Spalletti Urges Juventus To Improve Final-Third Decision-Making

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Juventus were held 1-1 by Lecce, and Luciano Spalletti demanded sharper decisions in attack after another drawn Serie A game. Lameck Banda scored for the visitors, Weston McKennie replied, yet Juventus failed to turn pressure into three points despite long spells of control.

Spalletti stressed that the major issue was not effort but choices near goal. "We need to improve our choices in the box," Spalletti said. "We put the ball into dangerous areas many times, both in the first and second half, but we never found the right touch to redirect it. That’s where we have to grow."

Statistics underlined the coach’s frustration. Juventus produced 25 shots and finished with 2.8 expected goals, yet only five attempts required saves. Spalletti’s players hit the woodwork twice and created six big chances, while Lecce managed six shots in total and tested Wladimiro Falcone just once.

This wasteful outing also carried a wider pattern. Since the beginning of last season, Juventus have recorded 22 Serie A draws, more than any other team in the league. It was also the first time since May 2024 that Juventus did not win a league game after registering at least 25 efforts on goal.

The match itself swung on several decisive incidents. Jonathan David saw an early header pushed onto the post by Falcone, then Lecce struck through Banda before half-time. McKennie levelled soon after the restart, and David later had a 66th-minute penalty saved, missing a major chance to seal victory.

Spalletti defended David’s role from the spot despite the miss. "David is a penalty taker, and he takes them very well. He made the right choice, going down the middle; he just didn’t lift it enough." The coach made clear that Juventus still trust David in such situations.

Spalletti also felt the wider display showed progress, even if the outcome disappointed. "We played a good match, a very good match. The result always makes the difference, of course, but there were clear steps forward in our performance. This match is gone, we didn’t win it, we drew it, he added. But if we keep playing like this, we’ll win plenty of games. Now we have to make sure we take the next ones."