Juventus Defence Rekindles Allegri-Era Stat: A Record Clean Sheet Record After Five Games

Luciano Spalletti's Juventus is building its season on an old black-and-white habit: winning without conceding. The 2-0 victory over Atalanta not only gave the team three crucial points heading into the international break but also produced a statistic unseen in Turin since the 2017-18 season.

Juventus themselves highlighted this achievement post-match: one must look back to Massimiliano Allegri's team to find a Juve capable of winning at least three of the first five Serie A games while keeping a clean sheet.

Nearly nine years later, Spalletti has rediscovered a number that speaks volumes about his team's growth.

Three Wins Without Conceding: Not Seen Since 2017-18

In the 2017-18 season, Allegri's Juventus fared even better, securing four victories with clean sheets in the first five league matches. Naturally, the comparison stops at the numbers.

That Juventus had different players, different defensive principles, and, most importantly, a structure consolidated by years of winning. The current team is still under construction.

Spalletti is searching for the best solutions, has dealt with numerous injuries, and in recent games, has again modified the tactical setup, switching to a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Yet, despite all these changes, one element is emerging clearly: scoring against this Juventus is not easy.

Not Just the Goalkeepers' Doing

Clean sheets might lead one to focus primarily on the performance of the goalkeeper. However, the numbers tell a deeper story.

Even after four matchdays, Juventus already led Serie A in fewest shots conceded to opponents: a mere 28.

Even more significant is the data on Expected Goals Against (xG).

Juve had registered a total of 1.8 xG conceded, the best figure in the league at that point.

In other words, opponents are not only shooting infrequently but also struggling to create truly dangerous chances.

The Bianconeri's solidity, therefore, doesn't seem to depend solely on the goalkeeper's saves or fortunate incidents.

Bremer Leads Again

Against Atalanta, Bremer was once again dominant. The Brazilian didn't just lead the backline; he also scored the definitive 2-0 goal, confirming his importance from set pieces. Alongside him, Lucumí is developing, while Kalulu continues to provide aggression and the ability to defend even far from his own box. Spalletti can change personnel and formations, but Juventus seems to have found an initial identity: compactness, reduced distances, and willingness to sacrifice.

Kolo Muani himself against Atalanta became a symbol of this mentality, tracking back to his own goal line to block an opponent's shot.

Solidarity Built Despite Injuries

This is perhaps the most encouraging aspect. Juventus is achieving these defensive figures while still dealing with significant injury challenges. Spalletti has had to change players, modify pairings, and find new solutions almost week by week.

Despite everything, the defensive structure has not collapsed.

On the contrary, it seems that the collective willingness, repeatedly emphasized by the coach, has only strengthened through these difficulties.

It's not just the defensive line: all of Juventus defends.