Teun Koopmeiners Returns to Juventus Midfield Ahead of Sassuolo Clash

Teun Koopmeiners is set to be thrown straight back into the heart of the Juventus midfield as Luciano Spalletti wrestles with an early-season injury pile-up before Sunday night’s Serie A trip to Sassuolo.

Juventus arrive at the Mapei Stadium defending an unbeaten start to the 2026-27 campaign. Kick-off is at 19.45 BST, under the lights and under pressure.

Spalletti turns to ‘unwanted’ duo

Spalletti’s side opened with wins over Frosinone and Parma, then stalled slightly in a 1-1 draw with Milan at the Allianz Stadium last weekend. It’s been a solid, if not yet spectacular, launch. Sassuolo, meanwhile, sit 10th with a win, a draw and a defeat from their first three matches.

The real story, though, lies in the absentees.

Captain Manuel Locatelli is out for the next few months. Khephren Thuram faces a similar spell on the sidelines. Weston McKennie is still not ready. That leaves Spalletti turning to a pair who, not long ago, looked surplus to requirements.

Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz are now expected to anchor the midfield together, a partnership born as much from necessity as design. The Dutchman’s return offers control and a goal threat from deep. Douglas Luiz brings bite and rhythm. Suddenly, the “unwanted” have become indispensable.

New faces, missing stars

Tottenham loanee Pape Matar Sarr is in line for his first appearance in a Juventus matchday squad since his summer move to Turin, adding another option on the bench at a time when options are thin.

Up front, there is no Kenan Yildiz. His absence opens the door again for summer signing Kerim Alajbegovic, who deputised against Milan and is expected to keep his place in the starting XI at Sassuolo.

Behind the striker, the No. 10 role is still up for grabs. Reports from Sky Sport Italia indicate Nico Gonzalez is favoured to start as the central attacking midfielder, ahead of Nick Woltemade, who featured against Milan but may have to settle for a place among the substitutes this time.

Spalletti must also do without Andrea Cambiaso, Jeremie Boga, Jeff Ekhator and Juan Cabal, none of whom are expected to feature.

Probable line-ups

Sassuolo are likely to stick with a 4-3-3:

Sassuolo (4-3-3): Muric; Cinquegrano, Leysen, Idzes, Doig; Adzic, Matic, Bakola; Berardi, Esposito, Lauriente.

Juventus are set to mirror their recent 4-2-3-1 shape:

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumi, Celik; Douglas Luiz, Koopmeiners; Conceicao, N. Gonzalez, Alajbegovic; Kolo Muani.

It is a line-up that leans heavily on the spine: Bremer to marshal the back line, Koopmeiners to knit play, Kolo Muani to finish.

Where to watch

In the UK, the game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max and DAZN. Viewers in the USA can follow the action on Paramount+.

Juventus have started the season unbeaten. The question now is whether this patched-together midfield can keep that run alive in Emilia-Romagna.