Juventus opened their 2026-27 pre-season schedule with a goalless draw against Swiss side Basel in their first summer friendly. Goalkeeper Mattia Perin emerged as the standout performer after saving a second-half penalty to preserve the stalemate. The fixture marked Luciano Spalletti’s first friendly in charge of the Bianconeri and served as a reunion with former long-serving defender Stephan Lichtsteiner, who now manages the Swiss outfit.
The Italian champions fielded a starting eleven that included Douglas Luiz, the Brazilian midfielder who previously spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. Luiz was withdrawn at the interval and replaced by Arthur, another player returning from a loan spell, as Spalletti looked to distribute minutes across his squad and assess various combinations ahead of the competitive season.
Penalty Drama Decides Deadlock
The decisive moment of the contest arrived in the second period when Basel were awarded a penalty. Perin, who had replaced Michele Di Gregorio at half-time, produced a crucial stop to deny the Swiss side. The match saw extensive rotation from both benches, with Juventus introducing substitutes across all areas of the pitch throughout the second period. Returning players and squad members were given significant minutes as the coaching staff evaluated options ahead of the new campaign.
Reactions from the Bianconeri Camp
Spalletti expressed satisfaction with his squad’s application despite the lack of goals. He noted that the team managed to create opportunities despite the difficult circumstances of an early pre-season fixture, but cited a “lack of precision in key moments” that prevented them from converting their chances. He added that he was “pleased with the commitment I’ve seen this week” from the group.
Winger Jeremie Boga offered a similar assessment, acknowledging that the squad remains short of peak physical condition. “We’re not at our best physically yet,” he admitted, “but with the ball, we showed some good stuff, and that’s exactly what we want to do this year.” He confirmed the team will approach each remaining friendly with the specific goal of improving their physical sharpness and tactical understanding.
The result provides Spalletti with a useful foundation to build upon as Juventus continue their summer preparations, with further friendlies scheduled to refine fitness and cohesion before the competitive campaign begins.