5 fixtures down the stretch that will define Juventus’ 2021/22 season

CASTELLON, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Team players of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal v Juventus at the Estadio de la Ceramica on February 22, 2022 in Castellon Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
CASTELLON, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Team players of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal v Juventus at the Estadio de la Ceramica on February 22, 2022 in Castellon Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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Fiorentina (H) – Coppa Italia semi-final second leg

A Lorenzo Venuti own goal handed Juventus the advantage in their semi-final tie. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
A Lorenzo Venuti own goal handed Juventus the advantage in their semi-final tie. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Juventus claimed their first Coppa Italia last season since they won their fourth on the bounce in 2018. It was the undisputed highlight of Andrea Pirlo’s reign, as Dejan Kulusevski and Federico Chiesa came of age.

The Bianconeri have made no mistakes in the defence of their crown thus far: a 4-1 victory over Sampdoria was followed up by a hard-fought win over Sassuolo before they committed daylight robbery in Florence to gain the upper hand in their semi-final tie with Fiorentina.

How they claimed victory in the first leg is beyond me, but such resilience and good fortune are characteristics of Allegri’s Juventus.

The reverse fixture in Turin is set to take place at the back end of April with Juventus vying for their third-straight Coppa Italia final appearance. One of the Milan sides await in the competition’s showpiece at the end of the season.

With Champions League glory a pipe-dream considering the competition and a Serie A title triumph unlikely considering the point deficit, the Coppa Italia represents the best chance of Juventus claiming any silverware this season after they fell to defeat in the Supercoppa Italiana.