Can Juventus’ Champions League success spark Allegri’s men into action in 2015/16?

As Alvaro Morata’s strike nestled into the bottom corner of Joe Hart’s net in the 81st minute of Juventus’ 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City in the Champions League, there was a sense that the Italian giants had finally returned to the Juve of old.

As Alvaro Morata’s strike nestled into the bottom corner of Joe Hart’s net in the 81st minute of Juventus’ 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City in the Champions League, there was a sense that the Italian giants had finally returned to the Juve of old.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side have got off to their worst-ever start to a Serie A campaign, taking just one point from their opening three fixtures.

That point came courtesy of Paulo Dybala’s late penalty against Chievo – which had been won in controversial fashion by Chelsea loanee Juan Cuadrado.

But for all their domestic woes, Juve were by far the deserved winners against the Premier League pacesetters.

City looked as though they might put their Champions League struggles behind them when Giorgio Chiellini headed into his own net under pressure from Vincent Kompany, the goal standing despite an obvious foul by the Belgian defender.

However, whereas Juve have crumpled under the pressure of going behind so far this season, City’s goal seemed to finally spark the reigning Serie A champions of the last four seasons into life.

Gianluigi Buffon’s superb double-save on the hour-mark showed why the veteran is still one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe, but it was Juve’s most prized youngster that did the damage at the other end of the pitch.

Pogba, now donning Juve’s famous No.10 shirt following the departure of Carlos Tevez in the close-season, has been hustled and harried in the Serie A games so far this term – often drifting further and further back in midfield to get on the ball and dictate play.

Perhaps the young Frenchman has become a victim of his own success, in a domestic capacity, at least – with Serie A teams affording the midfielder little time on the ball.

But that was not the case against City, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side flooding forward as they sought to extend their lead.
This gave Pogba the time, and space, he needed – and he duly took advantage, playing a wonderful pass through to Mario Mandzukic, who displayed his goal-scoring prowess after a difficult season at Atletico Madrid last term.

And it was another Juve youngster who completed the turn-around, Morata hinting at his potential with a precise finish from the edge of the box.

While City – who had 55% of possession, per WhoScored – won the tactical battle, Juve won the war, and it could be the turning point for Allegri and his charges.

It was always going to be a period of transition for Juve, following the departures of the aforementioned Tevez , the talented Arturo Vidal and the mercurial playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

Relatively speaking, despite all of the international caps and bags of Champions League and domestic experience, this Juve squad is still young, with most of the key players still three or four years away from entering their prime.

But this victory shows the direction that last season’s Champions League finalists may have to go in to make sure they can maintain their success on the European stage, whilst re-stamping their supremacy on Serie A.

No longer can Juve rely on the talent of Pirlo to pick out a killer pass, or of the work-rate of Tevez to wear down a stubborn defence.

They must now look to other means. Pogba is the most likely to be able to step up and fill the Pirlo-sized void in midfield, but his all-action style seems more suited to playing further up-field, ala Vidal.

Morata and Mandzukic may not be the quickest, but will both work hard; the former is a willing runner, while the Croat’s hold-up play is second-to-none.

Juve must now find a way of inviting teams on to them, whilst remaining strong in defence – and focus on switching defence into attack in one fell-swoop, using the pace of Cuadrado and Dybala to get in-behind opposition defences.

The signing of Hernanes from Inter also adds guile and experience to the midfield, while Claudio Marchisio has returned from injury.

Sami Khedira is currently sidel-ined, but Allegri will be hoping that the German can provide the solidity to allow Pogba to concentrate on his attacking duties.

It is a balancing act for Allegri. Juve have had it all their own way in recent campaigns, their continued and unchallenged success in Serie A allowing them to focus on mounting European title-tilts.

But they must now get back to basics. A period of transition though it may be, The Old Lady cannot go through another fall from grace.

Juan Cuadrado, Alvaro Morata and Paul Pogba celebrate vs. Manchester City image courtesy of Reuters/Phil Noble, with thanks.