Juventus, Dusan Vlahovic is now a case: there is one fact, however, that is significant
Juventus’ season seems to be a continuous seesaw of emotions, between the good and the not-so-good. Halfway through the league run, the team is in sixth place with a tally that says a lot: zero defeats, but as many as 11 draws. And when the team fails to win, even without losing, the points left on the road come to a head. It is not just a problem of numbers: the feeling is that Juve is trying to find its own identity, but without yet fully succeeding.
Juventus, Vlahovic è un caso: sempre sostituito ma c’è un dato eclatante – Serieanews
Another disappointment, then, came from the Italian Super Cup, where Juve succumbed to AC Milan in the semifinals, losing 2-1 after a game that highlighted many of the difficulties the team is facing, especially at the level of cohesion and concreteness at crucial moments. And while defensive solidity is something that can be built on, the offensive department, with so many draws and so few decisive goals, needs clearer and quicker answers.
Precisely on this last point, one of the hot topics that is inflaming the Juventus environment is the Vlahovic case. The Serbian, a protagonist on the field but also of many discussions, is at the center of a debate that, between numbers and tactical choices, seems to have no end.
Dusan Vlahovic: numeri sotto la lente
Vlahovic’s substitution in the Super Cup semifinal against AC Milan has become a case in itself. Thiago Motta, Juve’s coach, took him off the field in the 65th minute, replacing him with Nico Gonzalez, a striker who is not a center forward by trade.
Dusan Vlahovic: numeri sotto la lente (Ansa Foto) – Serieanews
A choice that did not go unnoticed, not least because Vlahovic was certainly not shining in that match. The Serbian was often anticipated by Rossoneri defenders, struggled to handle balls and failed to be dangerous in front of goal.
But the numbers, you know, speak for themselves, and despite the unconvincing performance against Milan, the Serbian continues to be a key element in the Bianconeri season.
To date, in the 23 matches played between the league, Champions League and Coppa Italia, Juventus has had 11 wins, 10 draws and only 2 defeats, with a total of 43 goals scored and 11 conceded. Of these 43 goals, 12 were signed by Vlahovic himself, and as many as 6 of them were decisive for the outcome of the matches.
La Juve non vince senza Vlahovic
On a statistical level, Vlahovic’s presence on the pitch has an average points per game of 1.05, a figure that is hardly extraordinary but still higher than what Juve has done without him. When the number 9 has been unavailable, the team has collected only draws, scoring a single goal on three occasions. Numbers that show how his absence, although not decisive, still affected the team’s performance.
What makes the case even more interesting are the technical choices related to his management. When Vlahovic was taken off the field, for example, against Fiorentina in the league and against Milan in the Super Cup, Juventus suffered significant setbacks, losing two points to the Viola and being eliminated by the Rossoneri.
Under these circumstances, the decision to take off the Serbian before the end of the game brought out a reflection on how much the team depends on his contribution in attack.
Vlahovic, questione contrattuale e il mercato
Further complicating the situation is also the issue of Vlahovic’s contract renewal, which expires in 2026. In recent months, there has been a lot of talk about a possible extension, but the situation does not seem to be evolving as fast as the games are going on.
Market rumors related to a possible farewell for the Serbian are intertwined with Juve’s difficulties, and his stay at Juventus is no longer as obvious as it once was.
With Juve struggling to get off the ground, Vlahovic’s situation becomes a crucial issue not only in terms of performance but also for the team’s balance. The decision to rely on a striker who, while highly talented, is often struggling with injuries and fluctuating periods of form is beginning to raise doubts. In particular, the management’s decision not to replace him with a role striker (see the sale of Kean) weighs like a boulder on technical management.
Juve’s difficulties and the handling of Vlahovic are only part of the season, but if we were to look at the numbers and the episodes, one wonders if indeed the club’s future can come through the resolution of this situation. Does the Serbian deserve more trust, or should we start looking elsewhere? And if, in the end, Juve fails to get back that “all-rounder” in attack that has always been missing, what would really happen to his season? These questions, for now, remain open.
This article Juventus, Vlahovic is a case: always replaced but there is a striking fact appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
