Juventus’ Rough Night vs Pafos: Spalletti Calls the Display Embarrassing, Then a Turnaround

Match context and first-half struggles

Luciano Spalletti, Juventus's head coach, admitted that his team's display was occasionally embarrassing, especially in the opening half of the Champions League clash with Pafos, which finished 2-0 for Juve.

Second-half turnaround and key observations

The home crowd greeted the break with boos as Juve's first half was dull, but after the interval they regrouped and scored twice to seal the win.

Spalletti said after the game that winning was essential and that, following a post-match analysis, there is a need to push harder. He added that the players are not satisfied with their performances and that in places they only delivered the minimum, which was embarrassing at times.

He noted defensive issues and the need for a ready right-back, with Kalulu deployed there and Weston currently occupying the position. Cambiasso is described as extremely attacking but struggles defensively against strong forwards.

What happened next and broader takeaways

Spalletti continued: Juve allowed Pafos too many chances in the first half. There were some simple mistakes, and it was surprising to see players fail to capitalise on opportunities, but that is Juventus's current situation.

He also observed that Pafos have conceded few goals this season aside from their match with Bayern Munich, highlighting the visitors' quality.

Punchlines: If defense were a luxury, Juventus would be paying in installments. And if a plan needs a miracle, maybe they should hire a contractor—the defense could use a rebuild from the ground up.