02 May 2015
A first-half Arturo Vidal header enabled Juventus to cross the finishing line in Liguria, clinching their fourth successive Scudetto and number 33 in the club’s history with this afternoon’s 1-0 victory over Sampdoria.
Clear-cut chances were in short supply throughout a closely fought encounter, but the Bianconeri drew on their resolve to clinch a result which will now allow them to focus their attentions exclusively on their Champions League and Coppa Italia commitments.
The defining moment came on 32 minutes when Vidal diverted Stephan Lichtsteiner’s pinpoint cross into the far corner, sparking scenes of wild celebration among the players and travelling contingent at the Luigi Ferraris.
Looking to end a five-match winless run and tighten their grip on a Europa League spot, Sampdoria started positively and fired their first attempt on goal after 10 minutes, Pedro Obiang fizzing a strong effort wide of the mark after pulling the ball down well on the edge of the area.
Slowly but surely Juventus crept into the affair and fashioned half chances through Stefano Sturaro and Vidal, blocked and saved respectively, before the Chilean snatched his next opportunity with both hands.
A fine left-footed Lichtsteiner cross provided the assist, leaving an unmarked Vidal to do the rest by planting a perfect header beyond Emiliano Viviano and into the back of the net on 32 minutes.
The start of the second half saw the energy levels rise as Sampdoria went in search of a way back into the encounter. Content to soak up the pressure, Juventus used the counter as their best form of attack and Carlos Tevez will have considered himself unlucky not to make it two just shy of the hour mark, denied only by a fine Viviano diving save.
Down the other end, Sampdoria appeared galvanised by the fresh legs of substitute Gonzalo Bergessio, whose effort from an ominous position was kept out of harm’s way by a magnificent last ditch Leonardo Bonucci intervention.
This near miss served as a stern warning to the Bianconeri, who pushed forward to try and put the game to bed with another goal, although central efforts from Tevez and Claudio Marchisio never looked like troubling Viviano.
The introductions of Alvaro Morata, Giorgio Chiellini and Kingsley Coman gave the Bianconeri the required impetus to see out the remainder of the game without suffering any major scares.
And when that glorious shrill of the final whistle finally arrived there was no holding back from those in the black and white stripes and the backroom staff, who congregated on the field of play to revel in a historic achievement for all associated with the club.
