Juventus Deliver Timely Reminder of Serie A Superiority vs. Atalanta

Having been picked apart by Genoa last time out, Juventus needed to provide a swift response as they welcomed an in-form Atalanta side to Turin on Saturday. The visitors were unbeaten in their previous nine Serie A outings, winning eight and drawing once as their rapid climb up the table led to an obvious comparison.

"We will try to keep imitating Leicester City for as long as possible," coach Gian Piero Gasperini declared during an interview with Radio Sportiva (h/t Football Italia). Despite that lofty ambition, however, the Old Lady would swiftly remind his side—and the rest of Serie A—why she has dominated the Italian football landscape in recent years.

Jumping out to an early lead, the Bianconeri controlled this game from start to finish. It was a performance that was as ruthless as it was convincing, with the 3-1 final scoreline failing to capture just how comprehensively Atalanta were outplayed over the 90-plus minutes of action.

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But what the match did provide was some insight into just what coach Massimiliano Allegri and his team are capable of. With no midweek fixture to contend with, the Juve boss was happy with what he saw and admitted that the extra time to prepare had been a major bonus to their preparation.

"It makes things easier when you have more time to work together, both from a physical and a tactical perspective," Allegri said at his post-match press conference. "Having a full week to train together after losing at Genoa last weekend was just what we needed to come back with a bang."

They certainly did that, with WhoScored.com statistics showing the home side enjoyed 52.8 per cent of possession and outshot Atalanta 12-7, with just two of their opponent’s efforts hitting the target.

Alex Sandro had no such problem after just 15 minutes, opening the scoring following a powerful run infield from the left flank, with the full-back dispatching a shot that left goalkeeper Marco Sportiello completely wrong-footed.

It was an excellent individual goal, but the Brazil international was soon outshone by two of his team-mates. Indeed, it would be impossible to analyse this match without mentioning the display of Mario Mandzukic, with the striker continuing his excellent recent form and ensuring Juve set the tone throughout.

Always hardworking, he was simply relentless on a night that began with the 30-year-old being named the club’s player of the month for November. With three goals and an assist in his four previous appearances, Mandzukic was clearly in no mood to see a repeat of the Genoa display.

As the FourFourTwo Stats Zone graphic in the tweet below highlights, he may have only completed 59.3 per cent of his pass attempts, but it was without the ball where his infectious work rate was most visible.

Winning a team-high seven tackles, Mandzukic set an example, defending from the front before finally getting a well-deserved goal to seal the result. He came off after cutting his knee, but his coach was impressed with the effort shown by the Croatia international.

"Mandzukic is a player who, amid all the quantity, also provides quality," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia). "If he stands there and acts as a classic centre-forward, he’s not as effective. He had a great game tonight and sacrificed himself for his team-mates. Fortunately, it was just a knock to the knee, as I was afraid he’d sprained it."

Perhaps more than his goal, the defining moment of his night came just before half-time. Atalanta delivered a set piece into the box that Juve could only partially clear, and after finding himself as the deepest defender, he blocked two shots in rapid succession to deny La Dea a way back into the game.

It was quintessential Mandzukic. Putting his body on the line to help his side, there was little doubt he was a key factor in winning this game. But so too was Miralem Pjanic, albeit in a vastly different way.

While Mandzukic was busy throwing himself around at both ends of the pitch, the Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder was delivering the quality in between, with Allegri’s tactical approach to the match suiting him perfectly.

Juventus lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Pjanic playing behind the strikers in a role that brought the best from him. Freed from the responsibilities of regular midfielders, he was constantly finding gaps in front of the Atalanta defence and looked much more like the player he was at AS Roma.

The 26-year-old was typically dangerous in dead-ball situations, with both Daniele Rugani (see video above) and Mandzukic (below) netting with headers from his perfectly struck balls into the box.

"Pjanic played well and showed his quality," Allegri said at his post-match press conference. "He's obviously very handy on set pieces, and two of our goals came from corners this evening. He's got a bit more freedom playing in the hole, and I think he can do well there.”

On the evidence of this game, he certainly can. He completed 73.5 per cent of his 49 pass attempts and three take-ons, according to WhoScored.com, also weighing in with one tackle and two interceptions.

He has struggled to consistently make that level of impact this term, with Pjanic himself admitting to Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) that he "expected to settle a bit quicker" following his summer move to Juve.

Yet this match and the role he was given showed just what he is capable of, with the player insisting in the same interview that there is much more to come from him and the Bianconeri as the 2016/17 campaign continues:

"

The defeat at Genoa, especially the opening 30 minutes, were completely wrong and should not have happened. This was a positive response, as we started strong and did the opposite of what happened last week, especially against an Atalanta side in great shape.

It’s not easy after a defeat like that, as everyone is ready to criticise, but we stayed calm and learned from the experience to ensure we don’t repeat those mistakes.

This Juve is nowhere near 100 per cent, as we can do a lot more, collectively and individually.

"

Miguel Morenatti/Associated Press

It will take much more than a routine win over one of Italy’s provincial sides—even one that had captured widespread attention for its positive play—to convince many that the Old Lady and her newest midfielder are finally in tune.

But here, against Atalanta, there was hope. Hope that Pjanic and this latest version of Juventus are beginning to jell. Hope that Allegri has them headed in the right direction. Bigger and sterner challenges lie ahead, but this was a long overdue step forward for a team seeking success both in Serie A and in Europe.