In a bid to find consistency and attacking fluency, Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti is expected to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation when his side hosts Cremonese at the Allianz Stadium on Monday evening, a tactical switch unlocked by the return of defender Lloyd Kelly.
Having initially stuck with the 3-4-2-1 system inherited from Igor Tudor, Spalletti has been gradually implementing his preferred four-man backline. This setup was used effectively in the second half of the Champions League tie against Pafos and throughout last weekend’s Serie A draw with Lecce, and now appears to be the chosen approach against the visiting Grigiorossi.
Defensive Stability with Kelly’s Return
The key change enabling this shift is the return of Lloyd Kelly. The English defender has recovered from the muscle fatigue that sidelined him for the midweek victory at Sassuolo. According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, he is tipped to start at the heart of the defense alongside the ever-present Gleison Bremer. Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso are the expected full-backs, providing width and defensive solidity.
Midfield and Attack Take Shape
The double pivot in midfield picks itself, with Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram set to continue their partnership. The attacking midfield trio is where Spalletti’s recent experiments come into focus.
Following his goal-scoring performance and positive display in the 3-1 win over Sassuolo, young Italian Fabio Miretti is favoured to start in the central attacking midfield role. He would be flanked by Kenan Yildiz on the left and the versatile Weston McKennie on the right wing—a position the American has occupied effectively under Spalletti.
Up front, there is no debate. The manager has already confirmed that Jonathan David will lead the line once more, fresh from ending his Serie A goal drought with a strike in midweek. This means Lois Openda will start from the bench.
Alternative Possibilities
While the 4-2-3-1 with Kelly appears the most likely scenario, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests some alternatives are in play. The paper reports that Teun Koopmeiners (55%) is a slight favourite over Kelly (45%) to partner Bremer in central defense. There is also a question mark in goal, where Mattia Perin (45%) could challenge Michele Di Gregorio (55%) for the starting spot.
Furthermore, winger Edon Zhegrova (40%) is reportedly pushing hard for a start. If selected, he would likely take Miretti’s place, prompting a reshuffle that could see McKennie move into a more central role.
With their Champions League round of 16 place secured, Juventus can now fully focus on climbing the Serie A table, currently sitting in 5th place. A tactical shift to a more proactive 4-2-3-1, spearheaded by an in-form Jonathan David and buoyed by returning players, signals Spalletti’s intent to control the game and secure a vital three points against Cremonese.
