Ultimate Guide to Juventus' 2016/17 Season

For Juventus, the 2016/17 campaign could come to represent a tipping point for the current side; a measuring stick of just how good the team can be under the leadership of Massimiliano Allegri.

The coach has enjoyed two fantastic seasons at the helm of the Turin giants, but simply repeating his previous accomplishments might not be considered to be a success this time around.

His first year saw the club end a two-decade wait for a Coppa Italia victory, adding that to a fourth-consecutive Serie A title and an appearance in the UEFA Champions League final, only to see some huge names walk away.

Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal all moved on, meaning Allegri had a difficult task in moulding a brand new side together as 2015/16 got under way. It was initially a disaster.

Winning just three of their opening 10 matches, the Bianconeri needed to set a new club record for consecutive victories (15) and a new league-high for minutes without conceding a goal (973) in order to clinch Lo Scudetto once again.

Alvaro Morata would bag a 110th-minute goal to seal a second-consecutive domestic double, but the Old Lady was eliminated early from Europe. A last-16 clash with Bayern Munich saw them crash out, but the club have gone all-in on achieving even greater success when the new campaign begins.

New signings

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

The best just got even better. How can Juventus increase their already obvious dominance over the rest of Serie A? Well, taking the best player from each of their closest rivals would be an obvious answer, and this summer it seems the Bianconeri have done exactly that.

They needed to break another club record to do so, but their official website revealed that the Bianconeri paid €90 million to snatch Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli. He arrives having scored a staggering 36 goals in 35 appearances last term, the highest single-season tally in Serie A history.

Given that they already boasted a superb front two of Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic, it is an addition that gives Allegri a wealth of attacking options, but the Old Lady was not done there.

Another €32 million was handed to AS Roma in exchange for Miralem Pjanic, robbing the Giallorossi of their star midfielder while adding some much-needed creativity and passing into their own starting XI.

Few players have made as much impact in the middle of the pitch as the former Lyon man in recent seasons, his wonderful blend of intelligent distribution, tactical awareness and deadly set-piece accuracy all standing out.

Able to play in a variety of roles, he now brings those attributes to Turin, much to the delight of Allegri. “I think Pjanic will become one of the best in the world,” the Juve boss told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) earlier this month, and few would bet against such an idea.

Brazil international Dani Alves has arguably already been the best on the planet in his wing-back role, and he too brings a wealth of Champions League-winning experience to a Bianconeri side desperate for success in that competition.

"

Another great signing - building a great squad #pjaca https://t.co/2R7sfFEpTX

— Conor Mallon (@What_Con_Said) July 21, 2016"

Former Roma and Bayern defender Medhi Benatia has also joined on loan, while Croatia starlet Marko Pjaca is one player hoping to benefit from the presence of so much veteran talent, as he explained at his introductory press conference:

"

I chose Juventus with my heart, and not because of money, because that's how I've always done it.

I chose Juventus because this is a great club with a rich history, and I hope to help my new team-mates to achieve success. Here I can achieve personal and collective goals.

I'm not going to feel any pressure. Juventus have paid a lot for other players, much more than me. I'm just going to give my maximum and show that the €23 million they paid was a good investment.

"

Pog-Bye

David Vincent/Associated Press

If those words about money appeared to be something of a slant, they perhaps were, and Pjaca was not the only one to deliver them. Paul Pogba’s decision to leave behind the club that made him great in order to become a Manchester United legend is understandable, but the manner in which he did so has not been well-received.

The French midfielder will undoubtedly become very wealthy and see his international profile raised exponentially by a return to Old Trafford, but his decision to film a series of videos (like the one shown below) have left a very sour taste in the mouths of his former team-mates.

"

Lol people always got something to say...we're ready...REGARDLESS.  cc: @ManUtd @adidasfootball #FirstNeverFollows pic.twitter.com/24rD3PiIXR

— #MERKY (@Stormzy1) August 12, 2016"

“It’s easier to follow him on social media,” was captain Gigi Buffon’s terse response to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) as he revealed that the midfielder didn’t say even goodbye to the squad.

Andrea Di Marco/Associated Press

Injury worries 

While Pogba’s exit leaves a gap in midfield, that problem is exacerbated by a raft of injuries. Claudio Marchisio is still absent after tearing his ACL late last season, while Sami Khedira and Kwadwo Asamoah have been increasingly injury-prone over the past few seasons.

That raises the prospect of Pjanic being asked to carry too heavy a burden in the early weeks, a matter discussed at length in this previous post. Juventus may need to invest further in this department if they are to continue to be successful, though the development of Mario Lemina will surely give them a boost.

Tactical Variety

Kin Cheung/Associated Press

While those issues may only be temporary, what is truly noticeable this term is the tactical variety available to Allegri throughout this squad. At the back, the team has always been able to switch comfortably between three or four-man defences, something made easier now by the sheer depth of talent on show.

Indeed, should the former AC Milan boss want to play a back four of Dani Alves, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Patrice Evra in the Champions League, he could rest all four in Serie A by deploying a 3-5-2 that includes Stephan Lichtsteiner, Daniele Rugani, Medhi Benatia, Giorgio Chiellini and Alex Sandro.

However, those shifts also allow alternative frameworks further forward, where the likes of Pjaca—who can play out wide or as a second striker—and Pjanic will allow Allegri to tailor his formation to any opponent.

lineupbuilder.com

“Pjanic’s arrival is that of a major player,” Allegri said as he discussed the new arrival with Sky (h/t Football Italia) back in June. “He can play in front of the defence, but also in the middle or at trequartista. I'm pleased the club made such an effort to get him."

As seen in the graphic above, that hands the Bianconeri a unique set of options, and supporters will look to see many of them tested during the early weeks of the new season.

Key Fixtures

Juventus fans could not have asked for a more interesting place to launch their campaign than in Saturday’s clash with bitter rivals Fiorentina. The Viola always present a difficult challenge whenever they visit Turin, and Paulo Sousa’s men will be keen to repeat that this weekend.

Lazio (away), Sassuolo (home), Inter Milan (away) follow that opening-day clash, meaning that by the time the calendar reaches October, this new-look Juventus should know exactly where they stand.