Luciano Spalletti is eager to see how his Juventus team perform without pressure as they prepare to face Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday. 

With 12 points from their seven league phase games in the competition so far, Juventus have guaranteed their spot in the play-offs, though they could still sneak into the top eight.

Juventus have won their last three Champions League games, against Bodo/Glimt, Pafos and Benfica, and last won four in a row in a single edition in 2021-22.

Prior to this three-game winning run, the Bianconeri had been winless in five straight matches in the competition (D3 L2), and they travel to Stade Louis-II with confidence. 

Spalletti's side moved to within a point of the Serie A top four after thumping Scudetto holders Napoli 3-0 on Sunday, though the Juventus boss believes the pressure is off his players against Monaco. 

"There is no better way to prove our current form," assured Spalletti in his press conference and on Sky Sport Italia.

"We do not have the tension of needing a result, so let's see what we can do when we are free mentally.

"Monaco won't be making calculations, they cannot afford to sit back and wait, while we are playing to win, to aspire to something more.

"I expect an open and entertaining game against a strong opponent."

Monaco are 21st in the league phase and know a defeat could see them eliminated from the competition at the first stage if results do not go their way. 

Juventus have, however, only won two of their 11 away matches against French sides in the European Cup/Champions League (D2 L7), both of which came in the 2016-17 campaign, and the most recent being at Monaco (2-0 in May 2017).

This will be the first meeting between Monaco and Juventus since the semi-finals of the 2016-17 Champions League, where the Bianconeri progressed to the final after winning both legs (2-0 away and 2-1 at home).

But backing up his point about there being no pressure on his team, Spalletti said that he would be making wholesale changes to the team that beat Napoli at the weekend. 

"We played two days ago and will play again two days after that, so there will be a few adjustments," Spalletti revealed.

"I can say that Koopmeiners will play in midfield, while Bremer and Gatti need to be evaluated for their fitness levels.

"Openda is going to start upfront. If I give him space, he should be able to sort out this difficulty he has in scoring goals.

"I am curious to see how this team fares without that anxiety of needing a result at all costs.

"We are in the best possible situation, in the Champions League without feeling the pressure of three obligatory points.

"I'll make a few changes, yes, but I still want to see a high level of performance."

Spalletti was also questioned about the comments he made after beating Antonio Conte's men, with the Italian calling Napoli the "former" champions of Italy. 

"I thought it was AI, then I realised it was real. I had hoped you would ask me different things in a Champions League press conference," laughed Spalletti.