Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti is reportedly weighing up a significant change to his attacking line-up, with Randal Kolo Muani potentially starting on the bench for Wednesday’s Serie A Round 9 fixture against Genoa. The crucial mid-week encounter will see Juventus travel to Marassi.
Reports from Italy suggest that Kolo Muani’s potential omission is not solely for rotation, despite Juventus facing a tight fixture list that includes a significant home game against Napoli next Sunday. The forward, who joined Juventus over the summer, has scored three goals in 11 appearances across all competitions this season. Of these, only one goal has come in Serie A, where he has started nine times and played the full 90 minutes in six of those matches. This performance context suggests a potential tactical adjustment from Spalletti.
Attacking Reshuffle Expected
In light of Kolo Muani’s form, Nick Woltemade is expected to feature in the starting XI for Juventus. The German forward, who is on loan from Newcastle, has reportedly shown greater improvement than his strike partner and is anticipated to make his third consecutive appearance in the starting line-up across all competitions. Spalletti has already reshuffled Juventus’ line-up in the last two games, previously pairing Kolo Muani with Woltemade.
Further details suggest that Kerim Alajbegovic is currently favoured to partner Woltemade up front, potentially forming a new attacking duo for the Genoa match. Reports indicate that Spalletti may confirm a 3-5-2 system for the away game, which would accommodate two central strikers.
Future Reinforcements and Press Conference
Looking beyond the immediate fixture, Juventus are reportedly already planning for the January transfer window. The club is said to be targeting Monaco’s Folarin Balogun as a potential reinforcement for their attacking options, indicating a long-term view on strengthening the squad’s offensive capabilities.
Further clarity on Spalletti’s team selection and tactical approach is anticipated later today, when the manager is scheduled to hold his pre-match press conference. This will be the first opportunity for official confirmation regarding the team news ahead of the Genoa match, offering insights into the manager’s strategy for the upcoming Serie A challenge.