Juventus Club Focus: Everything is finally falling into place

Date: 3rd December 2015 at 7:38pm
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After securing two motivational victories, coach Massimiliano Allegri may have dispelled the doubts that were so prevalent at the beginning of the Serie A season

Juventus Mandzukic Pogba

At last, things are running smoothly.

A victory against Manchester City in the Champions League, securing qualification to the knockout stages of the competition, coupled with a 3-0 win away to Palermo are two results that will please, and rightly so, all Bianconeri fans across the globe.

Early season uncertainty gave a cause for concern, due to the possibility that Massimiliano Allegri’s men might not qualify in Europe, especially with the fixture against the Citizens still to play. Although only by one goal, the win is all that counts for the Italians and they now sit top of the group.

Then move to Sunday night, and the Rosanero were the opponents, which was not an easy match at all.

For the first 45 minutes, too, it looked like this task might have been too much for the reigning champions to handle, going into the break goalless. However ten minutes after the interval the deadlock was broken but that wasn’t enough.

Comebacks have happened many times before, and it wasn’t certain that Juventus would hold on to that lead.

Thankfully, Palermo couldn’t quite find an equaliser and two late goals for the visitors at the Stadio Renzo Barbera gave them all three points. The team from Turin are now fifth in the table and the common denominator in both these victories is Mario Mandzukic.

Mandzukic Juventus EmpoliHe got the winner against Manchester City and he also opened the scoring at the weekend and after an arguably shaky start to the season, the Croatian international is beginning to flourish in his role up front.

High expectations have been placed on him thanks to these performances.

A legend of La Vecchia Signora, Alen Boksic, has stated his belief in Mandzukic to get 20 goals this season, which is a plausible statement.

In addition, forward Simone Zaza grabbed a goal against the Sicilians and has shown positive signs in the more game time he has been getting. Despite interest from the Premier League, his comments from post-match on Sunday have reassured fans that he is intent of staying at the Bianconeri. zaza-azione-juventus-luglio-2015-ifa

Similar comments were made by the agent of Paul Pogba, Mino Raiola, which ensured that the player will stay at the Juventus stadium.

Following the resurfacing of rumours that the Frenchman might leave the Bianconeri for foreign pastures in January, Raiola has denied that the midfielder has any desire to depart.

Overall then, the run up to Christmas is proving to be a time for the current top four of Inter, Fiorentina, Roma, and Napoli to worry.

Juventus’ self-declared target of being in the top three by January now looks a realistic feat.

 

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