03 January 2026
The Juventus Men's First Team drew 1-1 with Lecce in their first game of 2026, with the Serie A Matchday 18 game being played at the Allianz Stadium.
THE MATCH REPORT
Luciano Spalletti's team started the match on the offensive, showing their desire to dictate the pace of the game from the very first minute. The first chance came after seven minutes as Jonathan David headed the ball in the penalty area, and Wladimiro Falcone deflected it onto the post before it dribbled slowly along the goal line, right into the arms of the goalkeeper.
Another seven minutes passed and Weston McKennie came close to giving Juve the lead, but the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Kialonda Gaspar. Later in the first half, Andrea Cambiaso came close to giving Juventus the lead twice; first with a solo run and a left-footed shot that was saved by Falcone, then, left unmarked by his opponents on the left side of the penalty area, with a powerful but wayward shot that flew over the crossbar. The Bianconeri spent the entire first half in the attacking half, but in the first minute of stoppage time, it was Lecce who found the goal through Lameck Banda.
Back on the pitch after the break, it took the Bianconeri just four minutes to level the score: Kenan Yildiz set up the move from the left and McKennie, always in the right place at the right time, slotted the ball into the net, threading it perfectly between the Giallorossi defenders. The pressure continued after the goal, and it was David who created danger with a flying shot that made contact with Mohamed Kaba's arm: after a VAR review, a penalty was awarded. The number 30 stepped up to take the penalty, but his shot down the middle was saved by Falcone.
The pressure increased in the final minutes, and it was David again who looked for the right opening, but his first-time left-footed shot couldn’t beat Falcone. In stoppage time, the Bianconeri's last big chance came from Yildiz, who curled the ball towards the far post, hitting it squarely, but Openda failed to hit the target on the rebound. At the Allianz Stadium, the first match of 2026 ended 1-1.
