Luciano Spalletti acknowledges Juventus have failed to match the standards set by Serie A champions Inter for several years, but if they can clinch Champions League qualification in the coming weeks, he is hopeful of a brighter future.

Juve are fourth in Serie A with three games remaining, one point clear of fifth-placed Roma and three ahead of Como, who round out the top six.

The Bianconeri are, however, 17 points adrift of their Derby d'Italia rivals Inter, who wrapped up the Scudetto with time to spare after beating Parma 2-0 last week. 

Spalletti hopes to build a team capable of rivalling the Nerazzurri in 2026-27, though he admits their dominance this season has been the culmination of a long-term process.

"I can't make any comparison with Inter, they have been built correctly in recent years and we, less so," Spalletti said ahead of Saturday's trip to Lecce, as quoted by Sky Sports.

"It is not about the details of a match, but the analysis of a whole period. Experience is also needed. We can grow as a team; there is potential and we have taken important steps, I think a lot of this team will stay the same. 

"We'll talk more about it at the end of the year, but we all have to put in more. You need a single mindset to go in the direction that you want to go. 

"What interests me is that they [the players] understand we are at a good level, but there is room for improvement and that many will stay as part of this group."

Before plotting a possible title push, Juve must make certain of a top-four finish. After visiting Lecce, they round out their campaign at home to Fiorentina and away at Torino.

Spalletti revealed on Friday that striker Dusan Vlahovic could make his first start in five months, having scored a late equaliser in last week's 1-1 draw with Verona, in just his second game following a lengthy injury lay-off.

That result came off the back of a goalless stalemate with AC Milan, allowing Roma to cut Juve's lead in the top-four race, but Spalletti does not sense any nerves in his squad.

He added: "Pressure is a natural environment for us. Playing a game like this is normal, we have already played games like this."

After a crucial 2-1 triumph at Pisa last time out, Lecce are four points clear of the relegation zone in 17th, and they could clinch safety with a win on Saturday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lecce – Lameck Banda 

Banda has been involved in more goals than any other Lecce player in Serie A this season (seven – four goals, three assists), at least two more than any of his team-mates. 

Furthermore, after scoring in the reverse fixture, Juventus could become the first team against whom the 2001-born player has scored more than once in Serie A.

Juventus – Jeremie Boga 

Boga has scored three goals in his last four away Serie A matches but has never reached four away goals in a single top-flight season. 

Since the start of March, the winger is Juventus' top scorer with four goals, and in this period, only Donyell Malen, Marcus Thuram (both six) and Giovanni Simeone (five) have scored more goals in Serie A.

MATCH PREDICTION – JUVENTUS WIN 

Juventus have not lost any of their last 11 Serie A matches against Lecce (W7 D4). 

However, after drawing the reverse fixture 1-1 in January, they could draw both league games against them in a single top-flight season for the very first time.

Despite never scoring more than one goal in their last 11 Serie A matches against Juventus (six in this period), Lecce have scored in their last three league games against the Bianconeri and could make it four in a row for the very first time.

But Spalletti's team are heavy favourites. Lecce won their last Serie A match against Pisa, but they had only taken two points from their previous six games (D2 L4).

Juventus have collected 19 points from their last nine Serie A matches, with only Napoli (20) earning more, and the Bianconeri have conceded just five goals – the fewest in the competition during that time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Lecce – 16.2%

Juventus – 61.4%

Draw – 22.4%