Crystal Palace Under-21s will host Italian giants Juventus Next Gen at the VBS Community Stadium in Sutton on Wednesday, 12th November, kicking off at 19:00 GMT in their Premier League International Cup clash – here’s everything you need to know!
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Palace U21s have had a challenging start to their Premier League International Cup campaign, currently sitting second from bottom in Group B with zero points, though they hold a game in hand over all group opponents.
Their opener came against Valencia at the VBS Community Stadium on 4th November, where a well-timed run from Rodrigo Gamon allowed the Spanish side to take a 1-0 lead.
Palace finished the first half strongly, creating a series of chances, including a near first-time strike from George King, a missed penalty from Zach Marsh, and a late effort from substitute David Obou, but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Back in domestic Premier League 2 Division One action, Palace earned a dramatic 2-2 draw against Stoke on 7th November. Stoke struck early through Adriel Walker, with Favour Fawunmi doubling the visitors’ advantage.
Palace responded after the break, with Naouirou Ahamada pulling one back and the young Eagles pressing for an equaliser. Deep into stoppage time, Joel Drakes-Thomas was fouled in the box, allowing Kaden Rodney to thunder a stoppage-time penalty off the crossbar to secure a deserved point.
Darren Powell’s side will look to turn performances into points on Wednesday.
Juventus Next Gen, also known as Juve NG, serve as the U21/reserve team of Serie A giants Juventus and compete in Serie C Group B, playing their home matches at the Stadio Giuseppe Moccagatta in Alessandria. Established in 2018 as Juventus U23, the team was rebranded as Juventus Next Gen in 2022, following the reintroduction of reserve sides in Italian football.
Despite their status as a development team, Juve NG have already made a mark in Italian football. They won the Coppa Italia Serie C in 2019–20 under Fabio Pecchia and have regularly competed near the top of Serie C, although promotion to Serie A remains off-limits due to regulations for reserve sides. The team has also seen managerial changes in recent years, with Massimo Brambilla returning as coach in 2024 after a brief spell under Paolo Montero, and has guided the side back into playoff contention in Serie C.
In Europe, Juventus Next Gen have had a mixed start to their Premier League International Cup campaign. They lost their opener to Leicester City U21s, despite taking the lead through 19-year-old Luca Amaradio. Kian Pennant’s quick equaliser for Leicester was followed by a second goal from Diego Pugno, and the visitors eventually ran out 2-1 winners.
They bounced back in their second group match, however, with a 4-2 defeat of West Bromwich Albion U21s. Jack Bray scored twice for the Baggies’ hosts, but a calamitous own goal from Juventus’ Bruno Martinez Crous set the tone, with late efforts from Rio Parmar sealing the victory.
Currently, Juventus Next Gen sit fifth in Group B with three points, level with West Brom and Fulham, while Palace are second from bottom with zero points but hold a game in hand over all group opponents. Their U21 squad blends youth and experience, giving Palace a stern test in Italy, with players eager to impress in front of scouts and coaches alike.
Juventus Next Gen (3-4-2-1): Mangiapoco; Turicchia, Pedro Felipe, Gil Puche; Turco, Faticanti, Owusu, Rouhi; Deme, Anghelè; Okoro.
Juventus Next Gen will be without Macca, Makiobo, Cudrig, Scaglia, and Puczka, who is sidelined due to a suspension. However, the side are bolstered with the return of Guerra from injury.
Additionally, first-team players Pedro Felipe and Rouhi joined Brambilla’s squad at the weekend, so could feature for the Bianconeri in their Premier League International Cup campaign.
Juventus Next Gen returned to winning ways at the Stadio Giuseppe Moccagatta with a solid and composed performance against Forlì, marking their first success since 19 October.
The victory offered a much-needed boost after a challenging run, having suffered six defeats in their previous seven matches.
Home form has also been patchy, with losses to Ravenna, Campobasso, and Pontedera, making this a tricky fixture against a Palace side competing in the Premier League International Cup.
Defensively, the Bianconeri have conceded 19 goals in Serie C, ranking joint 16th out of 20, but their attacking record is more encouraging, with 17 goals scored placing them in the top eight of the division.
Brambilla will be looking to build on this balance of resilience and attacking potential as Juventus Next Gen aim to make an impact against the young Eagles.
The 19-year-old forward signed his first professional contract with Juventus in 2023, having lit up the junior ranks with the Juventus Under-17 side, scoring seven goals.
Pugno was then promoted to the Primavera team, scoring five goals last season, with another six to his name by the conclusion of 2025.
He earned his debut for the first team against Lecce in December last year.
Massimo Brambilla has become a central figure in the development and success of Juventus Next Gen. The Lombardy-born coach first led the side between 2022 and 2024, guiding them to the Coppa Italia Serie C final in his debut season and securing a play-off place last year.
Brambilla returned to the Next Gen in November 2024 and quickly revitalised the squad, producing a string of positive results while maintaining the team’s core focus: nurturing young talent for the first team. His ability to integrate promising players from the Primavera (U19) squad and sustain competitive cohesion in a constantly evolving squad highlights his value.
Recognising his impact, Juventus extended Brambilla’s contract until 2027, underscoring his importance not just as a tactician, but as a mentor and stabilising influence in a team where player turnover is a constant. His tenure has been marked by consistent performance and a proven capacity to balance player development with competitive results, making him a pivotal figure in the Next Gen project.
Crystal Palace U21s v Juventus U21s