14 May 2016
Juventus ensured that their historic Serie A campaign had the happy ending it deserved on Saturday evening, as they romped to a 5-0 win over Sampdoria at Juventus Stadium.
Greeted to a champions’ welcome and emphatic fan choreography, as the word that has come to best represent this season, namely Hi5tory, was spelled out in full across the iconic arena’s East Stand moments before kick-off.
It wouldn’t take long for the Bianconeri to stamp their authority over proceedings and they got their noses in front as early as the sixth minute when Patrice Evra provided a true striker’s finish in nodding home Paulo Dybala’s free-kick.
Backed by a jubilant Juventus Stadium crowd, the hosts were putting on a stunning spectacle, the stage set for another star performance from the simply brilliant Dybala.
The Argentine striker doubled the hosts’ lead on the quarter-hour mark from the penalty spot after Mario Mandzukic was fouled inside the area by Milan Skriniar. The Slovakian subsequently received his marching orders for the challenge.
Then in the 37th minute La Joya had the fans on their feet for the 23rd time this term, his magic wand of a left boot sending the ball hurtling into the bottom corner from the edge of the 18-yard-box.
A quieter second half would lurch unquestionably back to life in the 77th minute when Giorgio Chiellini hit a venomous half volley high into the net and the hosts’ five-star performance was complete when Leonardo Bonucci bundled home towards the end: a fifth goal to go with a fifth consecutive league triumph.
The way the match eventually panned out, it would be easy to forget that Sampdoria helped themselves to the game’s first shot on target after three minutes. Ricky Alvarez was the man to warm Neto’s gloves, the Brazilian keeper making his second successive Serie A appearance for the first time this term.
Another three minutes later, Juventus were celebrating their first goal of the afternoon, which arrived in unusual but not unprecedented circumstances.
Dybala’s free-kick from the left seemed to have bypassed all and sundry but, fortunately for the hosts, Evra threw himself forwards at the far post to score his second header in consecutive home matches against the Ligurians.
Matters soon went from bad to worse for the visitors, who saw Skriniar shown a straight red card for bringing down Mandzukic in the penalty area and Dybala duly did the business from the spot to take his season’s tally to 22 goals in all competitions.
The Argentine was his usual lively self and very nearly doubled his personal account for the afternoon on the half-hour mark, bringing a fine save out of away keeper Alberto Brignoli.
The Bianconeri were truly enjoying their football, carving out opportunity after opportunity, Stephan Lichtsteiner heading Dybala’s cross onto the crossbar, Mandzukic rifling low and only whiskers wide of the upright from a tough angle and Dybala shooting over the bar from distance.
And it came as no surprise when they added a third after just 37 minutes, when Dybala wrapped his lethal left foot around the ball from the edge of the box to beat Brignoli all ends up.
With Massimiliano Allegri’s men cruising at the interval, a drop in tempo during the second period was somewhat inevitable and the Tuscan tactician took off both Dybala and Mandzukic in view of next Saturday’s Coppa Italia final.
As if Juve’s fans didn’t already have enough reasons to celebrate, Chiellini provided yet another in the 77th minute by slamming home on the half-volley on his 400th appearance for the club.
On 85 minutes, it was time for defensive partner Bonucci to get in on the act, tucking past Brignoli from point-blank range.
With that, the Bianconeri well and truly got their fifth successive Scudetto party started at Juventus Stadium with each and every member of this rightly heralded outfit collecting a winner’s medal and lifting aloft the club’s thoroughly unforgettable 34th Serie A crown.
JUVENTUS
Neto, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Pereyra (Sturaro 65), Hernanes, Pogba, Evra, Dybala (Morata 68), Mandzukic (Zaza 75)
Unused substitutes: Buffon, Rubinho, Rugani, Padoin, Lemina, Asamoah, Cuadrado
Coach: Allegri
SAMPDORIA
Brignoli, Barreto, Correa (Soriano 76), Dodo, Krsticic, Sala (Ranocchia 56), Diakite, Alvarez, Silvestre, Quagliarella (Ponce 87), Skriniar
Unused substitutes: Puggioni, Cassani, Rodriguez, Pereira, Palombo, Muriel, Calo, De Silvestri
Coach: Montella
