When Penalties Meet Resolve: Spalletti Stands by David After Juventus-Lecce Draw

Match context

Juventus hosted Lecce at the Allianz Stadium, fighting back to draw 1-1 after a missed penalty by Jonathan David. The result mirrored a tense affair in which the decisive moment came from the spot, but the overall performance left coach Luciano Spalletti encouraged about the team's direction.

Spalletti's stance on David and penalties

Spalletti expressed unwavering support for Jonathan David after the Argentine-born forward failed to convert from 12 yards. He said David is a capable penalty taker who chose the middle of the goal, but the ball did not rise enough to beat the keeper. The coach also refused to single out any player for blame, noting that other teammates are capable penalty takers and that such decisions are made in the heat of the moment during a match.

"We played a good game, even a very good one. The result matters, but there were clear steps forward in our performance," Spalletti added, contextualizing the miss within an overall positive display.

Aftermath and standings

The 1-1 draw left Juventus on 33 points, five points behind league leaders Milan (38). Lecce moved to 17 points, landing 16th in the table. The club's performance suggested progress in attack and build-up play, even as finishing remains a work in progress around the box.

"We need to improve our options inside the box and finish better," Spalletti concluded, signaling that the pathway to victory lies in sharper decisive moments rather than dwelling on a single miss.

Punchlines worth a try, because football loves a good punchline: 1) If penalties were a dating app, David would still swipe right—just not enough power on that right boot. 2) Spalletti’s calm is so legendary that even VAR whistles look confused and pause to listen.