Juventus first took three points from Empoli in an exciting affair
Without the new number nine, Dusan Vlahovic, it could very well have been a loss instead of a 3-2 victory for Juventus last Saturday. Yet the Old Lady flourished, and with that win, they kept their noses in front of Atalanta in the race for the final Champions League spot in Serie A. Then, Max Allegri’s side drifted away from league responsibilities in the week as the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg approached.
When that match came around on Wednesday, it lived up to everyone’s expectations, to say the least. Fiorentina played an absolutely terrific and tough game for nearly the entirety of the match. Yet it was not enough, as a cross from Juan Cuadrado deflected off of the helpless Lorenzo Venuti and into the back of the net. Now, with a 1-0 advantage going back to Turin for the second leg in April, Juventus will look to advance into the final of the Coppa Italia and face the winner of the other semi-final – which just happens to be the Milan Derby.
I spoke regarding this long winding journey that would take Juventus around Italy before bringing them back to Turin to face Villarreal in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 bout, and the team is playing well enough to win domestically so far. They will, however, have to play better in the upcoming matches if they should have a real chance to oust the reigning Europa League champions and progress in the Champions League.
Juventus will have their chance to play better ahead
Against Spezia on the weekend, and Sampdoria a week later, the Old Lady has two teams near the bottom of the Serie A table to really punish and impose their will upon. While these should be games where rest can be garnered where necessary – as the injuries of this season have been extreme, to say the least – they must also be matches where a real rhythm can be picked up and almost ingrained in the lead up to the tougher matches ahead.
Dusan Vlahovic has appeared to be a gift from Fiorentina, no matter his cost, and while he has performed remarkably well since moving to Turin, the rest of his team must continue to improve around him. He is the central piece as the number nine, but the middle of the pitch needs to find consistency and comfortability.
There are players there to do it, of course, and they will have to step up. The likes of Adrien Rabiot, Arthur Melo and, most obviously, Manuel Locatelli have the abilities, and they must demonstrate as much as the proverbial cupboard is becoming barer by the matchday.
In the leadup to a tough match with Unai Emery’s Yellow Submarine – with only a slim advantage taken from Spain – the Bianconeri will have to be quite sharp and mindful. The tie can still be stolen, and taking any of the matches leading up to that second leg lightly could very well be a recipe for another home letdown in the Champions League come the middle of March.
Juventus can go as far as they wish to
Does the Old Lady wish to bow out of Europe with a whimper? Juventus have not fared too well in the first knockout round as of late, and Allegri himself surely feels pressure to bring one of Italy’s premier clubs deeper into the premier European competition in football following their recent humiliations.
With the likes of Vlahovic, it seems, there is always a chance to score. While he was not able to net a goal against his former club, the Cuadrado cross that bounced in is the sort of luck an outfit gets from taking chances and opportunities.