Juventus’ miraculous turnaround from disaster to Italian record breakers

Juventus’ long and extraordinary history leaves little room for any more firsts and yet this season proved to be just that after they went on one of the greatest runs of all time to win the Serie A title. Tallying an absolutely insane 73 points out of a possible 75 from 25 unbeaten matches earned them a record fifth consecutive Serie A title and, maybe most astonishingly, it came on the heels of the worst start in club history.

On October 28th, Juventus were all but dead and buried. Their 1-0 loss away to Sassuolo, courtesy of a Nicola Sansone free kick, marked the worst start to a Serie A season in 46 years. Earning just 12 points from a possible 30, Juve had lost four out their first 10 matches for the first time since 1969.

With key players like Claudio Marchisio out for the first two months of the season due to injury, new summer signing Sami Khedira unable to complete more than two matches in a row, and stars like Giorgio Chiellini and Paul Pogba underperforming, Juve seemed destined to go the Chelsea route, inevitably crashing out of league and European contention.

It all changed on Halloween. In the 93rd minute of Juventus' crucial home tie against bitter rivals Torino to be exact. Receiving a pass from Patrice Evra in the middle of the pitch, Paul Pogba languidly flicked the ball on to the Brazilian Hernanes, who immediately charged at the heart of the defense. Tripped up from behind, the referee waved play on, incensing the Turin crowd. Unbothered, Paul Pogba calmly rolled the ball down the byline to an onrushing Alex Sandro, who promptly slid a cross along the ground for Juan Guillermo Cuadrado to bundle over the line and immediately shift Juve’s entire paradigm.

Juventus never looked back. Taking off on a 15-match Serie A win streak, and taking a preposterous 73 points out of 75, Max Allegri and his men won 24 of their last 25 matches, moving from 12th in the table to clinch the title with three matches left, having reversed an 11-point disadvantage to be clear by a full 12 points after Roma beat Napoli on Monday.

Losing the legendary Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal was enough to cripple any side in the world, but their influence was never more keenly felt than in the first 10 matches of the season. With Pirlo’s replacement in front of the defense, lifelong Juve mainstay Claudio Marchisio missing in action in the first part of the season, Sami Khedira unable to find fitness, and various other injuries and inconsistencies plaguing a team already having undergone a massive reconstruction, Juve’s struggles were even more dire than anyone had predicted.

Adding in Max Allegri’s gradual integration of Paulo Dybala, Paul Pogba’s poor start to the season, and the apparent disintegration of the fabled BBC back three of Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini -- a top three finish seemed out of the question, much less a run at the Serie A title.

So what changed?

Despite calls for Allegri’s head, Juventus management stood by their man, and were rewarded for their patience as the team began to put together results. Returning Claudio Marchisio to full fitness stabilized the team, with his introduction came a calmness, rhythm and togetherness that had been lacking. An incredibly complete player, Marchisio’s metronomic passing and preternatural tactical sense not only helped to sort Juventus out creatively, but immediately helped to return them to the nearly unbeatable defensive juggernaut they have been known for in recent seasons.

Marchisio’s return took much of the pressure off Paul Pogba offensively, with the Frenchman no longer feeling responsible for both building from the back as well as creating goals, thereby freeing him to be his mercurially talented self. Having asked for the responsibility of the 10 shirt, this season’s total of 8 league goals and 11 assists for Pogba, many at key moments, are a testament not only to his maturation and willingness to accept responsibility, but also his growth into a bona fide consistent force of nature in the middle of the park.

Massimiliano Allegri gave press conference after press conference early in the season, reiterating his plan for new signing Paulo Dybala, giving the little Argentine genius time to build muscle and become more durable before fully subjecting him to the day in day out rigors of Serie A and Champions League. Protected in the media by Allegri, the manager was also keen to avoid him absorbing the pressure as Carlos Tevez’s direct replacement. With brand new signing former Porto wingback Alex Sandro working his way into the team, Paul Pogba finding form, and Sami Khedira's intelligent contribution giving the Bianconeri a new belief in themselves, Juve increased in strength matchday after matchday, scoring 56 goals and conceding just 9 in their last 25 matches.

Only a wrongly given offside call and some late heroics from Bayern kept this season from being a complete fairy tale treble season for Juventus, with a Coppa Italia Final date with Milan still ahead. Despite their exit from Champions League, Juventus will be overjoyed to celebrate a 5th Scudetto in a row, creating a story only eclipsed by Leicester City's run from near-relegation towards the title this season.

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