Luciano Spalletti described the end of Juventus' Serie A season as eight finals, as they attempt to displace Como and secure a place in next year's Champions League.
Juventus welcome Genoa to Allianz Stadium in what could prove to be a huge clash on Monday, with Cesc Fabregas' side also in action earlier in the day, away to Udinese.
The Bianconeri have stumbled of late, winning just two of their last seven Serie A matches, collecting nine points in the process (W2 D3 L2) to sit fifth in the table.
Juventus have also lost six of their 30 league games so far in 2025-26. Across the last 15 seasons, they have only suffered more defeats in 2022-23, when they were beaten eight times.
The Opta supercomputer has assigned Spalletti's side a 26.5% chance of finishing inside the top four, though their most likely spot at the end of the campaign is fifth (37%).
After facing Genoa, Juventus have standout matches against Atalanta, Bologna and AC Milan to come, and Spalletti acknowledged the importance of starting that run with a win.
"It is an important final sprint, but that's a normal standard for us, so when you say there are eight finals, that's what it should always be for Juventus," Spalletti told reporters.
"We must be ready to give our best, and there is no margin for error, as we'll need to win practically every game to get there, starting with a very difficult Genoa."
Our next match is against Genoa pic.twitter.com/tcJSSBLCCD
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 4, 2026
Spalletti has endured an indifferent tenure at Juventus since being appointed back in October, winning 16 of his 30 matches in charge across all competitions (D8 L6).
When he replaced Igor Tudor, there was an option for Spalletti to extend his stay, having only signed a contract that runs until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Many predicted that clause to be triggered during the recent international break, but no announcement of an agreement was made.
"I don't understand why you care so much about this," Spalletti said when asked about his future.
"We've got a perfectly fine rapport and there will be the opportunity to discuss it, we don't need to do it all now. It has to come naturally."
Spalletti was also on hand to provide an update on striker Dusan Vlahovic, who recently returned from a serious adductor injury that saw him miss 23 matches in all competitions.
"He trained well and is available, but I doubt he'll be able to start. He could give us a hand," Spalletti said.
"Jeremie Boga showed what he is capable of. He is a very quick player with these bursts of pace, but he doesn't love physical contact. We are happy to have him here."
Genoa are now coached by Daniele De Rossi, who worked with Spalletti as a player at Roma, and he has overseen an impressive turnaround since joining last November.
The Grifone are 13th and six points above the bottom three after signing off for the international break with a defeat at home to Udinese on March 20.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Juventus – Kenan Yildiz
Yildiz is the youngest player to reach double figures for goals in Serie A this season, netting 10 times in the current campaign.
Among players born from 2003 onwards, only Lamine Yamal (14) has scored more in Europe's top five leagues in 2025-26 (Yan Diomande, Said El Mala, Nico Paz and Rasmus Hojlund also have 10).
Overall, the Turkiye international (20 years and 337 days old on April 6) has scored 19 goals in the Italian top flight, and the last player to reach 20 before turning 21 was Domenico Berardi on January 18, 2015 (a brace against Genoa, aged 20 years and 170 days).
Genoa – Leo Ostigard
Ostigard has scored five goals in Serie A this season and could become only the second defender in Genoa's history to score more than five goals in a single top-flight campaign, after Domenico Criscito (eight in 2019-20 and six in 2021-22).
Furthermore, no centre-back has scored more goals than him in the top five European leagues this season (Luka Vuskovic of Hamburger SV also has five).