Juventus are entering a season-defining run of fixtures

Juventus‘ superb start to 2021 continued in midweek after a Cristiano Ronaldo brace helped the Bianconeri to a 2-1 victory over Inter in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie.

The triumph means Juve have won nine of their ten fixtures to start the calendar year, a run which has seen them progress into the final four of Italy’s premier domestic cup competition, taste silverware in the form of the Supercoppa, and make up ground on the two Milan clubs in the race for the Scudetto.

The only blip in their current imperious patch? A comprehensive 2-0 defeat in the Derby d’Italia to Antonio Conte’s Nerazzurri, a loss that many predicted would kick-start a downward spiral for a novice coach in his debut campaign.

However, Juve’s response has since been professional and efficient. A 2-0 victory at Bologna was followed up by success by the same scoreline in Liguria against Sampdoria in what was one of the Old Lady’s most complete performances under Andrea Pirlo.

Here is what Pirlo said after the win over Sampdoria, via Football-Italia.net:

"“It took a little longer than usual, but we’re finding our feet now and will keep improving.”"

It appears that the old adage is ringing true, that Juve are “hitting form at just the right time” in their bid to maintain their monopoly over calcio. It’s been 78 years since a group of blokes who don’t resemble a zeal of zebra’s in the safari have hoisted the Scudetto aloft in May. Okay, it’s only been a decade but it feels like an eternity since Massimiliano Allegri guided Rodney Strasser and Alexander Merkel to the title at Milan in 2010/11.

Juventus have multiple top-six opponents on the horizon

Whether the Bianconeri’s reign of supremacy will continue in the year that will forever be known as ‘the one after 2020’, depends a whole lot on how they mitigate their upcoming run of fixtures.

Three of their next six Serie A clashes sees them take on a member of the current top six, starting with Roma at the weekend. They host Napoli – who they still need to play twice – the following Saturday before a duel with a resurgent, superbly coached Lazio beckons at the start of March. They’ll also have to navigate their way past the giant-killing Hellas Verona, who deservedly took points off them in the reverse fixture, at the end of February.

It’s not just a defining period in their Serie A season either, oh no. Inter travel to Turin for the second leg of their Coppa Italia tie next Tuesday, before the Champions League knockout phase begins in two weeks. Juve will be looking to avoid succumbing to distinctly inferior opposition when they take on Porto over two legs in the last 16.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, however.

Following Juve’s second leg against the Portuguese giants on 6 March, four welcoming Serie A clashes await. Cagliari. Benevento. Torino. Genoa.

It’s those four words, those four games that’ll keep Juve going amid their upcoming slug-fest of a period that sees them play nine games in 31 days across three competitions.

Nevertheless, should the Bianconeri remain in touching distance by the time their trip to Cagliari rolls around on 14 March, then, well. I think you know what I’m thinking.