Juventus manager Max Allegri led a remarkable turnaround to take the Old Lady from mid-table to the title with a near-prefect finish to the season.
Juventus sealed the Italian Serie A title after second-placed Napoli suffered defeat to AS Roma, leaving them 12 points adrift of leaders Juve with only nine points left to play for. While an unceremonious way to win their fifth consecutive scudetto, the manner of the Old Lady’s triumph has been incredible.
Juventus currently 25 games without defeat
Max Allegri’s side were 11th in the league with 12 points from 10 games earlier in the season, and many had ruled them out of the title race as a result. At the time, the summer exits of key players that led them to the Champions League final the previous campaign was blamed for their demise in 2015/16, but Juventus didn’t wallow in self-pity for long. They would go on to win 24 of their 25 league games over the next six months to blitz the opposition and win the title in some style.
Juventus were eight points of then-leaders AS Roma back in October, but are currently 14 clear with three games to play. Despite their poor start to the season, work was being undertaken behind the scenes to set the foundations for an explosive finish, but Juventus hit top form even quicker than they had anticipated. Two other sides have scored more goals than the champions, but no team have bettered their 18 goals conceded.
The majority ruled them out of honours this season
They have dropped only two points in the league since October, picking up 17 clean sheets for their troubles too, and Allegri’s reputation has risen even more after their outstanding turnaround. Juventus were expected to click into gear at some point, but to win the title with such a large margin over the competition was something few predicted.
Months previously they were being labelled fallen giants, while others had predicted an end to their monopoly in the Serie A, but their unlikely comeback has only serve to highlight how poor the sides around them are, and how Juventus could continue dominating for many more years. The Old Lady picked up only one point in their first meetings against the current top-four, but made no mistake in the reverse fixtures.
The Old Lady could record a new defensive record
What’s even more incredible is that Juventus look on course to surpass last season’s points tally (87 points in 2014/15), and stand a chance of setting a new record for the least amount of goals conceded (20 goals in 2011/12) this side of the millennium. Against all odds, Juventus have proven their dominance in the Italian Serie A, but will any side challenge them in 2016/17?
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