Page 45 - Soccer360 Issue 104

JUVE
RISING
AGAIN
STEPHEN KASIEWICZ GIVES THE LOWDOWN ON HOW JUVENTUS ARE RECOVERING FROM A 2022- 23 TO FORGET TO CHALLENGE FOR THE SCUDETTO AGAIN THIS TERM.
Three years without a Serie A title might as well be an eternity for a club where failure is not an option.
Juventus have been engulfed in a catalogue
of controversy and scandal as Internazionale, AC Milan and Napoli clinched titles in the
last trio of seasons. Expectations are always sky high at the most popular club in Italy yet the Bianconeri have placed no higher than fourth while their rivals have lifted the ultimate domestic prize.
The Old Lady of Italian football plummeted to new lows last term in a campaign blighted by a 10-point deduction for financial irregularities connected to inflated player values. They finished seventh as coach Massimliano Allegri faced a barrage of criticism for his safety-first pragmatic game plan.
Although hardly a free flowing, attacking force this term the veteran tactician has managed to coax the very best from a richly talented squad to lead the Turin club back to the top end of the standings. A healthy, reinvigorated Federico Chiesa has added a much-needed smattering of pace and creativity along with Dusan Vlahovic up front, while Brazilian Bremer has emerged as a rock solid defensive leader at the back. Banned from Europe
after breaching financial fair play rules last season the Bianconeri have drawn deep into their player pool as they attempt to claim a first Scudetto since the 2019-2020 campaign. Previously unheralded left-sided wing-
back Andrea Cambiaso and United States international midfielder Weston McKennie returned from loan spells at Bologna and Leeds United respectively to earn significant playing time under Allegri.
Polish attacker Arkadiusz Milik, Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli and youngster Fabio Miretti have all made contributions as Allegri’s side recorded victories over Lazio, AC Milan and Fiorentina. Functional, effective and difficult to break down, the team shaped by the much- maligned Allegri has emerged as genuine championship challengers again.
BIG WINTER MATCHES
DECEMBER 17
Lazio v inter
DECEMBER 23
Roma v Napoli
DECEMBER 30
Juventus v Roma
JANUARY 7
Atalanta v Roma
JANUARY 14
Milan v Roma
JANUARY 21
Inter v Atalanta
JANUARY 28
Lazio v Napoli
FEBRUARY 4
Atalanta v Lazio
FEBRUARY 11
Roma v Lazio
Milan v Napoli
FEBRUARY 25
Milan v Atalanta
MARCH 3
Napoli v Juventus
Lazio v Milan
MARCH 10
Juventus v Atalanta
Fiorentina v Roma
MARCH 17
Inter v Napoli
Atalanta v Fiorentina
MARCH 30
Napoli v Atalanta
“OSIMHEN PLACED EIGHTH IN THE 2023 BALLON D’OR RANKINGS”
the Italian champions began the defence of their Serie A crown. That didn’t affect the former Lille forward as he excelled early on, picking up from where he left off and registering six goals in eight league games despite a never-ending background of incident and controversy off the field.
Indeed, the Osimhen chronicles resembled a badly scripted soap opera with a baffling new episode delivered each week.
Although he netted twice on a 3-1 opening day victory at newly promoted Frosinone and followed it up with another in a two-goal win over Sassuolo, things went downhill thereafter.
Napoli were picked apart on the break as Lazio recorded a stunning 2-1 triumph at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and the Partenopei were two down before rescuing a point at Genoa.
The usually prolific Osimhen fired blanks in both games yet far worse was to come at Bologna. The Nigerian missed from the penalty spot and visibly showed his displeasure when coach Rudi Garcia replaced him with Giovanni Simeone as Napoli sought a winner four minutes from time. He angrily held up two fingers as he walked past the French tactician to the away bench, a clear signal that he believed a front pairing would have broken the stalemate. Garcia’s substitution made no difference as Napoli dropped points for the
Above: Napoli’s forward Victor Osimhen reacts at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs Udinese Calcio
Below: Maximiliano Allegri has restored Juventus to Serie A title contenders
Lukaku, 6 goals in Serie A so far
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