Juventus, Napoli, Roma ai??i?? A Dramatic Race For Scudetto

Juventus earned very crucial three points playing Napoli at home while Roma dropped even more crucial two. Napoli are still a very formidable unit. This title race has all the makings for a drama.

Juventus, Napoli, Roma ai??i?? Dramatic Race for Serie A Title — Can this man’s genius secure the Scudetto for Juventus?

Earlier this summer, after their successful defence of the Serie A title, Juventus were expected to finally go the extra mile and invest in building a squad that would be deemed competent at the highest level ai??i?? not that the squad wasnai??i??t competent already; far from it, in fact. Beppe Marotta, the second most key figure at the club after Antonio Conte, had received his fair share of flak for failing to deliver on his promise of that ai???top signingai??i??. However, few in Serie A have delivered what Marotta has without spending exorbitantly. To put things into some context, in what was Juventusai??i?? best performance of the season over the weekend as they handed over Napoli a thumping for the third straight season in running, the collective transfer fee for the three goal-scorers amounts to the same number of away wins Milan have registered this season. Three different characters ai??i?? a genius who was deemed a has-been, a pulsating talent who was perhaps too demanding for his age and a tremendously talented but perhaps underachieving striker ai??i?? were all over the course of three seasons integrated in the Turin club without paying a single penny. Now, we are talking business.

But thatai??i??s not really the story from the weekend. Not even close. While the major share of headline space in tabloids was reserved for Carlos Tevezai??i??s summer transfer, few noticed another pretty shrewd move Marotta exercised in buying the non-playing half a tremendously talented 19 year old Italian forward. The prodigy, going by the name, Domenico Berardi was straightaway loaned back to Sassuolo for a seasonai??i??s term citing better development prospects with more playing time guaranteed. Berardi has continued his impressive run so far with the Serie A newbies but it was on Sunday the youngster, rather indirectly, but well and truly contributed to his new employersai??i?? cause.

Hours before Juventus would kick off their much awaited fixture against the Neapolitans, it was Berardiai??i??s late ai??i?? and letai??i??s stress on the word ai???lateai??i?? here ai??i?? equalizer in the Capital city that allowed Juve with an opportunity to close down the gap to league leaders Roma to a mere single point. Antonio Conte was naturally in no mood to let the opportunity go; it was time to hit hard and boy, they hit hard! Rafa Benitezai??i??s men, who were in an exactly identical position to take the advantage of the situation, were taken by shock from the very start as Fernando Llorente wasted nomore than 90 seconds to stamp Juveai??i??s authority all over the game. The Bianconeri were clearly the better side for the rest of the first half largely dominating the proceedings. It showed Conte had done his homework.

But thereai??i??s a reason Rafa Benitez is considered one of the better readers of the game in the modern day. Napoli were a different side as the second half commenced and held the ball commendably ai??i?? often leading to the frustration of the home side and if not for Gigi Buffonai??i??s extraordinary reflexes, parity looked inevitable to be restored. Pogba and Vidal, who were both immense all throughout the game, were very cleverly dealt with by Inler and Behrami. Napoli did not resort to desperate long balls; rather passed the ball very effectively to up the tempo and successfully reduced Juve to a side playing on the counter for the time being. However, it wasnai??i??t such a bad thing after all as one such counterattacking move led to a set-piece situation from a dangerous position and the rest, as they say, is Andrea Pirlo.

Sublime, authoritative and arrogant are the fitting adjectives if that goal is taken a look at from the reverse angle. Such was the guile in the shot. But the moment the camera turns to Pirlo, itai??i??s impossible to not notice the genius accomplished it with the nonchalance of that man buttering his toast every morning. ai???Itai??i??s business as usualai??i?? ai??i?? youai??i??d like to think he must have murmured as the crowed went absolutely ballistic sensing the confirmation of three points. But that reaction was perhaps slightly premature, one may conclude seeing what Paul Pogba did minutes later.

The next Manchester United fan who tells you he doesnai??i??t regret letting Pogba go, label him a liar without giving any second thoughts. If youai??i??re a Juventus fan, youai??i??d not be entirely wrong arguing, in his age bracket, he is the best player in the world. For the second straight time scoring through a bludgeoning strike against Napoli at home, Pogba hit the final nail in the visitorsai??i?? coffin. The volley, needless to say, boasted of an exquisite technique and ferocious power, but above everything else, it was the confidence, unimaginable for his years, that left the viewers spellbound; flabbergasted actually.

The final scoreline reads slightly harsh on Napoli who were pretty much in there and the game hung entirely in balance before the two moments of madness, placed too close to each other for Napoli to absorb out of the shocks. The result means Juventus are now only a point behind Roma and the suddenly, despite all their flair, Rudi Garciaai??i??s side doesnai??i??t find itself with the cushion heai??i??d have preferred at this stage. Juventus, before the last game, have hardly been inspirational. In fact, theyai??i??ve often ground out results with the performances lacking sheen and authority. But the points table isnai??i??t exactly bothered about that. You win games and titles will follow. Itai??i??s quite simple that way.

These two results over the weekend involving Roma, Juventus and Napoli may find some real context as the season progresses. Itai??i??s almost clear, the title race has been reduced to the three from here on and it will take no less than a miracle to see anyone outside the three from Italy play in Europe next season. Of the three, Juventus clearly hold an edge as far as the depth in the squad is concerned and that might help them during some critical periods of the season. To Romaai??i??s advantage though, works the lack of participation in other competitions but by now Rudi Garcia must have certainly realized, thereai??i??s too little ground to lose and the margin of error is almost unforgiving.

Napoli still remain serious title contenders but one might just tend to believe Rafa will have been flirting with the idea of replicating the 2005 heroics one more time. Should that mean his domestic focus is deviated, it wonai??i??t go down too well with the fans, especially when the club management has made what is perhaps the leagueai??i??s best squad available to him. The international break should come in handy for his side to regroup and correct all that went wrong in Turin. Rafa must understand they are still the team to beat in Italy and has to ensure his players are on the same boat there.

One thing is certain. No team is running away with the Scudetto, come the end of May.

Other Talking Points

Giuseppe Rossi, at this rate is scripting a legend that will be written with a sense of great reverence and pride. His comeback has easily been the story of the season in peninsula. Fiorentina are closer to the top three than what the table might suggest.
In contrast, Inter are farther from the top than what the table indicates. Sitting above Fiorentina on the points count, Inter are still far from a finished article. Their 2-0 win over Livorno, will mostly be noted down for Zanettiai??i??s grand return to the field. Indeed, a story of courage, grit, determination and resolve.
Milan are not a talking point.

Juventus, Napoli And Roma ai??i?? It’s Going To Be Some Race For Scudetto

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