Juventus are back in Champions League action as the Bianconeri take on fellow strugglers Bodo/Glimt.
The Old Lady are still looking for their first win of the season in Europe’s elite club competition.
Juve currently occupies the 26th spot after three draws and one defeat so far.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti knows it’s absolutely vital to leave Norway with all three points. Failure to do so could be catastrophic in the Italian’s quest to qualify for the R16.
Juventus’ Champions League Results
Juventus are one of nine sides yet to get off the mark in the Champions League so far. On matchday 1, injury time goals from contract rebel Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly salvaged a stunning 4-4 draw with Borussia Dortmund.
A trip to Villarreal also ended in a stalemate. Renato Veiga scored in the 90th minute to earn a 2-2 draw – denying the Bianconeri all three points in Spain.
Jude Bellingham scored the only goal of the game on matchday 3 as Real Madrid saw off Igor Tudor’s men at the Bernabeu. Under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti, the Old Lady were held to a 1-1 draw against Sporting Lisbon last time out.
Although it hasn’t been all doom and gloom, Spalletti needs to find the winning formula sooner rather than later. Automatic qualification may already be out of the question but a playoff place is certainly achievable.
What Is Luciano Spalletti’s Champions League Record?
Although Luciano Spalletti doesn’t boast as much of an abysmal Champions League record as Antonio Conte, the former Azzurri boss hasn’t fared too much better.
Spalletti has won 29 of his 68 games in Europe’s elite club competition. He has 16 draws to his name and has lost the remaining 23 fixtures – giving a win percentage of 42%.
The furthest Spalletti has gone is the quarter-final stage. He achieved this on three occasions, twice with Roma and most recently with the Gli Azzurri in 2022-23.
Interestingly, Spalletti has only bowed out of the UCL group stages twice. Doing so in 2012-13 with Zenit St. Petersburg and Inter Milan in 2018-19.
The 67-year-old’s most common placement is the Round of 16. Spalletti achieved this with Roma and Zenit (both on two occasions).
- 👔 Games managed – 68
- ✅ Won – 29
- 🤝 Draws – 16
- ❌ Losses – 23
- ⚽ Goals for – 103
- 🥅 Goals against – 88
- 📈 PPG – 1.51
How Many Times Have Juventus Gone Out In The Champions League Group Stage?
Since the Champions League was re-branded in 1992, Juventus have only failed to get past the group stage on five occasions from 23 seasons.
The last time they failed to qualify was in 2022-23. The Bianconeri finished third in a group that included PSG, Benfica and Maccabi Haifa.
Last term – the first in the new-look UCL format – Juve lost in the playoff stage to PSV. Naturally, that is a fate they will be avoiding to replicate in 2025-26.
How Many Points Do Juventus Need From Their Remaining Four Fixtures?
Going by last season’s final Champions League table, a minimum of 11 points was enough to secure a playoff place. Club Brugge, Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City all registered that tally.
As it stands, Juventus has three points on the board. After the matchday 5 clash against Bodo/Glimt, the Bianconeri will play Pafos (H), Benfica (H) and Monaco (A).
Therefore, three victories should ensure a top 24 finish. Even two victories and two draws theoretically should be enough.
A loss in Norway would be hugely damaging and it would firmly put Luciano Spalletti and his Old Lady players in the last chance saloon. Victory in Scandinavia will ease the pressure dramatically but it really is time to step up to the test.
