Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti rescued a point for the Bianconeri in stoppage time on Sunday, cancelling out Alphadjo Cisse's opener to leave the match at 1-1 against Milan and preserve Juventus's unbeaten start to the 2026-27 Serie A campaign.
The goal carries weight beyond the single point. Luciano Spalletti's Juventus sit sixth in the table with seven points from three matches — two wins and a draw — having conceded just once across that run. A centre-back delivering in the final seconds to deny defeat is not a statistical footnote; it is a statement about where Gatti sits in this squad's hierarchy. Milan coach Ruben Amorim acknowledged as much, noting that his side "didn't deserve to win, or more like Juventus didn't deserve to lose" — a concession that frames Gatti's contribution as restorative rather than fortunate.
The timing matters for Gatti personally. The 28-year-old defender spent the summer at the centre of transfer speculation, with Napoli pursuing a loan structure that Juventus ultimately resisted. His inclusion in the club's pre-season Asia tour squad was the clearest signal that Spalletti intended to keep him, and his single Serie A appearance this season has now produced a goal and an average rating of 7.70 — numbers that suggest he is being used selectively but decisively. An AI overall of 74 out of 100, with a potential of 76, reflects a player operating close to his ceiling but still with room to move.
Spalletti had described the fixture as one he expected to be "vivacious" with "attacking approaches" from both sides, and the line-ups — which included Nico Gonzalez, Randal Kolo Muani, and Kerim Alajbegovic amid what was reported as an injury crisis — suggested Juventus were stretched in attack. That a defender provided the decisive moment in such circumstances underlines how broadly Spalletti is drawing on his squad in these early weeks.
Gatti's value to this Juventus side is increasingly clear: a centre-back who can contribute at set-pieces and hold his composure when the team is under pressure. The Napoli interest has not formally disappeared, but after a stoppage-time equaliser against Milan, his case for staying in Turin writes itself.