Loïs Openda‘s Goal Drought at Juventus Raises concerns for Club and National Team
TURIN, Italy – Loïs Openda’s lack of goals in seven months with Juventus is prompting scrutiny from both the Italian club and the Belgian national team, despite evidence of significant “shadow work” and a growing tactical role under new manager Luciano Spalletti. The 23-year-old striker, who previously boasted a career record of 107 goals in 314 matches, has struggled to find the net consistently as arriving in Piedmont.
Openda currently ranks sixth among players born after 2000 in european goalscoring, trailing only Erling Haaland, Jonathan David, Julián Álvarez, Vinicius Júnior, and Dušan Vlahović. Though, his recent form represents a stark contrast to his previous prolific output.
Initial difficulties were attributed to a late arrival at Juventus and a tactical system under former coach Igor Tudor that didn’t accommodate a conventional striker. Tudor favored a formation with two attacking midfielders, leaving little room for Openda.
The arrival of Spalletti has shifted the dynamic, with the manager deploying two forwards.While Openda hasn’t yet scored under Spalletti, he contributed to Cambiaso’s opening goal with a deflected backheel - a play that went uncredited as an assist.
Despite the goal drought, reports from Gazzetta dello sport suggest Openda’s value lies in his tireless work rate. “The Belgian does a huge amount of work behind the scenes, but he still can’t get out of the way,” the publication noted.They further state that Openda has “finally found its place: discreet but essential” in Spalletti’s new system.
Analysts point to Openda’s effectiveness when playing alongside a strike partner,as evidenced by his ability to disorient defenses and create space for Vlahović while disrupting opponent’s recovery with constant pressing – a role he also fulfills with the Red Devils.
Juventus invested €3.3 million for the season-long loan of Openda, with a further €40.6 million purchase option contingent on the club finishing in the top ten of Serie A. The significant investment underscores the need for increased goal production alongside his evident contributions to the team’s overall play.
