Juventus: The Numbers and Players Behind the Revolution

After a second year of disastrously sub-par performances, faith in the bianconeri colors had begun to dim. Having failed to qualify for the Europa League, much less the Champions, Beppe Marotta had trouble attracting “top” talent to Turin. The Aguero and Giuseppe Rossi negotiations were sunk by Manchester City and Malaga spending extravaganza (albeit Rossi’s transfer was scuttled not by direct competition, but by the cession of Santi Cazorla). While other acquired players like Vucinic, Elia, Lichsteiner and Vidal were all agreed to be pretty decent players, few would qualify them as “world-class”. Come August, few fans of the black and white had any other than mediocre expectations.

Yet all that has changed. Under the cover of a state of the art Juventus Arena, the winning-est team in Italian history has surged to its rightful place at the top of the table- while currently it sits in fourth, it was in first alone before the Napoli game was cancelled.

Some of the praise can be laid at the feet of Antonio Conte. The former Juventus midfielder was part of the Marcelo Lippi side that dominated Italian and European competition in the mid-nineties, and he has branded this Juventus side with a similar attitude. Furthermore, he’s proven to be an astute modern tactician, versatile and adaptive to change. An emphasis on possession, short passing play and rapid execution has made Juventus one of the most entertaining teams to watch. While his style of play was always characterized by its attacking mentality, critics commented on his invariable use of the ‘4-2-4’ (which is in fact an untruth- it’s merely just an attacking 4-4-2).

That has been all but the case this term. 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 and 4-2-3-1 have all been been woven in at some point in time, and a starting XI is yet to be set in stone.

Actually, the only consistency really has been Juventus’ domination of its matches, as they've averaged an astounding 60 percent possession this term, the highest in Italy and 4th highest in all of Europe. Boasting  a passing success rate of 84 percent, a single percentage point behind joint leaders Milan and Roma, and 16 shots per game, the Bianconeri are having a field day. On target shots, they’re second with 6 They’ve allowed the lowest number of shots per game (9), have the second highest tackles per game (24) and third highest interceptions per game (21). Also, they’ve given out the second least amount of fouls (13). They continue to score the most goals from open play (rather than on the counter or from set pieces), and have the second most short passes per game with 473, just five back from champions Milan. They also continue to supply the most through balls per game (six). Finally, they play primarily on the front half, a full 25 percent of their playing taking place in the opposition’s final third of the pitch (the second highest average in Seria A).

But Beppe Marotta, Juventus' transfer manager, also deserves a heaping load of credit. He has provided Conte with several players of quality, gotten at very reasonable prices. The following five have been particularly superb.

5: Andrea Barzagli

Acquired in January for the laughable sum of 300,000 euros, Barzagli has surprised his critics by turning in his best performances of the last five years, earning a starting position for Prandelli’s azzurri. His partnership with Bonucci has shifted Chiellini to his original position out on the left wing, where the Tuscan has yet to fully adapt. Yet Barzagli has earned it. He excels in predicting opponent’s passing and moves quickly to insert himself between the ball and its intended receiver, intercepting an average of 3.7 passes per game. While he prefers the no-fuss interceptions, Barzagli also contributes 2.9 tackles on average, and boasts a 65 percent success rate in the aerial duel- against Milan he intercepted play six times, a number of which denied clearcut goal opportunities. Also he has yet to receive a caution.

In addition Barzagli is perfectly comfortable in possession, completing 85 percent of his passes; combined with Bonucci’s ability with the long ball (4.7 accurate long balls per game), Juventus center pair can bring the ball upfield, draw markers and pass to more attack minded players.  

This ability to stop oppositional play without fuss and seamlessly turn the ball around is hugely important to Conte’s tactical arrangement, and has contributed to Juventus’ unbeaten streak as well as it’s dynamite attack.

4. Stephan Lichsteiner

Scorer of the first official goal of the juventus Arena, Lichsteiner has a dimension to the Bianconeri play that has been missing since Zambrotta’s ignominious switch to Barcelona in 2006. A tireless runner averaging nearly 12 km a game, Lichsteiner’s pace and endurance allows for attacking overlaps as well as defensive security. This ability to find advanced positions, combined with a sweet Pirlo assist, created the first goal in the Juventus Arena. Similarly, his pass from Inter’s goal line created the first goal at the San Siro. He is remarkably consistent, with the highest pass success rate on the entire team (88 percent) and winning four aerial duels against a muscular Inter team evidences a robust physicality.

Again one cannot overstate how sorely Juventus have been needing a right back. Grygera and Motta were adequate but flawed players in their own way, consistent in neither defense or attack. It is not surprising that the introduction of a good wingback coincides with a reversal in the team’s fortunes.

3. Arturo Vidal

Yet another bargain. Marotta snuck Vidal from out under the noses of Bayern Munich, and it’s plain to see why the Bavarians are so incensed.

Vidal earned a reputation for being one of the most consistent footballing polymaths in circulation, equally capable of playing in the heart of defense as on the attacking wing. An excellent breaker of play, he averages the 5th most tackles in Serie A (4.4 pg), with the added bonus of 2.1 interceptions. But to reduce the Chilean to a simple defensive pawn is to undersell him. Playing alongside Pirlo and Marchisio in a sort of triple pivot, Vidal has freedom to venture forward quite a bit. Thus he averages 1.4 key passes per game and 2.5 shots for himself (very high for a central midfielder). He had superb games against both Inter and AC Milan, with six tackles and 5 interceptions against the former, three tackles, three interceptions and 4 key passes against the latter.

As will be explored further in this article, the triumvirate at the heart of the Juventus midfield has been one of the success stories of the season, as they contribute assists, interceptions and goals on a regular basis.

2. Claudio Marchisio

The only player on this list to not arrive in the last calendar year, Claudio Marchisio has been one of the few bright lights in these last few seasons. Nicknamed “Tardellino” (Little Tardelli) for his similarities to former Juventus and Italy champion Marco Tardelli, Marchisio is the classic box-to-box midfielder capable of playing nearly any role on the pitch. And while surely a known quantity, the Juventus youth product is having a superb campaign thus far. Firstly, he’s tied for most goals on the team with Alessandro Matri, a forward. Two of those came at the expense of AC Milan, another sealed the victory of Inter at the San Siro (and it was a knockout).

Much of his success can be attributed to smart tactics from Antonio Conte. Often, Marchisio and Vidal partner in the heart of midfield to buffer the older Andrea Pirlo from mistreatment. When out of possession, Marchisio will chase players on the ball as well as potential pass receivers, so he’ll average 3.2 tackles and 2.2 interceptions a game. Having broken up play, Marchisio can reliably pass to an advancing teammate (averaging 85 percent success), which allows Pirlo and Vidal to advance into newly opened space and create a counterattack, while Marchisio holds back. Should it be Vidal breaking down the opposition’s play, then Marchisio can charge forward. This double pivot explains how both central midfielders (ostensibly of a defensive stripe) average 2-3 shots per game apiece.

Again, Marchisio dominates the big games that need winning. While his two goals against AC Milan won him the headline, a 95 percent passing accuracy helped shred the defense’s endurance long before that. And the goal against Inter, well that speaks for itself.

1. Andrea Pirlo

A free Bosman transfer during the summer, Andrea Pirlo may prove to be the most valuable buy of the year. Since his switch from AC Milan, the World Cup winner has had an impeccable career run in Turin thus far. A traditional regista, Pirlo boasts the highest number of successful passes per game in the whole of Serie A, completing roughly 80 passes a game, with about an 86 percent success rate.

Furthermore, he is gifted in short, medium and long range passing. He completes 12.7 accurate long balls per match, (again, number one in Serie A). He’s not hoofing them over the backline, either- instead, searching passes spread play out wide to the likes of Pepe or Vucinic, players who can then break quickly.

He’ll provide an average of 2.3 accurate crosses a game as well, an average that lands him at sixth in the league, and he’s also contributed three assists and three defense-splitting goalscoring chances as well. He’s also quite good on the ball, faking or outdribbling an opponent at least twice over the course of 90 minutes.

As befitting a World Cup champion, Pirlo has the tendency of stepping up to the more important matches, most impressively against his old club. The Juventus-AC Milan game saw Pirlo receive the ball 103 times, complete 84 passes at an 89 percent success rate, including a whopping 18 long passes. Against Inter he was just slightly less superlative, with 97 touches, 85 percent success and 14 long passes.

Statistics alone cannot capture Pirlo's invention and grace. His play is simply superb, effortless, flowing from one end to the other.  A beacon has been missing from Juventus for some time and the smoothness and consistency of this season are largely a product of his rejuvenation.