Conceição’s Juventus place in doubt as Spalletti weighs attacking changes for Lazio

Francisco Conceição’s performance against Celta Vigo may cost him his Juventus starting place against Lazio, with Luciano Spalletti weighing both a like-for-like replacement and a change of formation. The reported touchline flare-up has added tension, but the coach has a footballing reason to reconsider his attack.

Conceição was replaced by Nico González with Juventus level at 1-1, after Hugo Álvarez and Nick Woltemade had scored. He initially headed towards the dressing room before returning to the bench. Sky Sport reported that he struck the bench and may have argued with a member of staff.

Conceição rejected the suggestion of a confrontation in his post-match comments to Sky Sport. “I haven’t argued with anyone,” he said, explaining that he had given the bench “a little knock” and had not spoken with staff. Spalletti said his assistants had told him there was no incident. He also felt Conceição should be angry with himself over a display in which the winger struggled to make an impact.

That assessment gives Spalletti a clear tactical basis for making a change. Edon Zhegrova is a natural option on the right, and the report describes him as being in good form. He was not registered for the UEFA match, while Weston McKennie is another possible replacement after starting against Celta.

The more significant alternative is to start Randal Kolo Muani alongside Woltemade. Woltemade’s late goals against Cagliari and Celta have helped fuel discussion of the pairing, but using both from the start would require Spalletti to alter the formation. Lazio’s counterattacking threat is part of that calculation: changing the front line would also affect how Juventus set up to contain the visitors.

Juventus sit sixth with 11 points from six league games and host Lazio on Sunday, 18 October. Spalletti’s decision will show whether Conceição’s subdued Celta display is enough to lose him his place, or whether the coach sees the fixture as a chance to reshape the attack around Woltemade and Kolo Muani.