Spalletti Starts Vlahovic vs. Fiorentina, Rests Him for Bodø Glimt Over Synthetic Pitch Risks

When Dusan Vlahovic stepped onto the pitch for Serbia against Switzerland on November 21, 2025, he was playing through back pain — the same discomfort that had forced him to exit the Derby della Mole against Torino Football Club just days earlier. But he played. And now, Luciano Spalletti, the 65-year-old tactician leading Juventus Football Club, has made a calculated call: Vlahovic starts against his former club, ACF Fiorentina, but sits out the first half — maybe more — against FK Bodø/Glimt in Norway. Why? Because artificial turf isn’t just different. It’s dangerous. And Spalletti won’t gamble with his most valuable striker.

Back Pain, But No Serious Injury

Vlahovic’s discomfort began during the Torino clash on November 23, 2025. He winced after a routine turn, limped off, and vanished from training. The alarm bells rang. But the scans at Juventus’s J|Medical Centre in Turin told a different story. No herniation. No stress fracture. No structural damage. Just inflammation — the kind that flares after heavy loading, especially in a player who’s logged 3,100 minutes across all competitions this season. The medical team, led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alberto Di Lorenzo, cleared him for light activity. But they didn’t greenlight full contact. Not yet.

Starting Against Fiorentina — A Tactical Masterstroke

Here’s the twist: Spalletti wants Vlahovic on the pitch at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence. Not because he’s fully fit. But because he’s irreplaceable in this matchup.

Vlahovic’s 189cm frame, his ability to hold up play under pressure, and his uncanny link-up with midfielders like Manuel Locatelli make him the perfect weapon against Fiorentina’s high line. He’s scored six goals in seven appearances against them since joining Juventus in January 2022 for €70 million plus bonuses. The emotional weight? It’s real. He was their golden boy before they sold him. Now, he’s the man who broke their heart. Spalletti knows this isn’t just a game — it’s a statement.

"He’s got a point to prove," said one Juventus insider. "Not to Fiorentina. To everyone who thinks he’s fragile. He’s not. He’s just smart. And Spalletti trusts him to manage his body."

The Synthetic Pitch Problem in Bodø

But then comes Norway.

The Aspmyra Stadion in Bodø — located at 67.28°N, deep in the Arctic Circle — plays on a third-generation synthetic pitch. It’s not like the AstroTurf of the 90s. It’s faster, harder, and slicker. Players slide farther. Jukes don’t stick. The ball skids unpredictably. And the risk of non-contact injuries — ACL tears, ankle sprains, hamstring strains — spikes by up to 37% compared to natural grass, according to a 2024 UEFA study on artificial surfaces in northern Europe.

Juventus haven’t won a single Champions League match this season. Zero points from three games. They’re desperate. But Spalletti isn’t chasing points at the cost of Vlahovic’s season. He’s thinking beyond November 25. He’s thinking January. He’s thinking the knockout stages.

"The Norwegians play on a synthetic pitch, which constitutes a significant advantage, as their visitors often struggle to cope with the unusual turf," reported La Gazzetta dello Sport on November 24. "The slippery pitch increases the possibility of injuries for those unfamiliar with it." So Spalletti will start either Jonathan David or Lois Openda — both explosive, both fresh, both accustomed to synthetic surfaces in MLS and the Belgian Pro League.

Contract Talks Loom — And Timing Is Everything

The club’s message is clear: they want him to stay. Damien Comolli, Juventus’s CEO, confirmed in a November 20 press conference that contract extension talks with Vlahovic will happen after the 2025-26 season. That’s not a delay. It’s strategy.

They’re not rushing. They’re watching. They’re evaluating. And if Vlahovic stays healthy through the Champions League knockout rounds — if he scores in the return leg against Bodø, if he leads them to a top-two finish in Group F — his value skyrockets. So does his leverage. And Juventus? They know that.

What’s Next?

Vlahovic’s return to full training is scheduled for November 27, 2025 — two days after the Bodø match. If he clears medical checks, he’ll be available for the Serie A clash against Napoli on November 30. But the real test comes in December: back-to-back Champions League fixtures against FC Porto and FC Barcelona. That’s where his fitness will define Juventus’s European fate.

For now, Spalletti’s move is a quiet masterclass in player management. He’s not protecting Vlahovic from the game. He’s protecting him from the environment. And that’s a sign of a coach who understands modern football’s brutal calculus: talent is precious. But longevity? That’s priceless.