McKennie relishing new role in Juventus set-up

Weston McKennie is thrilled to be playing a more advanced role for Juventus, who are preparing to face Sassuolo in Serie A on Tuesday.

Juventus are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak in the competition, but failed to make it four wins on the bounce last time out in a 1-1 draw with Lecce.

McKennie scored Juve’s equaliser in that match, but Jonathan David missed a second-half penalty that ultimately could have sealed all three points.

Luciano Spalletti’s side are currently fourth in Serie A heading into this game, and McKennie believes Juventus have the right mentality to bounce back quickly.

“For me, it’s not a new position,” McKennie said. “I’m at the manager’s and the team’s disposal, and I try to give 100% in every role.

“I like playing as a trequartista because you can both defend and attack.

“You feel a bit down [after a result like the one against Lecce], a bit frustrated, but you can’t dwell on missed chances. You have to keep moving forward.

“The team played a good match; what was missing was the final pass. Anyone can miss a penalty. That’s football — you have to move forward and focus on the next game.”

Sassuolo, meanwhile, are 10th in Serie A, with 23 points, 10 behind Juventus.

They have won just one of their last seven matches – beating struggling Fiorentina 3-1 – and have drawn three of their last four (L1), a run which includes a 2-2 stalemate with second-place AC Milan.

Our next match, a trip to face Sassuolo pic.twitter.com/WPJciSkGXC

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) January 4, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sassuolo – Kristian Thorstvedt

Since his arrival at Sassuolo in 2022-23, Kristian Thorstvedt is one of only four foreign midfielders with 15 or more goals scored across Serie A and Serie B (17 – 10 in the top-flight, seven in the second tier), alongside Hakan Calhanoglu, Teun Koopmeiners and Nikola Vlasic.

The Norwegian could score in consecutive top-flight matches for the second time in his career, the first since November 2023 (against Torino and Salernitana on that occasion).

Juventus – Manuel Locatelli

Manuel Locatelli scored six goals and provided 11 assists in 96 Serie A games playing for Sassuolo.

His first of only two such goal and assist hauls in the competition came while wearing the Neroverdi shirt in April 2019 against Chievo. He is one of only two players with 1,000+ successful passes in this Serie A season (1,078), behind Luka Modric (1,082).

MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN

Juventus have won three of their last six meetings with Sassuolo (L3), having won nine of their 11 previous to that run (D2).

However, Sassuolo have won their last two Serie A home matches against Juventus at the MAPEI Stadium, after picking up only five points (W1 D2 L6) in their previous nine home games against the Bianconeri in the competition.

Sassuolo are unbeaten in five of their seven Serie A matches played on Epiphany (W3 D2), winning the most recent (1-0 at home against Fiorentina in 2024); however, they have never won consecutive matches in the competition played on this date.

As for Juventus, are unbeaten in their last six Serie A matches played on Epiphany Day (W4 D2), conceding only three goals in this period and keeping three clean sheets. Their last league defeat on January 6 was in 2013.

Since the beginning of last season (2024-25), Juventus have drawn the most matches (22) in Europe’s top five leagues, while Sassuolo could draw three Serie A games in a row for the first time since April 2024.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sassuolo – 23.4%

Draw – 23.9%

Juventus – 52.7%