21 January 2015
With the Old Lady getting November off to a stellar start thanks to a 2-0 victory over Empoli, their second Serie A encounter of the month – this time against old foe Parma – proved to be a memorable afternoon at Juventus Stadium.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men were irresistible from the off as braces from Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata plus a further sumptuous strike courtesy of Stephan Lichtsteiner saw them stun the Gialloblu 7-0 in Turin.
The international break then came and went, but the Bianconeri didn’t lose their momentum and picked up where they left off with a Paul Pogba-inspired 3-0 triumph over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. The Frenchman bagged two either side of Tevez’s curler as the Rome-based outfit were put firmly to the sword.
Derby days are special for any club all over the globe and Juventus’ encounter with arch-rivals Torino at the end of November was no different. After Bruno Peres’ solo effort had cancelled out Arturo Vidal’s spot-kick, up stepped Andrea Pirlo to send the Bianconeri faithful into delirium with a last-gasp winner and keep that incredible victorious run on home turf going just a little bit further.
With matches starting to come thick and fast as December made an appearance, Juventus were held by a spirited Fiorentina outfit at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, where both sides played out a goalless draw in the teeming Florence rain.
Midway through the month, high-flying Sampdoria became the first Serie A side since Cagliari in May 2013 to come away from Juventus Stadium with a positive result. Former Bianconero Manolo Gabbiadini ensured a share of the spoils with an equaliser in the second half after Patrice Evra had given the hosts an early advantage with his first goal in the black and white jersey.
But it didn’t take long for the Old Lady to get back to winning ways as they saw 2014 out in style with a 3-1 success over Cagliari at the Stadio Sant’Elia. A Vidal wonderstrike sandwiched in between Tevez and Llorente’s goals ensured Allegri’s men would end the year as it started: top of the table.
With a new year providing more challenges, Derby d’Italia rivals Inter proved a tricky customer during the maiden match of 2015, battling back to draw 1-1 with Mauro Icardi’s finish cancelling out Tevez’s 11th strike of the league campaign.
And the Bianconeri were faced with another tough prospect when they ventured south to Napoli's San Paolo, a ground where they hadn’t won since September 2000.
But Allegri’s troops brought an end to their winless hoodoo in Naples by taking all three points back to Turin with an unforgettable 3-1 victory. Pogba, Martin Caceres and Vidal were all on target during a success which kept Juventus firmly out in front of the chasing pack.
Hellas Verona provided the final competitor of the first half of the season midway through January but were unable to stop the Bianconeri train which continues to charge on. A brace from the league's top scorer Tevez, plus a Pogba pearler and Roberto Pereyra curler meant the Old Lady extended their lead at the summit to five points - after Roma had drawn away at Palermo only the day before - with a 4-0 win.
Nineteen matches now separate Juventus from the culmination of the campaign and with many twists and turns yet to come in this title race, the stage is well and truly set for an entertaining ride, 'Fino Alla Fine'.
