Juve begin Spalletti era with win over Cremonese

Luciano Spalletti got off to a winning start in charge of Juventus on Saturday as his new team beat Cremonese and their goalscorer Jamie Vardy 2-1.

Birthday boy Filip Kostic took just 84 seconds to score the first goal of the Spalletti era, and another close-range finish from Andrea Cambiaso in the 68th minute made sure dominant Juve moved fifth, four points behind Napoli.

Juve started Saturday's match just one point above spirited Cremonese, who showed why they sit ninth after being promoted last season.

Former England international Vardy halved the deficit in the 83rd minute when he held off Federico Gatti before bursting through and confidently rolling home his second Serie A goal.

"We did well for a good chunk of the first half, then we started to concede too much, and it was the same at the start of the second half... there's a bit to work on," Spalletti told Sky Sport.

"We need to grow, and quickly. We have potential and I trust the players, but the pressure of playing for Juventus can weigh on the players... Some of them struggle with it, but we can work on that."

Spalletti was unveiled as Juve's new man on Thursday following the sacking of Igor Tudor, the 66-year-old signing a contract until the end of the season.

He comes back into the club game after a nightmare spell in charge of the Italian national team which ended in June after a disastrous title defence at Euro 2024 and a thumping at the hands of Norway in the opening match of the Azzurri's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

But Spalletti showed some of his old taste for the unusual by starting Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners in defence, a move that largely worked with three centre-backs including Gleison Bremer out of action.

Juve host Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday as they try for their first win in this season's Champions League, with Spalletti's team on two points from three rounds of matches.