Overview
- UEFA will hold the playoff draw in Zurich on Thursday, with Italy hosting a single-match semifinal on March 26 and a potential final on March 31.
- Bergamo is favored to stage the home semifinal, with the federation weighing compact venues to create a hostile, high-energy atmosphere often described as a Bombonera effect.
- The coaching staff is pursuing a 48‑hour Coverciano stage in February, scheduling small-group meetings and team dinners in Rome, Milan and London, with Gigi Buffon supporting player engagement.
- Gattuso’s plan prioritizes defensive organization and continuity up front, with Donnarumma, Calafiori, Tonali and Kean identified as pivotal figures and the double‑striker setup retained.
- Separately at club level, Juventus has turned to Luciano Spalletti to stabilize performances and rebuild player market values after Igor Tudor’s slide, a move framed by Damien Comolli’s asset concerns.