Winning return for champions against Carpi

01 May 2016

The Bianconeri followed up on Monday’s confirmation of an historic fifth successive Scudetto triumph with three points this afternoon against Carpi at a jubilant Juventus Stadium.

In a first half largely controlled by the hosts, Fabrizio Castori’s relegation-threatened side held firm to keep the scores level until Hernanes broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute with a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area, the Brazilian’s first ever goal in the black and white.

The Biancorossi would show plenty of fight and spirit in their pursuit of a leveller without ever seriously threatening Buffon and his backline and, when substitute Simone Zaza headed home in the 80th minute, there was very little doubt that Juve would go on to wrap up a 76th point from a possible 78 in Serie A, whilst maintaining their record of not conceding at home in the league so far this calendar year.

As the two sides sized up one another in the match’s early stages, it was Juventus who produced the first shot on target, Paul Pogba latching onto birthday boy Leonardo Bonucci’s lofted through ball and volleying into the gloves of opposition keeper Vid Belec.

After encamping Carpi’s final third for several minutes, the hosts came even closer to taking the lead on the quarter-hour mark when Alvaro Morata headed Alex Sandro’s cross whiskers wide of the near post.

The visitors were making it clear, however, that they had not come to Turin simply to make up the numbers and a quick counter-attack resulted in Simone Verdi forcing Gigi Buffon into a very smart save from close-range after 21 minutes.

Back down the other end, Juventus continued to take the initiative in attack. Having drawn Raphael Martinho into a foul down the right, Juan Cuadrado whipped a free-kick into the path of Mario Mandzukic, who headed inches over the crossbar.

The half was looking likely to end goalless, but Juve have scored more than any other side between the 30th and 45th minutes of matches and got their noses in front in rather spectacular fashion.

Kwadwo Asamoah laid the ball back to Hernanes on the edge of the penalty area for the Brazilian to strike hard and low past Belec into the bottom corner, thus handing the hosts a deserved lead on balance at the break.

Looking for points to boost their Serie A survival bid, Carpi began the second period with renewed purpose, Stefan Sabelli volleying wide of the mark.

A lengthy spell would follow without any efforts of note, but that would not stop the Juventus Stadium faithful from basking in the glory of their team’s 34th Scudetto triumph, as the Mexican wave duly did the rounds around the ground.

As the Biancorossi tried to dampen the hosts’ party with a potential equaliser, substitutes Kevin Lasagna and Filippo Porcari combined, the latter hammering a shot marginally wide of the mark.

But it would be the Bianconeri to grab the game’s all important second goal, as Zaza rose highest to nod home Pogba’s cross, putting the result beyond all doubt.

Allegri had urged his charges to end the season in style and, with this latest win and clean sheet, the Tuscan tactician’s instructions are being carried out to the letter as they look to enter this month’s Coppa Italia final against Milan in peak form.