Revised Expectations for Juventus for Rest of 2015/16 Season

This past weekend saw Juventus record their 14th-consecutuve victory in Serie A, a hard-fought 2-0 win against Frosinone helping them improve their new club record. It also ensured the Bianconeri remained just two points behind league-leaders Napoli and keeps both teams locked in an entertaining title battle.

Having dominated their domestic rivals to lift that crown in each of the four previous years, doing so once again this season would arguably be the greatest achievement for this current side after enduring a tough start to 2015/16.

Indeed, having substantially overhauled their playing staff last summer, emerging triumphant yet again would show just how impressive coach Massimiliano Allegri’s side have become over the past few months.

It began very differently, of course, with the all-conquering team of last year broken up as Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Co. moved on, the league and cup double of last term quickly forgotten as Juventus recorded a string of disappointing results.

Losses to Udinese, AS Roma and Napoli were bad enough, but improbable draws with Chievo and newly promoted Frosinone saw the quality of the club’s summer signings—and the ability of their coach—come under intense scrutiny.

That poor run culminated in a loss to Sassuolo, a defeat which saw veteran goalkeeper Gigi Buffon express his anger with the team, demanding an instant improvement during an interview with Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia):

"

I am stunned, as I am the captain and it hurts my soul to see my team dominated like that, to see my team not realise how important this game is and what attitude to take. There was also too much arguing with the referee. Talking about the referee all the time is what losers do and we do not stoop to that level. We wear the Juventus shirt and must do it justice.

"

It seemed to work as Juan Cuadrado netted a late winner in the next match—October’s derby meeting with Torino—and the side has never looked back. That subsequent 14-game winning run has seen the Bianconeri rise up the standings, one-by-one overtaking their rivals until only Napoli remain.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/Getty Images

Their depth and relentless will to win mean that—no matter the result at Juventus Stadium on Saturday—this team will take the race for the Serie A title to the wire, and few would back against them once again finishing top of the pile.

The Coppa Italia they won last year is also within touching distance, the holders enjoying a comfortable 3-0 lead after the first leg of their semi-final clash with Inter. It would now be difficult to imagine them not reaching the competition’s showpiece event, and from there they will certainly be looking to claim the trophy again.

With Milan currently leading third-tier side Alessandria by a single goal, a final against the Rossoneri would be a prestigious tie and a fine advert for Italian football, but one in which the Turin giants would surely be favoured heavily.

The same confidence cannot be applied to the Champions League, however, with an immensely difficult last-16 meeting on the horizon as opponents Bayern Munich are a daunting prospect for any side they face.

Yet thanks to the form of his team since the draw was made, even the cautious Allegri has already begun to ponder the significance of an unlikely win as he explained an optimistic opinion to reporters.

“We can also see a positive. If we were to go through with Bayern, you certainly couldn’t say we had an easier path, but the team would grow even more in terms of self-esteem,” the coach told a press conference back in December. “Then we’d become one of the favourites. That’s the truth.”

It certainly is, but it remains a difficult scenario to envisage. To set expectations for this Juventus, a win on Saturday would make another domestic double a realistic prospect, while a strong showing against Bayern Munich would indicate the progress of this young side.