With 66-year-old ex-Italy manager Spalletti sticking to a 3-4-2-1 formation at Juventus, his reputation for being versatile seems to be history.
Once Igor Tudor was given the boot for the second time, Juventus Next Gen head coach Massimo Brambilla was given the reins and shook things up with skipper Manuel Locatelli as sweeper plus a two-pronged attack against Udinese.
Brambilla's team shone brilliantly, a much improved and more fluid side from Tudor's dour and predictable tactics. The 3-1 success in late October kickstarted a less confused Bianconeri.
Yet the same flowing attacks and freedom instilled by Brambilla has yet to be replicated under Spalletti in his seven games at the helm.
Although Spalletti kicked off his tenure at Cremonese with a 2-1 success, it was the proverbial game of two halves. A trio of stalemates followed, with only the 1-1 home draw against Sporting Lisbon showing any superiority from Juve.
Spalletti seems to have turned a corner despite the endless injury setbacks, which includes star striker Dusan Vlahovic being sidelined for two to three months because of a high grade adductor injury.
A stoppage time Champions League win at Bodo/Glimt was followed by a tentative Serie A triumph over struggling Cagliari and the 2-0 Coppa Italia victory against Udinese.
Three victories on the bounce, having constantly rotated the squad, should finally have lifted the confidence of Spalletti's lightweight squad ahead of Sunday's mouthwatering contest at Antonio Conte's Napoli.
Spalletti's Napoli tattoo
Spalletti loved his time as Napoli head coach so much that he got a tattoo of the club's crest. He surprised the Italian top tier by steering Napoli to the 2022/23 Scudetto, but left by mutual consent shortly after the final game of the season.
He built the all conquering team around a physical center forward and a whizzy winger, frequently reverting to an eye-catching 4-3-3 formation that were almost impenetrable.
Spalletti was expected to replicate his Napoli success by utilizing Vlahovic, before his injury against Cagliari, and winger Kenan Yildiz. And he hasn't tested his winning formula out yet, sticking to three defenders and one target man that failed for him as Azzurri head coach.
Yet Spalletti has got his troops fired up, with Udinese rolled over 2-0 inside the excited Allianz Stadium. An first-half own goal from teenager Matteo Palma and a 68th-minute penalty from Locatelli on his 200th Juventus appearance was enough to breeze into the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
Juve: 'Fierce and mean'
Enthusiastic Spalletti spoke to Italia 1 after a win where there were three disallowed goals: "We played a decent game, we did everything well. We were well balanced, we capitalised, and created big chances,
“We could have managed certain situations better, and given the level we have, we need to take advantage in those. You have to be fierce and mean. A real lion gives all of its strength, even against a mouse."
Quizzed about summer signings Jonathan David and Lois Openda, Spalletti explained: “They’re two central strikers. If you talk to them, they’ll tell you that’s where they operate best on the pitch.
“David is technically very good, and links up well with the team. He moves very well in the box when the team plays against a low block, and knows how to manage difficult situations.
“Openda is better at attacking from deep, he needs space but they compensate for each other and can also play together. We’re pleased that they’re doing well.”
Juventus lack firepower
Spalletti is trying to boast the confidence of misfiring duo David and Openda, because his striking pair of Arkadiusz Milik (shin) and Vlahovic are injured. Meaning that he will have to rely on goal poacher David and unorthodox striker Openda.
Their statistics make grim reading. David has only scored one Serie A goal from a dozen games and found the back of the net just once in five Champions League appearances. Openda has had less minutes overall, with only a single strike to show for his endeavors.
Spalletti could convert either versatile American ace Weston McKennie or Turkish talent Yildiz into a makeshift target man while Vlahovic recovers. Yildiz could even become a false no9 or a traditional no10, which may even elevate the 20-year-old from being borderline world class.
Napoli, who have recently bounced back from a bad patch, will be Spalletti's toughest test as Juve manager while Conte will be running his eye over potential target McKennie.
A hefty defeat would sink the growing confidence among his squad, with key games against highflying Bologna and AS Roma.