Juventus first to win six Serie A titles in a row
Sunday, May 21, 2017
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UEFA Champions League finalists Juventus have completed the second leg of a potential treble after clinching the Serie A title for an Italian record sixth season in a row.
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How they won it
Juventus have done it in more spectacular ways in recent years, without losing a game in 2011/12 or with a record points tally of 102 in 2013/14, but their latest title cannot be downplayed. Indeed, the milestone achieved by Massimiliano Allegri's team this term is without precedent. No team had ever won the Scudetto for six consecutive seasons in Italy.
When Juve added Miralem Pjanić and Gonzalo Higuaín from Scudetto rivals Roma and Napoli respectively, many predicted a one-horse race in Serie A. In football, however, you do not win titles on paper but on grass and the Bianconeri had to work hard to make it six in a row. They have scored fewer goals than Napoli and Roma but once again they conceded less than all their Serie A rivals.
Key number: 33
More than just tight at the back, the champions have also displayed incredible strength at the Juventus Stadium. The Bianconeri did not lose a single time in front of their fans this season and set a new Serie A record of consecutive home wins (33) until the streak ended with a 1-1 in a city derby against Torino. Their last home defeat in Serie A was in August 2015, 1-0 against Udinese.
The opposition
With the two sides from Milan once again failing to join the Scudetto race, Roma and Napoli were Juve's main rivals. Despite playing scintillating attacking football most of the time, both the Giallorossi and Partenopei struggled for consistency. Maurizio Sarri's men, for example, were often praised as the most entertaining team in Italy but earned just two points in two games against Sassuolo, and drew against relegated sides Palermo and Pescara – points you cannot afford to drop when you compete against a machine like Juventus.
Coppa Italia
Gianluigi Buffon was rested as Juventus reached the final despite failing to make a single clean sheet, overcoming strong opponents like Atalanta, Milan and Napoli. In Wednesday's Rome decider they encountered a Lazio team scoring for fun and duly kept them at bay, first-half goals from Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci earning a 2-0 win. Adding the Scudetto means they have now sealed a third consecutive domestic double, with the chance to complete the 'triplete' in Cardiff.
Room for improvement
Is there really any room for improvement? How can you improve when you dominate so effectively for six consecutive seasons? Probably the only mission in the next few years will be to rejuvenate the squad and in particular their outstanding defence. Finding the new Gianluigi Buffon (39), Andrea Barzagli (36), Dani Alves (34) or Giorgio Chiellini (32) will not be an easy task.
Biggest win: 4-0 v Cagliari; 4-0 v Genoa
Biggest loss: 3-1 v Genoa
Top scorer: Gonzalo Higuaín (24)