Igor Tudor’s Juve debut: signs of a new blueprint

Bentornati ragazzi e ragazze!

Welcome back to Serie A Spotlight, where today we’re diving into Igor Tudor’s debut as Juventus coach - a match that saw the Bianconeri grind out a hard-fought victory against an in-form Genoa side.

Juventus picked up a much-needed three points thanks to a moment of magic from Kenan Yildiz - a brilliant solo goal that sealed the win.

Despite this triumph, Juve remain fifth in the table, still chasing that Champions League spot With plenty of direct encounters on the horizon, this result might just give them the morale boost they need to push forward.

Now, before we get carried away, let’s be honest - Tudor has only had a few days to work with the whole squad, so we’re just seeing a glimpse of his vision for the team. Still, there were some tactical tweaks that already set him apart from Thiago Motta.

After the match, Tudor hinted that he expects his players to adapt both technically and tactically.

One of the first answers to the many questions asked after his appointment, came with his preferred system - a 3-4-2-1, typical of his coaching style.

Yellow circle = defenders, red circle = midfielders, blue circle = forwards (missing Dusan Vlahovic upfront).

At the back, we saw Lloyd Kelly and Federico Gatti - later replaced by Pierre Kalulu - operating as the outside centre-backs. The choice was clear: these players are comfortable on the ball and vital for build-up play from the back.

In midfield, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli (still captain) took charge centrally, while Weston McKennie and Nico Gonzalez covered the flanks as wingbacks.

Further forward, Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz supported Dusan Vlahovic at the tip of the attack.

One player who really stood out was Yildiz. Tudor clearly sees him as a technical leader - a creative force who can roam freely and isolate defenders for 1v1 situations. Yildiz had a fantastic game, with 69 touches, 4 successful dribbles out of 6, 89% passing accuracy, and 8 ground duels won from 13. His goal? An absolute beauty, showcasing his ability to single-handedly change a game.

There were also some interesting tactical patterns emerging.

Juventus often overloaded the left flank, with McKennie, Thuram, and Yildiz combining to draw Genoa’s pressure. Once the opposition was committed, Juve would switch play to exploit the weaker side or play vertically forward.

A) Weston McKennie on the ball with Khephren Thuram and Kenan Yildiz approaching him.

B) Thuram (centre) received the ball, Yildiz (right) in close proximity and they are currently 3vs3.

C) Yildiz (centre) passed the ball towards Manuel Locatelli (right) who is ready to switch play - body orientation shows his intention.

One particularly clever setup involved Renato Veiga or Locatelli when he was dropping deeper to create a back three, finding Yildiz in the half-space, effectively breaking the press and creating an advanced platform to attack from.

Kenan Yildiz dropping unmarked in the midfield, giving Genoa’s markers a headache during these situations.

Sure, it wasn’t a flawless performance - Juventus registered just 0.30 xG before that late transition by Thuram, compared to Genoa’s 0.27 xG. But it’s clear that Tudor’s ideas are starting to take shape, and it’ll be fascinating to see how they evolve with more time on the training ground.

Up next, it’s Roma - a crucial test against a side that’s been on fire under Claudio Ranieri. Can Tudor’s Juventus keep the momentum going?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to follow Serie A Spotlight across all platforms for more insights and tactical breakdowns!

Alla prossima!