Dusan Vlahovic suffered a muscular strain during Juventus’ 2‑1 win over Cagliari and will be out for several weeks
Dusan Vlahovic’s night ended early in Juventus’ 2‑1 victory at Cagliari after he limped off with a muscular injury in the 31st minute. The Serbian striker, who had netted three goals heading into the match, left the field in tears and was visibly upset.
Luciano Spalletti confirmed the bad news to reporters, saying, “It is a strain and he will be out for some time.” Vlahovic’s absence is a major blow for Juve as they sit seventh with 23 points, four behind leaders Roma.
The timing is harsh for Juventus, who had just turned the game around thanks to Kenan Yildiz’s brace – an equaliser in the 27th minute and a stoppage‑time winner. Yildiz’s heroics kept Juve in contention for a European spot despite the injury scare.
To fill the gap, Spalletti turned to Jonathan David, who came on for Vlahovic. Although David didn’t register a shot, he created two chances and earned praise for his work‑rate and composure. Spalletti noted, “David allowed us to get out there many times and he bonded very well with the team.”
The coach also hinted that Lois Openda could get minutes alongside David. “David and Openda are central attackers. David could play as a second striker; Openda thrives on pace and runs into the box. They’re both very good at scoring goals and sensitive guys.”
Spalletti added encouragement for his injured star, “Vlahovic would like to score two or three goals in a row to build confidence and become more relaxed. But in football, you also have to earn it and succeed on your own.”
