Juventus' Italian Super Cup Win over Lazio Hints That Gulf Remains in Serie A

Two months after losing the Champions League final to Barcelona, Juventus returned to competitive action in the Italian Super Cup on Saturday. The showpiece event usually pits the Serie A winner against the team that triumphs in the Coppa Italia, but the domestic double achieved by the Bianconeri meant this year’s edition would be a little different.

Taking place at Shanghai Stadium in China, the 2015 game saw cup runners-up Lazio provide the opposition once again, hoping to give a better account of themselves than they had managed back in May.

In the months since they tasted defeat in Berlin, much has changed for Juventus as Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez decided to move on. That situation was addressed by Beppe Marotta earlier this week, with the director general giving a lengthy interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

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“We are optimistic for this season, but the truth is we changed three players and must cover that gap with renewed motivation,” the official said (h/t Football Italia). Marotta went on to say that Massimiliano Allegri “is a modern and versatile coach” who would “adapt his tactics” to suit new arrivals.

As a result of those exits, it was a very different starting XI that took to the field for this encounter, although Allegri opted to start just one of his team’s new acquisitions as Mario Mandzukic started alongside Kingsley Coman in attack.

All summer there has been the feeling that the gap between the champions and the trailing pack had been narrowed, with Italy under-21 coach Gigi Di Biagio telling La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) that “as things stand, Juve have become weaker.”

Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti echoed those thoughts, telling Lazio Style Radio 89.3 (h/t Football Italia) that his side “have to exploit” the uncertain position of their opponents. When Saturday’s match got underway it seemed that those doubts about the champions may have had some substance as the Biancocelesti seized the initiative.

On a poor playing surface, Lazio’s front three of Antonio Candreva, Felipe Anderson and Miroslav Klose caused Allegri’s men serious problems in the first half, with the absences of Giorgio Chiellini and Sami Khedira undoubtedly taking a toll.

After the break, however, the team that has dominated Serie A for the past four seasons raised the tempo, with Mandzukic and Paul Pogba both coming close to breaking the deadlock. Moments later the Croatian would net his first competitive goal for the club, heading home following a great cross from Stefano Sturaro.

Eddy Onazi and Anderson both had opportunities but could not beat Gigi Buffon in goal, and Mandzukic then played a part in the Bianconeri doubling their lead. His run down the right saw the ball cleared to Pogba, who in turn laid it off for Paulo Dybala to smash home from around 12 yards out.

Lazio had chances to net themselves before the final whistle, but in the end Juve’s superiority was apparent once again, just as it had been in the Coppa Italia final and has been since they were transformed in the summer of 2011.

Clearly not the same side they were then and likely to find the going much tougher when they return to Champions League action, it appears the Bianconeri are still much too strong for their domestic rivals.

“We’re building a Juve side with a future for the next four to five years,” Allegri told the club’s official website at full-time, and on this evidence they have certainly made a strong start. That bodes well for 2015/16, though greater challenges undoubtedly lie ahead as the Old Lady heads into the new campaign.