico Gatti intervened with a vital block to deflect the ball for a corner.
At the interval, Spalletti implemented several tactical changes, shifting the team's formation from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-2-3-1. The second-half adjustments saw the introduction of Mattia Perin, Zeki Celik, Joao Mario, Arthur Melo, Fabio Miretti, and Justin Oboavwoduo. Following his goal, Miretti nearly secured a second, but was off-balance during his attempt, allowing Ibe Hautekiet to clear the effort.
