30 November 2015
Juventus’ win on Sunday evening was their seventh in a row against the Rosanero and they have kept clean sheets in every one of those matches.
The Bianconeri are now the side with the best Serie A record at the Stadio Renzo Barbera with 13 victories.
Consistency has often been Massimiliano Allegri’s watchword of late and his charges are certainly achieving just that after recording their fourth consecutive league success and fifth in all competitions.
Moreover, the side is finding the net with far greater regularity – six in their last two away trips, compared to four from their previous five fixtures on the road.
Juventus saw the vast majority of the ball in the first half (66.7 per cent) but all of their efforts were either wide of the mark or blocked. In stark contrast, the second period saw a dramatic drop in possession (51.8 per cent) but a fruitful four shots on target, of which three found the back of the net.
Crucial to the Bianconeri’s success in carving out opportunities on goal were their impressive pass completion rate (88 per cent) and a willingness to attack from wide areas, with 22 crosses whipped into the box.
This, of course, was how Mario Mandzukic gave the visitors a 54th minute lead, beating his marker to get his head to Paulo Dybala’s menacing ball whipped into the area – incidentally the match’s first effort on target (Palermo did not manage any at all across the whole 90 minutes).
It was the Croatian forward’s third strike in Serie A and sixth in all competitions and they continue to be extremely decisive. In each of the games the former Bayern Munich man has found the net, Juventus have emerged victorious.
Other key components to the team’s rise in fortunes are Claudio Marchisio and Dybala. Massimiliano Allegri’s men have not lost a single match this term with the Little Prince on the pitch. Meanwhile, La Joya has now had a hand in nine of his side’s 20 league goals, scoring six and assisting a further three.
Last but not least, Stefano Sturaro’s calm and composed finish on 89 minutes epitomised the Old Lady’s newfound cutting edge, as the midfielder found the net for the first time this term with his maiden shot on target in eight appearances during 2015/16.
